Hi, thinking of buying a hardtop for my convertible, does anyone know if the soft top remains on the car stowed away when the hardtop is installed?

Hi, thinking of buying a hardtop for my convertible, does anyone know if the soft top remains on the car stowed away when the hardtop is installed?

you need to have the soft-top in the lowered position before fitting the hardtop.

or you could remove the soft-top completely from the car before fitting the hardtop.

you need to have the soft-top in the lowered position before fitting the hardtop

So does the hardtop just sit on top of the storage compartment then, is it not secured in any way at the back? Need to know because I have purchased a 2nd hand hardtop and need to pick it up, just wondering if I can pick it up on the convertible and install it there and then to bring it home?

Yes you can, but you do need a hardtop install kit. You better stop by Bmw on the way and pick one up.

Yes you can, but you do need a hardtop install kit. You better stop by Bmw on the way and pick one up.

ok many thanks...

The hardtop install kit ($150 at the dealer, mine didn't stock it) has two brackets that attach to points just forward of the hinged cover in the back, underneath the two smaller plastic tabs. You may already have these brackets, into which two pins on the hardtop fit - if so, that's all you will _need_ to get the hardtop installed. However, you will then be missing the electrical connections for the interior lights and the defroster - the kit includes the small wiring harnesses for these as well as the wiring "connectoids" that sit on top of the brackets (while anyone can do the wiring, the connectoids would be difficult to replicate).

The hardtop install kit ($150 at the dealer, mine didn't stock it) has two brackets that attach to points just forward of the hinged cover in the back, underneath the two smaller plastic tabs. You may already have these brackets, into which two pins on the hardtop fit - if so, that's all you will _need_ to get the hardtop installed. However, you will then be missing the electrical connections for the interior lights and the defroster - the kit includes the small wiring harnesses for these as well as the wiring "connectoids" that sit on top of the brackets (while anyone can do the wiring, the connectoids would be difficult to replicate).

Many thanks, very well explained and very useful information, much appreciated..

Hi, thinking of buying a hardtop for my convertible, does anyone know if the soft top remains on the car stowed away when the hardtop is installed?

You're going to need the kit installed is correct.

Here are the instructions on how to install the kit. Maybe when you pick up the kit you can install it yourself. It isn't difficult & the stealer does charge you like $150 just to do this:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=675206

post #4.

OoOh yea I did mine myself WITHOUT the instructions.;)