2004 convertible hard-top..the part

[flashinthepan]

Hi ppl,

I took delivery on a 2004Cic, all is well etc..(actually love the car)

I went to order the Hardtop today at my Dealership, since my color, Met. Black-Sapphire is a recent one and the car is an 04 there is no part # for this top yet.

So I was told by a BMWNA rep it may be November before it is orderable.

So...

My advice, order the hardtop with the car if you are in the market soon.

 

[PuShAkOv]

It is too expensive and I do not think it is worth buying.... a person thing I think. During winter it gets hot in the car.. yes .. very HOT.

 

[Kirby]

Are you trying to order the hardtop as an accessory PREPAINTED from the factory in your body color?

I have an '04 330cic with the hardtop, so I can guarantee that it was available in April. I ordered it with the car as a factory option. My dealer told me that if you order it as an accessory after the car is built, you CANNOT get it from the factory painted. It comes in PRIMERED and you must have it painted at additional cost, so it is cheaper to order it with the car.

Now, that is what I was told, I'm not saying my dealer was correct, but he IS very knowlegeable. I'm just wondering if this is true and your dealer is looking for a part number that is not available because it never will be?


By the way I just got my EZTOP hardtop hoist to hang the top from the ceiling of the garage. I plan on installing it today/tomorrow. I will post a report and pictures when I am done.

 

[flashinthepan]

Hi Kirby,

BMW has changed that plan on the hardtops,

They now come "pre-painted", complete with the baked finish when order as an accessory.

I too, was told at the dealer initially that the top would be painted after the fact - locally. But it is not the case anymore, which I am happy for because I would like the factory finish etc...

It does seem like a complete turnaround from my original info.

They are going to ship "pre-painted" on the 04's.

It is funny how you know the tops are out there but not orderable till fall - due to a lack of a part number ???? This info was per a BMW rep on the owner circle phone number & the local dealer.

[???1]

Hartops are a personal preference, I like the solid coupe look, even though I also do love the rag-top.

 

[Kirby]

I'm glad to hear they changed that!

I too like the look of the hardtop. It's almost like having 2 cars, and without a "trained eye" you can't see that it's a hardtop at all.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Personally, one of the main reasons I got a convertible is that I do not like Non-Convertible 3-series look (except M3s). To me "you can't see that it's a hardtop at all" would be a negative connotation since I think soft top adds a certain degreen of style that the coupe does not have. The car just looks too plain with a hard top.. my personal opinion. I think people respect convertibles much more and I do not want to dress-up as a coupe if I am given a choice.

 

[Kirby]

I think people respect convertibles much more and I do not want to dress-up as a coupe if I am given a choice.

In other words you are not a cross-dresser!

 

[flashinthepan]

Personally, one of the main reasons I got a convertible is that I do not like Non-Convertible 3-series look (except M3s).

Thats where we differ, though I enjoy the convertible I really also think the coupes look nice. I would have had a 330ci with a sunroof as choice #2.

 

[PuShAkOv]

I was debating of wheather to but M3 Coupe or 330CiC.... since I did not know how to drive a manual and I needed a new car since I trashed my INFINITI and I always wanted a convertible and its design.... I went with 330CiC. However... sometimes I have buyer remorse when I want speed and such.

 

[MrElussive]

Infiniti sucks.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Infiniti sucks.

Wo.. whats wrong man? You have the new G... what happened?

 

[pydo82]

I love convertables. I would love to have one, But I have to say...( no offense pushakov, i think your ride is sweet, especially compared to my humble '04 325ci) I hate the look of a convertable with the ragtop. It takes away from the shape of the car and I think it is just ugly. I think when the top is down...hell yeah, it looks dope, and of course convertables command respect, especially a 330. But I don't know, thats the one thing that would keep me from ever buying a convertable. the only ones I would ever buy is the lexus sc430 and the sl's from mercedes. All the benefits of a convertable, and without losing it's looks. Convertables are cool, but hate the ragtops. So for me personally, Hardtop convertables in my opinion are the perfect solution.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Yeah... but instead of one look of a BMW 3-series you are talking about... there is 2:
One for convertible and one for a coupe, you cannot escape that Even if you have a retractable hard top it will not be the same. Putting a hard top on that will leave you somewhere in between... say... a mutant?

 

[flashinthepan]

The Mercedes SL does have a very nice looking hardtop.

I also think the Hardtop on the 3 series is one of the nicest looking "vert" tops, it has very pleasing lines IMO. The Automatic Rag-top is very functional & decently quiet, but the Hardtop still looks nicer for winter driving.

But-

Topless is still Boss. Just too much rain in Oregon

 

[PuShAkOv]

My car is a girl. I love when she is topless.

 

[MrElussive]

The 330Ci Convertible does not look good with the top up...most rag-top convertibles don't look good with the top up. This is a given and something you have to deal with when it comes to driving a convertible. But for all those days that the top is down, the car is really sweet to drive and looks great.

 

[flashinthepan]

The 330Ci Convertible does not look good with the top up...most rag-top convertibles don't look good

I agree w/ Mr Ellusive - Rag tops (when up) are just not pleasing to the eyes. I need that hard-top coupe look soon.

 

[PuShAkOv]

BMW drivers tend to have very different views... I love my ragtop.

Look at my bright side:

I love my car when its with a ragtop or not.. while you guys hate your cars 50% of the time.

Plus why would I all that extra weight for nothin'?

 

[frolf]

porsche's look good with hardtops on rags.

 

[MrElussive]

Pushakov, the 330Ci Convertible weighs about 400 pounds more than the 330Ci Coupe. It weighs more because they stiffen up the frame and add other safety features (such as rollbar) to make the car more safe and stable on the road.
frolf, I agree with you. The 911 Cabriolet is a sweet-looking car, top up or down. But I think the best car to go with nowadays is one with a hard-top convertible. They offer the all-weather drivability, durability, protection, and sleek look of a coupe with the fun of a convertible. I just hope that we will start seeing some 4-seater convertibles with retracting hard roofs soon.