Dear Vert owners

i just bought my bimmer in great condition. it was totaled but thousands were put into it and it still has a clean title. the top had been replaced previous to the accident

when the acident occured the top was up and the rollover bars shot up streching out the back plastic window when they shot up.

i bought the car and was going to replace the plastic when i find out the window is sewn in and not a zipper.

i found a great place that will resew it and everything for $300.

but im worried that this top will lose its really nice tight fit that it has now.

should i go with it? wait till the mirror gets bad and then replace it? or go for the investment and put in a new top with a zipper? and where should i buy it if i do?. and does anybody have any?


please help

thanks
yannis (305bimmer)

ok this is going to sound harsh, but i mean it in a helpful sort of way...

read more, post less.

a quick search about replacing tops and replacing windows will bring up lots of discussions that have been held within the past few months. the information there will allow you to choose an option that best suits how much you want to spend.

your options range from spending the $300 you stated earlier for replacing the window up to $4,000+ for buying a new top and having it installed. it depends on how much you want to spend, how much you care about having a zip-in window, and how much you care about how the window looks.

if the car wasnt sitting with the bars pressing against the window for too long, a few days parked in the sun with the top up should let the window morph back into shape.

your options range from spending the $300 you stated earlier for replacing the window up to $4,000+ for buying a new top and having it installed...

Ballpark figure, isn't $2,000 for a new top installed more realistic? Pelicanparts has a new top for $800, and add another $800 (???) for installation, you're only at $1600. Maybe their top doesn't include a new headliner, or tension straps (straps are about $80 each so add $160)?

I was quoted $1100 installed today from a local, well respected shop. I was hoping to get one more year out of the top but I am having stitching problems on rear window. I will try to glue it first, then see how that turns out.

for a COMPELTE reinstall, including headliner, tension straps, all new parts and labor, I was quoted about 4k over the phone, by a reputable upholstery/convertible shop in Fairfax, VA. That was using all BMW OEM parts, including the BMW OEM rear window.

for a COMPELTE reinstall, including headliner, tension straps, all new parts and labor, I was quoted about 4k over the phone, by a reputable upholstery/convertible shop in Fairfax, VA. That was using all BMW OEM parts, including the BMW OEM rear window.

Still seems incredibly high, but you've made a phone call which is +1 over what I've done.

i dont really pay that much attention to the threads about replacing tops because mine is still is great shape. i thought i remember reading that it was about $2k for parts and the same for labor. i will say though, that i believe that the convertible top replacement is one of things that follows with 'you get what you pay for.' id rather spend more and know that i have a quality top that installed without issues or shortcuts.

and actually, last time i looked, i believe they had the headliner listed seperately from the outer canvas. i dont think they sell a whole frame + canvas + headliner all assembled and ready to bolt in. i could be wrong though - i haven't asked about it.

Like said before, wrinkles come out of my top in the hot sun (and come back when the top is lowered, haha). You can take a hair dryer to the back and try to shrink the window down. I use to do this to plastic insulation every winter in my house.

I know this isn't a wrinkle; but, it's worth a try. By the way, I'd love to see pictures of what the roll bars did to the back window. I always wondered what that would look like.

Dear Vert owners

i found a great place that will resew it and everything for $300.

but im worried that this top will lose its really nice tight fit that it has now.

should i go with it? wait till the mirror gets bad and then replace it? or go for the investment and put in a new top with a zipper? and where should i buy it if i do?. and does anybody have any?


It is hard to see how replacing the window will have any effect on how tightly your top fits- its not like the plastic window pulls the top tight or anything like that. If having the present window stretched hasn't affected how the top fits, then why would replacing the window have such an effect? If the rest of the top is still in good shape this seems like a no brainer- just replace the window.

I need to either replace my rear sew-in window or replace the whole top altogether as well.

I have been quoted $900 more than once for the window to be sewn in. I wish I could find someone who will do it for $300...

Im lost at "wait til the mirror gets bad.."

Whats a mirror have to do with anything?

i appreciate all your guys help
i need to be a member longer and post more before i can send pics of what the roll bars did to the plastic
i am going to try the blow dryer tomorow thank u
and the plastic pretty much looks like two semi circle sticking out of my windows but not that bad.

thanks again guys
-yannis

I went to a dude yesterday who pretty much agreed that if I fix his website, he'll completely replace my top.

I'm no HTML professional but I definately know what I'm doing. If it means a new top + install for free then dammit I'm going to learn LOL