Seating Targa Panels

[Ryder35]

Hi,

took the targa panels off my 05 350T the other day. Now that I have put them back they are whistling quite badly at 60mph+ I know this is caused by not seating them properly but having searched I cannot find any explanation of how they should be seated. I have the new style attatchment (2 at the back and 2 clips on the front) and have simply slotted the front clips in and tightened the rear nuts. Problem is there seems to be quite a lot of side to side movement available before tightening. How do I work out where they should line up etc? Is there a guide somewhere to the correct fitting?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[astonman]

Well this is easy! It took me ages to find the ideal position, but basically try to get the "lids" evenly positioned about the roof aperture, make sure the "lid" is well pushed into the front slots and then clamp down the rear.It took quite a bit of trial and error so afterwards I have put several tell tale marks on each side to line up with.Last time I took one off it went back into the correct position straight off.
To get a better "grip" I washed the seals carefully with dilute detergent and the paint surface they push onto.Made sure they were well rinsed and dry before re fitting.Simon.

[Ryder35]

astonman said:

Well this is easy! It took me ages to find the ideal position, but basically try to get the "lids" evenly positioned about the roof aperture, make sure the "lid" is well pushed into the front slots and then clamp down the rear.It took quite a bit of trial and error so afterwards I have put several tell tale marks on each side to line up with.Last time I took one off it went back into the correct position straight off.
To get a better "grip" I washed the seals carefully with dilute detergent and the paint surface they push onto.Made sure they were well rinsed and dry before re fitting.Simon.

Simon,

thanks for the hints. Does yours have armourfend around the roof apatures?

Regards
John

[m999psw]

Mine has armourfend and i do line the panels up with the lines of the plastic. I do stand at the back of the car and push the panels from the back into the front clips and then tighten up the backs. Maybe I have got used to them but it is quick and I can get them so there is no real noise at normal motorway speeds.

Paul

[astonman]

No mine does not have any plastic covering, just the paint.Simon.

[donaldosaurus]

I see a Targa the same as mine for sale in Autotrader. The seller has lined the panels to reduce buffetting noise. Has anyone tried this. I like the look of the raw naked carbon undersides of my panels. They are mark 2 type. I was warned about noise when I bought the car but only intend to fit panels when caught out in the rain. I really love my Targa.

[J_S_G]

donaldosaurus said:

I see a Targa the same as mine for sale in Autotrader. The seller has lined the panels to reduce buffetting noise. Has anyone tried this. I like the look of the raw naked carbon undersides of my panels. They are mark 2 type. I was warned about noise when I bought the car but only intend to fit panels when caught out in the rain. I really love my Targa.

Have had my panels lined - see the thread I posted up here a few days ago. It doesn't affect the wind noise at all; what it does do is stop the sound reflections from the exhaust. If it had just been lined in alcantara/leather/etc. it wouldn't have made much difference at all... had about 3-4mm of foam sandwiched between the alcantara used for trimming them and the panels themselves, though, and that's what's helped.

I did once try some additional rubber seals around the OUTSIDE of the front of the targa "gaps" on the roof - that reduced wind noise massively at high speeds (triple digit speeds). After having some more effective clasps made up than the factory ones, it didn't need those any more.

I wouldn't have bothered with the trimming if it wasn't for having a super-sports exhaust on it; with a normal one, I can't see it would have spurred me into action at all!

[Mr John]

J_S_G said:

donaldosaurus said:

I see a Targa the same as mine for sale in Autotrader. The seller has lined the panels to reduce buffetting noise. Has anyone tried this. I like the look of the raw naked carbon undersides of my panels. They are mark 2 type. I was warned about noise when I bought the car but only intend to fit panels when caught out in the rain. I really love my Targa.

Have had my panels lined - see the thread I posted up here a few days ago. It doesn't affect the wind noise at all; what it does do is stop the sound reflections from the exhaust. If it had just been lined in alcantara/leather/etc. it wouldn't have made much difference at all... had about 3-4mm of foam sandwiched between the alcantara used for trimming them and the panels themselves, though, and that's what's helped.

I did once try some additional rubber seals around the OUTSIDE of the front of the targa "gaps" on the roof - that reduced wind noise massively at high speeds (triple digit speeds). After having some more effective clasps made up than the factory ones, it didn't need those any more.

I wouldn't have bothered with the trimming if it wasn't for having a super-sports exhaust on it; with a normal one, I can't see it would have spurred me into action at all!

Desperate for some new clips / fastners for my panels, they are bent on the passenger side.
Where did you source yours from ?

[Road Hog]

have lined mine with a material that looks carbon fibre..ish with a foam backing ...looks ok honest..


and has significantly reduced wind/exhaust noise..

[Targarama]

Every one is different so you're going to have to play with your panels a bit and work out how they fit best. As has been said, spend some time getting them lined up, push all the way 'in and down' at the front, then tighten the rears evenly.

[m999psw]

My panels had a seal on the inside and some foam like draught excluder between the seal and the onside trim rubber.
I have now removed and replaced the foam stuff with a proper automotive self adhesive 'O' seal and the results are much much better. Before I used to drop the window a bit to stop the wind noise from the roof panels, it is now silent at normal motorway speeds.
The seal only cost £5.00 and took 10 minutes to fit but it did take me a year to get around to doing it!

Paul