E46 hardtop, worth having?

[Toilet Duck]

Hello,

Is it worth having a hardtop for an E46 M3 convertible? I have heard that fitting one makes the cabin a lot quieter. Can anyone who has driven an E46 convertible with and without a hartop fitted comment please? I'm debating wether to get one or not. I've heard that they are prone to getting stolen and the thieves smash your windows in order to remove them and in doing so often scratch the bodywork etc and leave you with a massive insurance bill, if this is true it somewhat puts me off buying one. My car is garaged, but I like the appeal of a hartop as I think it makes the car look better (when its not roof down weather) and I imagine it would prolong the life of the soft top as it won't be exposed to the weather etc.

Any thoughts or comments to help me decide would be most appreciated.

[Fox-]

Pointless. If you own a cabrio, it isnt raining and its more than 2c, the roof should be down. A hardtop makes this faff.

[Toilet Duck]

Fox- said:

If you own a cabrio, it isnt raining and its more than 2c, the roof should be down.

Driving around with the roof down in January at 3 degree C temps is not my idea of fun and you'd look a right c*nt.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Toilet Duck said:

Fox- said:

If you own a cabrio, it isnt raining and its more than 2c, the roof should be down.

Driving around with the roof down in January at 3 degree C temps is not my idea of fun and you'd look a right c*nt.

I had the roof down at -3 in january

[Bill Carr]

Toilet Duck said:

Fox- said:

If you own a cabrio, it isnt raining and its more than 2c, the roof should be down.

Driving around with the roof down in January at 3 degree C temps is not my idea of fun and you'd look a right c*nt.

That's what heaters are for! And who cares what people think - won't they be thinking that of you anyway for driving a convertible BMW?

[Toilet Duck]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

I had the roof down at -3 in january

Like I said, not my idea of fun! If you don't mind driving dressed up like Scott of the Antarctic then each to their own

Bill Carr said:

That's what heaters are for!

I've got heated seats and they make a massive difference, but driving around in 3degC with the roof down is pushing it.

Bill Carr said:

And who cares what people think - won't they be thinking that of you anyway for driving a convertible BMW?

I put my hands up to that one

[root 666]

You want this.

No, you really do.

£1100 (before haggling)

94 320 conv. with hardtop.
M6 alloys. Full leather.
8 months MoT, Taxed March.
Top-end rebuild plus re-bush and rear springs.
Plenty bills and service.

Mint the rest of the car, re-tax it and sell it in May for what it cost you in total. Or perhaps a slight profit.

Plan B. I'll buy it and the hardtop's yours for £750.

PM if you want the number. It's in Bromley.

[B3Svert]

'94 hard top would be e36, would be a bit of a bugger trying to fit it onto an e46

On the subject of temperatures, I did -5c with the top down in January... Was not by choice though, I had a 12ft set of ladders sticking out of the back.

And yes, I am sure I looked a right c*nt. Thank god for heated seats

[root 666]

Oh st!

I was convinced it said E36.

This possibly accounts for the fact that the trousers I've just bought are 10" less round the waist than they need to be.

Forgive me.
(Does this mean you don't want it?)

[danzltiu]

I like the hard top for winter. Put it on about November until start of March. Best of both worlds, your not going to have roof down in winter the h/top is much more serviceable for cleaning and snow etc during bad weather. I think it gives more security with little risk of theft of the roof itself.
regards
Danzltiu

[AB]

In my experience, the hard top makes very little difference anyway, its expensive, a pain to store and I have the roof down whenever it isnt raining. Heated seats and heaters work fantastically.

Why buy a convertible and use it twice a year?

[sjj84]

I'm concidering buying a E46 convertible soon, how much are these hardtops worth new and second hand?

[Pork]

sjj84 said:

I'm concidering buying a E46 convertible soon, how much are these hardtops worth new and second hand?

Depends, somewhere between £500-£900 I reckon.

I thought about getting one but really, having the roof down if its dry is a joy. I drive with the roof off in all weathers and decided that while I think the cars look awesome with hard tops on, it was just too much hassle. The clincher was I read a number of threads saying they were very easy to nick!