Hey folks... how hard it is to instal a hardtop on a vert.

[KebabDan]

Hey folks as above, got a bmw e36 325i vert... thinkin of gettin a hard top for it... but for installation does the old vinyl roof have to come out to fit a hard top or does it go around the existing hood.

also how difficult it is to install and if u generally need to to get anything else other than second hand hood. like a fitment kit installation kit or smtin.

be gratefull for any advice. cheers guys and gals. dan

[97_hellrot_vert]

Here is what you get and here is what you do 2 brackets with 4 bolts.
Brackets and bolts are for the latching cam that the hardtop has. You will notice that the boot area has a couple of covers that are moveable. One is removeable on each side of the boot. I suggest raising the top so you can see under the area in front of the boot to locate the opening that the bracket and bolts fit into. Once you do that you remove the cover right above the bracket area. Install the brackets, I can't remember if they were marked L or R but it was not that hard to figure out.

This is the physical connection of the top with the car plus the rotating handle in the front in the middle of the windshield area. The red handles levers on the top in the back where the brackets are should be rotated forward toward the front of the car. Place the top pins into the brackets and be sure the handle in the front windshield is rotated open too. Now place the top on the car and latch the rear red handles toward the rear and then latch the front windshield.

The other part of the kit consists of two electrical connectors that are used to provide power to the rear window elements and the interior lights.
These are more complicated then the physical install.
The electrical connectors are plugged into the car on the inside of each side rear panel. It requires removing the center side rear panel to be able to get the main side rear panel on each side. To remove the center rear panel push forward on the center panel to release the clips that will allow you to remove the panel. Then you can see the other physical connections that hold the side panel on.
It is best to remove the rear seat and rear seat back too.
Rear seat is removed by pulling briskly up on the front of the rear seat to unclip it. It then just lifts out. The rear seat back is the same deal, pull sharply on the top of the rear seat back and it will unclip and then you can lift it out.

The electrical connectors attach to the inside of the convertible top around the front part of the convertible top inside the top (where you installed the brackets). You must route the wiring harness to the connector located on the top part of where the rear seat back was located. It will take some looking to find the connector thus the reason you will need to look at the provided connector ends on the wiring harness and see where they plug into the convertible top power and then to where the harness is run through the rear side panel to the back or the rear seat back.

The power for the window defogger and the lights come from the small connector that sits on top of the bracket you installed earlier. The connector on each side of the car where the brackets installed are like an O allowing a solid ground when the top is installed. Route the wiring so that it does not interfere with the top operation.

I know this is hard without pictures but my instructions had no information to speak of and a couple of crude pictures. It was one page of about 8" by 4".