New top recommendations

G

Gschwartzman

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Joined
Jul 25, 2026
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I am the original owner of a 99 M Roadster. 21K miles and always garaged. The rubber bead around the rear window is coming apart so I looked into buying and OEM window for replacement. Every installer I spoke with recommended replacing the entire top, stating that zipping a new window into an old top is very difficult, and would likely fail because of the old stitching. An OEM top is very expensive, and I have heard that tops by GAHH and Robbins are as good, if not better than a new OEM top. Does anyone have any advice they could offer me regarding a new top? This car will be with me for life, and I want to do the right thing.

Thanks.

Greg.
 
On a 20 year old Z3 the stitching can be quite 'ripe'. I changed my back window around 12 years ago and it went fine. But tried to unzip it 2 years ago and the stitching just fell apart.

I don't know what causes the stitching to rot. Maybe outside elements, acid rain, sun, cold, heat etc. Your car has such a low mileage and always garaged then maybe your stitching is still good.

If it was me and assuming the rest of the roof is good I think I'd look at changing the window.
 
I don’t think you’ve been given bad advice, but it depends what the condition of your hood is like and how you use the car. If it’s a fair weather car that you only use with the top down, the ‘do nothing’ option might be a good one.
Replacement of the window alone seems like an easy job if you know what you’re doing, but I do know of many people who have struggled with it and if the existing window has pulled away from the hood, it will be pointless.
 
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