Convertible rear window

[Das Delfin]

^ no get the emiata one. Google it

[bmwtool]

Am I understanding this correctly: A zip in window costs MORE than a new top?

[Das Delfin]

^ yeah it's like a C-channel. There's a slot going down it where it slips over the perimeter of the fabric.

I believe the top would have come with it installed. I couldn't find a separate part number for it. Realoem is wrong sometimes but it makes more sense that something as insignificant as that would just be included with the top, especially considering that the top already has lots of other parts which could be separated in the same manner as this piece

I didn't reuse mine because it was split etc and I don't really miss it. I'm not taking my car to a concours any time soon. You might have to get creative with a replacement.

[reelizmpro]

It's flimsy and has a channel where it clips onto the top fabric outlining the window. I didn't reinstall mine when I installed my new window. Needs an adhesive all round to stay put and I figured it might make more of a mess than anything.

[MSGGrunt]

So, if it is glued to the original top, which mine is, where would I buy that channel? It's not shown on real OEM. And to be perfectly honest, the top, IMHO, would not be installed properly without this. Maybe this is already glued on an original factory window? Anyone on here know if that is the case. Seems that if this piece were easily available the aftermarket window suppliers would include it with their windows or at least offer it as an option.

[Das Delfin]

No if you look at the picture you posted you can see it's glued to the top after. The emiata window doesn't come with it. However you can probably find some non-oem way to make one at the hardware store

[MSGGrunt]

So the trim piece needs to be glued to the window and then the top glued under it? That sounds like lots of fun. Real OEM doesn't show the trim piece so is it included with the window, either if purchased from a dealer or aftermarket? Just looks sloppy to me without the fabric of the top neatly tucked into the trim piece as originally designed.

[Das Delfin]

the trim piece you're asking about is separate

[MSGGrunt]

Is the rubber trim piece part of the window or is it separate? The part that the cloth of the top tucks in under. My top is fine but, the rubber trim piece is all cracked and I have a small hole in the window itself.

[fporro]

easier to retrofit zipper type to a 87 and if so, only oem or can it be mcGivered ?

[McGyver]

Why not pull the top off of the car to make things easier on yourself? There are only 4, maybe 6 bouts to deal with.

Because I'd rather take 2 hours working around something than spend 5 minutes removing the part to make the job simple. But seriously, the car is parked in a garage with no doors or lights and is right off an alley. So I would be too worried that someone would come fuck with the car when they see the top off for however long it tool to sew in the window.

[87cabrio89is]

I probably will, but I'm not sure yet. I ran out of thread and patience (and bent 2 needles and broke the supplied needle), so I'm going to get back to working on it today and hopefully get close to finishing. I sorta wish it looked nicer, but I'm selling the car and it's only getting a window so I can say that the top doesn't leak. I guess I'll take some pictures today to show my process.

Why not pull the top off of the car to make things easier on yourself? There are only 4, maybe 6 bouts to deal with.

[McGyver]

I was wondering how serious you were earlier. Half the reason I bought my car was because the top had a zip in window. Do you have any issues with the window creasing?

I probably will, but I'm not sure yet. I ran out of thread and patience (and bent 2 needles and broke the supplied needle), so I'm going to get back to working on it today and hopefully get close to finishing. I sorta wish it looked nicer, but I'm selling the car and it's only getting a window so I can say that the top doesn't leak. I guess I'll take some pictures today to show my process.

[Das Delfin]

I was wondering how serious you were earlier. Half the reason I bought my car was because the top had a zip in window. Do you have any issues with the window creasing?

[McGyver]

I've put in a zip-in emiata window in my 89 vert, but am about to do a sew-in window on my 87 vert. Does anyone have any suggestions other than get a thimble and use the factory window holes? How do you suspend the window to keep from getting diagonal lines?

Well, I'm a little more than half way through sewing in the window. It's a complete PITA. There is no way around it, it just really sucks.

The old window fell out and the inner fabric strip fell out with it. So first thing was to pin and sew the fabric strip back in (took about 4 hours). Then cut the new window a little larger than the old window to account for shrinkage. Then ducktape the new window in place on the outside of the top. Then slide the window into the slot between the fabric strip and the top and re-tape. Then adjust the window around to be centered and re-tape. Then pin the fucking window. Then put a 6" bead of contact cement between the top and the window while sewing.

I'm not that fast at it and am working alone (get in the car, push needle through, get out, pull needle through, push needle back in, get in car, etc). It seems to take me about 30 minutes to do sew in about 4.5 feet of thread, and takes about 3 thread sections for 1/4 of the window. So if I can keep my speed up (and I wont be able to when i get to tough spots), it's about 6 hours of sewing for just putting the plastic in.

Bottom line? The job sucks and it's probably a better idea to just replace the top with one that has a zip-in window.

/rant.