hard top front rubber

elevensies

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roadster 2.8 widebody
i have a hard top, and on the front edge where the windscreen molding is, there appears to be a rubber seal along the hard top, which over time has degraded to nothing.

it looks only like a 5mm strip of rubber glued to the lip, but cant be sure,

can anyone confirm this please, and if i do get more how and what do i use to glue it please.


11s

might have to take a pic of said area
 

Duncodin

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My hardtop doesn't have that.

Is it one of those house door/window weather seal/strips you can buy in b&q that a previous owner stuck on?
 

MuttyMax

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Nope thats all wrong and I agree Doncodi if that is the top of the roof where it meets the windscreen then that's not supposed to be there at all. Certainly on neither of the rooks that I have (and yes I've for 1 on each of the Zeds). Can you supply another picture zoomed out a bit?
 

Duncodin

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If you go to realoem. Find your car model. Go to folding/sliding roof section. See all the parts for the hardtop. There is no rubber strip around the front edge.

I still reckon it's something that somebody has stuck under tge lip maybe to stop wind noise on a poorly fitted roof.

There's rubber along the top of the windscreen frame. If the hardtop is fitted properly it's pulled down snug onto that rubber and an extra foam/rubber weather strip on/under the front lip of the roof is not necessary.
 

MuttyMax

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Yep is def wrong somehow….
 

Duncodin

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You need to start here

Screenshot_20241029-200042_Chrome.jpg


This is my car - while it still looked like a z3. Zoomed in quite a bit so bit blured. But look at the alignment of the roof with the leading edge of the rear panel. Perfectly in line.

That line up on the roof vs rear wing B pillar is by far the most important thing when setting up a hardtop.

What does your's look like? I suspect your roof is a good 5mm too far back. If it's not then something is wrong.
 

Stevo7682

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Agreed with @Duncodin something isnt right .
So i went took some pictures there but will go take a couple more in a minute to go with what I will say.

So the hardtop doesn't have a front seal
Screenshot_20241029_201852_eBay.jpg

( Pic grabbed from interweb ) hardtop seals on the front upper windscreen seal these are a few pics of one of the zeds i have one with hardtop one without
20241029_201400.jpg
20241029_201441.jpg
20241029_201504.jpg
20241029_201457.jpg
20241029_201447.jpg
20241029_201352.jpg

As you can see the soft top and hardtop both seal on the front seal.

I will pop the soft top in a min take a quick picture of the seal if in good condition.

So next is going to be fitment i have a feeling i know what may be wrong.
So the hardtop secures at 4 locations
There are 2 pins on the hardtop that locate into the hardtop fitting kit just behind both seats ( pic coming) there are two levers that once hardtop pins located need to be turned to lock it down .
But it also locks at the front ( possibly your issue) where the roof handles are for the soft top there are 2 holes ( pic coming) inside the 2 holes there should be a t40 head bolt these screw the front of the hardtop to the car and stop you tearing it off at speed and create the seal between the roof and the front windscreen seal.
Stephen.
 

Stevo7682

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So the windscreen seal should look something like this if in decent condition
20241029_204532.jpg


I can't see how the fitting kit at rear could be on wrong it is adjustable but i don't think that much.

So looking down drivers side then passengers side this is how the rear levers look when locked in correct position.
20241029_204220.jpg
20241029_204228.jpg


And this is looking down on passengers side one yours should look the same in relation to roof and surrounding trim etc
20241029_204247.jpg



And at the front if the look through the hole circled you should see the t40 bolt this threads into the roof engagement sometimes will require both door open ( to stop window interference)and push down on front outside of hardtop to engage the thread .
20241029_204325.jpg
20241029_204351.jpg


You may also find this in the car somewhere thus is the official tool for front bolt tightening.
20241029_204713.jpg


You can see from the picture above how close the hardtop parts ( side seal and headlining etc) sit to the car screen frame i imagine your may have bigger gap there whic would suggest ain't bolted down at front.
Stephen.
 

elevensies

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thats fab thanks
iv been looking at the seal and its not something that supposed to be there, its bolted tight down in front corners, and pulled tight at the 2 rear, i have no issues at all with the soft top fitment, no wind noise, so you were right i suspect this rubber strip is clearly retro fitted, once i get the roof inner liner back from trimmers, i will be having a propert look.

cheers guys
 
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