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02-13-2019, 01:37 PM | #1 |
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Vert top E88
Can anyone tell me why the top is so costly to replace? Mine works fine although I am contemplating a switch from Tan to black and all I see is approx. $5,000 cost which seems so ridiculous considering the actual top can be had for 1k. Is it really that difficult to replace? Are independents just as pricey? Thx
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02-13-2019, 04:05 PM | #4 |
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02-13-2019, 04:16 PM | #6 |
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Drives: 2008 BMW 135i (E88 N54 6AT)
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Sunshine Coast QLD Australia
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Yeah, I've been quoted $3,200 AUD from a convertible soft-top specialist with an aftermarket top.
It's the labor. I'm told it's 12+ hours work for installation of a new top. |
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02-14-2019, 06:49 AM | #8 |
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I put a new top on an old Fiat 124 Spyder. It wasn't very hard. But it was not lined and was manual open and close. The liner has to add cost - but also helps keep things quieter. The bimmer top is significantly bigger, has a back window of glass with a defroster, and is lined. That would all seem to add cost and complexity.
My car will be 10 in June but I got two new tops early from BMW under warranty. So my top is more like 7 or 8 years old. I treat it annually and it seems to be doing fine. I plan to keep taking care of it and see how long it lasts.
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128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport
Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09 |
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02-14-2019, 07:17 AM | #9 | |
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02-14-2019, 08:20 AM | #10 |
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I've never done it but it might be worth looking for information on dying the current top. The water repellant probably makes it difficult for the dye to penetrate, however.
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128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport
Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09 |
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02-14-2019, 06:29 PM | #11 |
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I had an E30 manual top with vinyl window replaced by a local indy in Seattle, it was 1600 plus tax and a couple bits they needed to replace (cables & stays). Total with tax was still under 2K. I imagine they'd be around 2400-3000 for an E88, since the top is so much nicer and is motorized.
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02-20-2019, 03:35 PM | #13 |
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02-24-2019, 03:06 PM | #14 |
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Labor to install the top is a lot. Generally installing a convertible top onto a frame involves a lot of tensioning the materials and cables properly. My cars previous owner put in a new top less than a year before I bought it, he said it costed him over $4,000 to have done at a reputable convertible top shop.
This actually almost seems cheap to me. I used to have a 1990 Miata which had the top slashed and insurance quoted ~$2,000 to replace and install on the frame. The Miata top is fully manual and much smaller/simpler but still requires significant labor even though the fabric only costs $250-1000 depending on brand for the soft top. I opted to take the check and buy a lightly used top which was already installed on a frame for ~$300 and swap it out myself. |
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03-22-2019, 01:28 PM | #15 |
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As someone who has to either repair or replace the top on my 08 model, I can help. The BMW part itself for the top cover is $2600 retail, a few hundred less wholesale. Replacement takes 6.5 hours labor at whatever your shop's labor rate is (Mine is $110 per hour). Even with the inflated part cost my monopoly local dealer gave me, the job is $4K at the high end, $3200 or so at the low.
If anyone needs the BMW part for the top cover let me know. Cheers everyone. |
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