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Another Convertible Top Post - Replacement Time: Seeking Recommendations
Hi all,
I read some good posts about top replacement and even fixing. So I've recently purchased an 06' with only 48k miles. It was a souther car (AZ and FL). The situation with my top is that it seems it's brittle, leaks at the corners and the stitching is pulling apart. One crack (tearing?) beginning. Motor works great, the only time it seems to struggle is on a cold day bringing the top all the way down at the very end. I hit a burts of 70s weather on my 1400 mile drive home and at those temps she went right now. So hopefully no "5th Bow" issues I've read about.
It's such a good little car with only minor mechanical servicing and fixes that I can do all myself.....I've decided I'm probably just going to replace it the top. Quotes ranged from 1400 - 2100 in my general area. I'm in Alexandria, VA near the Pentagon. I'd drive as far as Richmond or Hagerstown Maryland for a good price. But the 1400 quote was in my city. Have to find out what kind of top he is using though.
I'm one for going for an OEM style replacement, vinyl top and I have found this link to top replacements. I'm wondering as of 2022 post pandemic prices if this is a good place to go and what people are using in 2022 as older threads might be dated in that sense.
Also, any other warnings or advice through experience about getting replacements generally speaking as I'm not only a noob to Z cars but to drop tops in general.
Get the Stayfast Haartz canvas top from Topsonline.com, DIY. It's not hard to do at home, it does take 8-10 hours. Did my 06 in 2015, still no problems. $650.
I paid maybe about 2k for my mom's z3 aobut 10 years ago. This was the best top avail, I'm assuming the Haartz. Doesn't sound like bad prices. I think it was about 1400 for labor and around 500-600 for the top
Thanks for the information. I see two applicable (black tops) in a few different options.
First is says the original tops were Haartz Twillweave Vinyl
There there is "Black Twillweave Acoustic Vinyl" in the options
Xtreme Brand - 549
EZ ON Brand - 707
Robbins Brand - 758
There is also a cloth option for about 100 more. From what I've read cloth is more prone and requires much more care? So not sure what the advantage of those are.
This isn't a daily driver it's actually a 3rd car that I share with my father when he visits for extended times Ahh I'm sure I could probably learn to do it myself but I have a classic car project car ongoing and I'd rather just have it done right, no leaking etc and warrantied. I'm deeply a mechanic, computer guy, and I'll paint some things. I'll take a look at one or two videos to see if I want to change my mind.
I'm guessing the guy with the 1400 quote is using a different trim than the guy with a 2100 quote. I'll have to ask him what he's sourcing and/or if I can supply my own. I'm inclined to do whatever resembles the OEM for the best quality in 600-700 range.
I ended up going with the Robbins Vinyl top. Thanks so much for all your feedback. I went from having 0 experience with tops to knowing quite a lot more. If this top lasted 16 years I think the next will be quite a long while as this thing is getting 90% garage kept!
It just all came together for a pretty good price (1400) with a well reviewed guy in my city which is a pricey place. He sounded like he knew these in and out, has done many and would have it done in a day. I assure you it would take me longer Not worth saving the 700 or 800 bucks for me. It would be a bear to do in the facilities that I have available and the distances involved. Plus I have a bunch more servicing and fixing to do that I am doing myself even though it's a 50k mile Z!
Recent trip taking it home TX to VA! Not even AL cops could stop me.
Sure thing. I still can’t bring it down for another week. The installer said 10-14 days. The lesser of it stays warm. We had snow 2 days ago now it’s low 70s.
Have not been able to open mine yet. They said to wait 2 weeks. Or 10 days if it's very warm and sunny. Well...during those 2 weeks it was warm alright. But now that it's ready we are in the last days of March and having January temperatures. So I shall have to wait another week! I was very happy thought that before the car went back in it's garage...it got dumped on with rain and no leaks.
New top is been awesome. It FINALLY got warm enough here to start opening regularly and going on trips. The only stupid thing that happened was that one of those side front straps that supposedly help it retract ripped on one side. Company who did the top who did a great job otherwise...they acted like it was a warranty repair. Only after I had the work done, they told me it was not a part of the new top that tore but the original straps and I had to pay 160$. To which asked why didn't you just replace the original ones knowing that they were 16 years old and be upfront about it instead of making me drive out there twice. I was so sick of it I just paid and went on my way since I've done so much other work to this car. Otherwise, it's fantastic work and still a decent price (now up to 1650$ ish).
Funny thing is the top didn't seem to have any issues retracting and going back with the broken tension strap on the right side.
I ended up going with the Robbins Vinyl top. Thanks so much for all your feedback. I went from having 0 experience with tops to knowing quite a lot more. If this top lasted 16 years I think the next will be quite a long while as this thing is getting 90% garage kept!
It just all came together for a pretty good price (1400) with a well reviewed guy in my city which is a pricey place. He sounded like he knew these in and out, has done many and would have it done in a day. I assure you it would take me longer Not worth saving the 700 or 800 bucks for me. It would be a bear to do in the facilities that I have available and the distances involved. Plus I have a bunch more servicing and fixing to do that I am doing myself even though it's a 50k mile Z!
Recent trip taking it home TX to VA! Not even AL cops could stop me.
hey man, thank you for help others owners, so that is my question, Can you send me your link from where you buy and what model is???
I just bought a 350z Roadsters HR, the car came with the soft top with some ripped and in bad condition, the motor arms sensors works perfect, I did the mistake to buy a used soft top from a junk yard and the guy came to instal and he spent literally 12 hours here but I he soft top is from a 05 350z and used, I found some small spots when the water come a little but the most important problem is when I try to close it still open like 2 fingers in the back, and I saw a lot of topics about this and that’s why I decided to buy a new soft top and pay for a professional labour. I’m located in Orlando FL.
plz send me yours impressions and the link with how much you spent…
thank you in advance!!!
Sure thing. I still can’t bring it down for another week. The installer said 10-14 days. The lesser of it stays warm. We had snow 2 days ago now it’s low 70s.
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Last edited by FrancesMyers; 11-21-2022 at 01:05 AM.
02-26-2022, 07:21 AM
Another Convertible Top Post - Replacement Time: Seeking Recommendations
Ahh I'm sure I could probably learn to do it myself but I have a classic car project car ongoing and I'd rather just have it done right, no leaking etc and warrantied. I'm deeply a mechanic, computer guy, and I'll paint some things. I'll take a look at one or two videos to see if I want to change my mind.
