............pop, and there goes my plastic window

[JAAY]

AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....... Notice my car on the right.. Top down. My windows are always cracking.. Show offs......... This is my third plastic. I should just find a glass one at this point. 600 a pop to have that f'!@# fixed. I am just jealous, sorry for my rant. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[embryoguy@mac.com]

during summer i apply the plastic lubricant as often as possible from the outside and inside. so far no issues....and do it as part of my winter storage prep. i also lubricate all outside plastic trim pieces.

[sasha055]

What lubricant do you guys use?

Thanks
Sasha

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by JAAY

AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....... Notice my car on the right.. Top down. My windows are always cracking.. Show offs......... This is my third plastic. I should just find a glass one at this point. 600 a pop to have that f'!@# fixed. I am just jealous, sorry for my rant. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

I will gladly trade my 03 top for your 3.4L engine, Jay!

[landrovered]

My rear window has a small crack on each side where the canvas meets the vinyl and you can hardly see out of it.

I have been looking at new materials to replace it with and Texin® DP7-3007 TPU seems to be the latest and greatest.

I have found one place in California that sells it and I am waiting on a price from them, I will post the info when I recieve it.

http://tpe-u.com/tpu/emea/en/markets/automotive/docId-2399237/Heckscheibe_des_BMW_Z8_Roadster.html

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by landrovered

My rear window has a small crack on each side where the canvas meets the vinyl and you can hardly see out of it.

I have been looking at new materials to replace it with and Texin® DP7-3007 TPU seems to be the latest and greatest.

I have found one place in California that sells it and I am waiting on a price from them, I will post the info when I recieve it.

http://tpe-u.com/tpu/emea/en/markets/automotive/docId-2399237/Heckscheibe_des_BMW_Z8_Roadster.html

IMHO, as long as it's plastic, you'll always worry about it cracking. If I couldn't easily find an 03 or 04 top, I'd go the alternative and just buy an aftermarket top for $600, consider a self install with the great instructions shown below, and be done with it. No more plastic window cracking worries...

Top replacement DIY:
http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/replacingthetop-adiy

Link for aftermarket glass windowed soft top for $599 (not really true what they say about OEM look (maybe Mustang or S2000 OEM look), but Porsche's glass window has a seal around it, but still:

http://www.autotopsdirect.com/Boxster-Glass-Windows-s/97.htm

[landrovered]

My top is fine, the PVC has leached out of the clear vinyl. No sense in replacing perfectly good canvas when I can get the window replaced a lot cheaper.

The advantage of TPU is that it is a different type of plastic that is not PVC. When was the last time you saw a PVC window that the menufacturer said could be washed in an automatic car wash?

This stuff looks pretty scratch resistant and not subject to the inherent shortcomings of PVC vinyl.

I say it is worth a shot.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by landrovered

My top is fine, the PVC has leached out of the clear vinyl. No sense in replacing perfectly good canvas when I can get the window replaced a lot cheaper.

The advantage of TPU is that it is a different type of plastic that is not PVC. When was the last time you saw a PVC window that the menufacturer said could be washed in an automatic car wash?

This stuff looks pretty scratch resistant and not subject to the inherent shortcomings of PVC vinyl.

I say it is worth a shot.

Of course, it's your car, so if you think it's worth it, more power to ya. My only thought is that: 1) of course glass is more durable than even TPU, 2) it updates the look of the car (what convertible these days comes with a plastic window?, and 3) unless you replace the plastic window portion yourself, an installer will still charge you $400-$450 to sew in a new window, so you wouldn't be saving yourself that much in the long run, as a glass window will still outlast the TPU. One poke of a pencil thru the TPU window by a vandal, and it's done. JMHO.

[landrovered]

I would agree with you if I was not buying a Zeintop. The ragtop is going to be in a backup role if it ever goes back on the car at all. So in the mean time I am looking for a cheap fix.

I have a local upholsterer who is quite talented and quite reasonable (case of beer kind of thing) so it makes sense in my situation.