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Car Forum / BMW Cars / July 2006

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BMW Z3 - Rear Windshield - glass?

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jcamilosa@gmail.com - 14 Jul 2006 21:10 GMT
What year of the BMW Z3 (softtop) comes with a glass rear whindshield?

Thanks.
Jeff Strickland - 14 Jul 2006 22:42 GMT
Forgive me if I am wrong, but I do not believe that any year of the Z3 comes
with a glass window. I think you have to get the Z4 to get a glass window.

> What year of the BMW Z3 (softtop) comes with a glass rear whindshield?
>
> Thanks.
Minh Tran-Le - 14 Jul 2006 22:46 GMT
> What year of the BMW Z3 (softtop) comes with a glass rear whindshield?
>
> Thanks.

I don't think that any Z3 with softtop had a glass rear windshield. They
all had plastic one. But you could get a hardtop with one.
jcamilosa@gmail.com - 14 Jul 2006 23:53 GMT
Where can one buy a hardtop?  Only from dealerships I guess?

Any idea on the cost?  Does it also require installation of any sort of
hardtop kit on the car?

Thanks for the replies!

> > What year of the BMW Z3 (softtop) comes with a glass rear whindshield?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> I don't think that any Z3 with softtop had a glass rear windshield. They
> all had plastic one. But you could get a hardtop with one.
Minh Tran-Le - 15 Jul 2006 17:19 GMT
> Where can one buy a hardtop?  Only from dealerships I guess?
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>> I don't think that any Z3 with softtop had a glass rear windshield. They
>> all had plastic one. But you could get a hardtop with one.

If I recall correctly there are a few adjustment to make so that a new
hardtop fits tightly onto onto the frame. And there is the paint that
need to match your car. I don't have one on my car so I don't know all
the details.

You may get more answers Z3 board at:
http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/z3/
BallroomDancer - 15 Jul 2006 18:59 GMT
>> Where can one buy a hardtop?  Only from dealerships I guess?
>>
>> Any idea on the cost?  Does it also require installation of any sort of
>> hardtop kit on the car?
I'm not sure on the Z3, I have a 1996 528iC - I bought the used hardtop on
an EBay auction (matter of finding a non-clashing color close enough to
drive and pick it up, shipping costs are high on something that size). Got a
white one on a silver car, then had it painted a year or so later. The front
attached just like the soft top, I had to buy a kit from the BMW dealer for
the back - it was about $200 if I remember correctly. It has the special
sockets that are needed for the back of the hardtop to attach, and the
electrical connections to supply power to the rear window defroster and the
dome lights. I think that the Z3 hardtops are made in a similar manner (just
a different size, my 328 seats 4).

The hardtop is very nice to have for winter driving, the rear window is much
larger than the window of the soft top (btw - my soft top has a plastic
window, BMW transitioned to a glas window in either 1999 or 2000, I don't
remember which) The glass window on soft tops are smaller than the plastic
window on soft tops.  The whole frame assembly and motors had to be
redesigned, so just swapping out soft tops did not work out at all.  I do
place soft thin towelling over the plastic rear window before putting the
top down for extended periods, otherwise the plastic gets a large white
opaque line horizontally in the middle where it folds (I have already
replaced the plastic window once).

Jim
Jeff Strickland - 16 Jul 2006 18:51 GMT
You can buy a new soft window on eBay for something in the range of about
$275.

I haven't seen one, but I would guess that one might find a hardtop on eBay
too.

> Where can one buy a hardtop?  Only from dealerships I guess?
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>> I don't think that any Z3 with softtop had a glass rear windshield. They
>> all had plastic one. But you could get a hardtop with one.
E Brown - 16 Jul 2006 20:34 GMT
>You can buy a new soft window on eBay for something in the range of about
>$275.
>
>I haven't seen one, but I would guess that one might find a hardtop on eBay
>too.

    They do, not very expensive either. One of my "Favorite Searches"
is "bmw hardtop" and I see them pop up occasionally. Unfortunately for
me, every Z4 hardtop that's posted seems to be in California and
belong to someone that won't ship.
    epbrown
--
"Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus
2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black
 
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