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Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:06 pm
by alexdejonghe
Alright fellas,
Just a quickie, have any of you repaired (replaced) a torn rear screen on a non-zippy convertible soft-top with a kit like this (below) that allows you to stitch-in a zipper and new plastic sheeting?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-REPAIR-Z ... 1438.l2649
Any good/bad experiences to report?
Whilst I think the ad looks pants and I don't like buying generic rubbish for the E30, this is cheap and if it'd work as a short-term measure (in mid-winter) it might be worth a pop in addition to buying a hardtop off Z3I.
Cheers
Alex
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:05 pm
by martauto
Short term it would be really cheap and do a job. 0 .75 mm is very thin and may not stand up to a very hard winter but how long do you need it for ???
I replaced my Baur screen three years ago with 1.25 mm and should have gone more but it`s still there.
I glued mine in with a marine two pack which will never come out and water proof.
Mart.

Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:36 pm
by Topblag
I've sewn one in before, horrible job and hard to get the stitching to look good.
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:09 pm
by alexdejonghe
Thanks lads, possibly worth a shot as a short-term (until the summer) fix then, even if attached with glue, though worried this'd make it brittle & breakable whenever the roof gets folded down. Mart have you able to collapse the roof easily with the screen you fitted? Does yours have one of these zippers? And did you cut your screen to fit or purchase it made to measure?
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 8:36 pm
by Topblag
Don’t forget that the material increases with heat, so if it’s hot enough to put the roof down, the window will be warm and plyable.
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:12 pm
by alexdejonghe
Topblag wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 8:36 pm
Don’t forget that the material increases with heat, so if it’s hot enough to put the roof down, the window will be warm and plyable.
Ah hadn't thought about that, ta. I guess a little slack needs to be incorporated then when fitting the screen in winter temps.
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:09 am
by Topblag
I made the mistake of cutting it indoors, where it was warm and as the day grew colder, it was harder to fit and sew outside - small margins.
Re: Cabrio rear screen tear
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 3:22 pm
by martauto
alexdejonghe wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:09 pm
Mart have you able to collapse the roof easily with the screen you fitted? Does yours have one of these zippers? And did you cut your screen to fit or purchase it made to measure?
I bought the plastic sheet from e-bay and cut it with a pair of scisorrs .
I did all of this in the kitchen in early april with the french doors open and it was bloody cold.lol.
I brought the rear section of the roof into the kitchen and glued it in place but, keep the bloody doors open
This was marine adhesive for gluing "oarlocks" to rubber crafts so flexes really well and folds down in any temperature.
It was only a temp fix but has been there for nearly three years now.
Mart.
