Vert top E88

[Artdnj]

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

[olds350]

subscribed...

[blue135]

The quote I got for black was $2400, but I did not go to dealer. My Indy gave me name that did his E46 since he thought they did good work.

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by blue135

The quote I got for black was $2400, but I did not go to dealer. My Indy gave me name that did his E46 since he thought they did good work.

$2400 at dealer or Indy? Seems more realistic.

[corman1]

I just got a quote for $1600 for a black top.

[xQx]

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.

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by corman1

I just got a quote for $1600 for a black top.

wow, Indy in your home state? Just a top change right, no mechanicals?

[JimD]

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.

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by JimD

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.

Thanks for post. My car has the taupe original top, operates fine and because it's original a bit faded. I would love to change color to black at some point but the costs I am hearing makes me think that will never happen.

[JimD]

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.

[bobdavisnpf]

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.

[corman1]

Originally Posted by Artdnj

wow, Indy in your home state? Just a top change right, no mechanicals?

Yeah it was a local convertible top repair shop that can replace just the outer top for $1600. It wasn't for any mechanical parts.

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by corman1

Yeah it was a local convertible top repair shop that can replace just the outer top for $1600. It wasn't for any mechanical parts.

ok thanks, I have no mech issues with the top just a potential color change.

[Manual Transmission]

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.

[Angry3]

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.

[talmadge]

Originally Posted by corman1

I just got a quote for $1600 for a black top.

Your quote was for the top and installation correct?

[talmadge]

Originally Posted by corman1

I just got a quote for $1600 for a black top.

Your quote was for the top and installation correct?