Fitting the hard top

This is the workshop procedure (TIS) for installing a hard top for the first time and adjusting it. The thread posted it in 2004. The hard top bolts on with slotted brackets and screws, and the fitting is a few minutes once it is set up. It can't be stored in the car when it is removed, so it stays at home. The soft top, by comparison, is covered in Soft top: taking it off and putting it on.

Install and adjust the hard top

1. Check the door alignment (see the workshop instruction for removing and installing the door).
2. Open the doors and windows.
3. Remove the soft top and stow it. Remove the left and right hoops and stow them.
4. Early cars only (up to model year 2002): remove the left and right cant rail rear brackets from the roll-over bar, and the locating dowels for them. Fit the dowels to the new brackets before fitting them, so the dowels aren't pushed in flush with the roll-over bar face. Fit the new brackets, reusing the screws with Loctite on the threads, and tighten fully.
5. Remove the interior roof covers from the hard top and check the black spacers are in place on the front cover.
6. Detach the front and rear tethered brackets (hung on cables) from the hard top.
7. Loosen the left and right slotted brackets of the hard top assembly (4 screws each side).
8. Position the hard top with its rear edge on the rear header rail. Lower the front edge onto the front header rail and push it fully forward. A second person is recommended.
9. Fit the two front tethered brackets loosely. Check the top is central on the front header rail, then secure the front brackets with the tool provided.
10. Fit and secure the two rear tethered brackets with the tool provided. They must be hooked into the cant rail rear brackets correctly.
11. Push the hard top fully forward to seat the front brackets fully. Tighten the lower screws of the left and right slotted rear brackets to 10 Nm.
12. Remove the two rear tethered brackets to reach the upper screws. Tighten the upper screws of the left and right brackets to 10 Nm.
13. Refit and secure the two rear tethered brackets.
14. Fit the left and right rear covers to the hard top with the tool provided.
15. Fit the front header panel (3 screws) with the tool provided. Check the spacers are in place.
16. Close the windows and doors, and check the windows fit the hard top seals. Adjust them if they don't (below).

Adjusting the door windows

Only needed if the window doesn't seal against the hard top seal.

1. Open the door and remove the silver insert trim from the door panel.
2. Cut the water deflector carefully to reach the eccentric adjuster.
3. Mark the position of the eccentric. Loosen its screw, which goes in from the back, adjust the eccentric and tighten the screw.
4. Close the window (fit the window crank if needed). Close the door and check the window height. Repeat if needed.
5. Seal the cut in the water deflector with sealing tape and refit the silver insert trim.
6. Window inclination: with the door open, turn the front and rear adjusting screws in the lower door area. Don't over-adjust or the screws can pull out of their threads. Close the door and check, and repeat if necessary.

See also Adjusting the windows and Door panel removal.