MY2000 S2K Hardtop Retrofit [Archive]

irvinchua

15-04-2008, 02:55 AM

Hey guys, I could not find any information on this using the search function so I hope some of you guys can help me out.

I want to fit a hardtop onto my MY2000 S2K and I've found that I need a mounting kit costing something in the range of USD700 (excluding shipping).

My question is, how/who can I source this locally besides from the dealer because they'd probably want an arm and a leg.

Next is, can anyone recommend a workshop in Melbourne that has experience fitting the kit? I'm not DIY expert and the space I have to work with is not exactly spacious or conducive to this type of work.

Thanks.

AusS2000

15-04-2008, 08:53 AM

Firstly, a US contact is your cheapest option. Try http://www.hardtopguy.com/.

Secondly, it ain't exactly rocket surgery. I did mine in my garage. Any half competent mechanic could do it.

AusS2000

15-04-2008, 08:55 AM

I did mine in my garage.

I know, I know, here's another cookie. :rolleyes:

revolution

15-04-2008, 11:40 AM

I know, I know, here's another cookie. :rolleyes:

LoL Aus.

toE

15-04-2008, 12:46 PM

It shouldn't be too hard to fit.
Otherwise, try the guys at Motorware, if you really cannot be stuffed figuring it out yourself :D

irvinchua

16-04-2008, 06:25 PM

Thanks guys. I did try searching in www.hardtopguy.com and also s2ki.com but what confused me is the reference of KIT A,B and C.

Also, hardtopguy.com mentioned that their kits are not for right hand drive models. I guess I'll give Motorware a call and see what they'd quote me.

Does anyone know if a trader in the forums who carry the kit?

AusS2000

16-04-2008, 10:19 PM

There is very little difference between the RHD and LHD kits for a MY2000-2003 S2000.

I bought the rear catchers from the US. That's all you really need if you hardtop comes with the rear latches.

Later I picked up the demister harness and a cluster switch (not the center console one. Haven't wired it up yet though.

Smooov

20-04-2008, 06:47 AM

Let me know how you go ordering the parts, i bought a hardtop and have the same issues.. cheers

ROLLED

20-04-2008, 01:26 PM

It shouldn't be too hard to fit.
Otherwise, try the guys at Motorware, if you really cannot be stuffed figuring it out yourself :D

Don't go to Motorware...They have shocking after-sales service, both myself and others I know have had extremely bad paint jobs, I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM WITH MY CAR AGAIN...EVER.

irvinchua

26-04-2008, 04:18 PM

Hmm, more research required, but I better hurry up while hardtopguy.com still has the promo. He hasn't replied my email yet.

I'll tkae photo's of the connection points and maybe those of you who have done the install can advise me on what I need to get it mounted and the demister working.

BTW, the hardtop is red, my car is grey and I plan to spray the hardtop black to match the front window frame.

ludecrs

26-04-2008, 05:10 PM

Or just remove the tape on the windshield, and paint the top red?

AusS2000

27-04-2008, 08:43 PM

Hmmm that'd look good. Grey car, grey windshield and red hardtop. Nice!

irvinchua

28-04-2008, 09:46 AM

Correction,
Grey car, BLACK windshield and red hardtop (to the workshop).

then,
Grey car, BLACK windshield and BLACK hardtop (from the workshop).

Tadah!!

ludecrs

28-04-2008, 09:55 AM

You know the windshield is just BLACK tape, and can be removed.... right?

.::F[L]Y::.

28-04-2008, 12:37 PM

i actually like the black tape.

ludecrs

28-04-2008, 12:48 PM

So do I, I just don't like the clips underneath it in the 2 corners.

irvinchua

29-04-2008, 01:06 PM

I'm not aware of any black tape, though I have to admit that I have not checked. I figure, the less I fiddle the less I find I want to spend on the car.

Last time I had a fiddle, I've decided that I need to get a lower driver's seat rail and a hard top. And that's just the beginning.

ludecrs

29-04-2008, 01:14 PM

Whats around your window frame is black tape, on all 99-02? S2000. Peel it off, and underneath is your cars colour, be it NFR, MCB, Silverstone, GPW etc.

irvinchua

29-04-2008, 01:18 PM

I kinda like it the way it is. The hardtop will not look out of place if it were sprayed black (or Berlina Black).

However statistically speaking, if I spray it Silverstone, I won't have a problem selling it at a later date seeing 70% of S2000s out there are silver anyhoos. =Þ

jcz

01-05-2008, 02:48 PM

just a question guys ... is there any hardtops available that sits above the soft top, so that when the occasion arises the soft top can still be used and the roof can still be reclined?

ludecrs

01-05-2008, 03:11 PM

I doubt it since the strickers / latches would already be in use from the roof.

AusS2000

02-05-2008, 09:52 AM

Damn you guys are dumb!

Most hard tops sit over the RETRACTED soft top.

I think Spoon/Mooncraft is the exception and it requires removal of the soft top.

Basically I look at the weather and if it's rainy and doesn't look to be clearing I lower my hard top over my retracted soft top. If it looks like it will clear I put up my soft top. And if it's clear I keep my soft top down.

jcz

03-05-2008, 01:56 PM

AusS2000

03-05-2008, 02:00 PM

I'm using an OEM. Picked it up for.........

$1500!!!

AusS2000

03-05-2008, 02:06 PM

There are lighter options but I expect most of the performance increase comes from how much they lighten your wallet.

jcz

04-05-2008, 05:21 PM

I'm using an OEM. Picked it up for.........

$1500!!!

where?!?! that is a good deal!! hard top roof comes in handy considering its winter soon with all this rain recently.

AusS2000

04-05-2008, 06:31 PM

Private sale.

STAiN MASTER

08-05-2008, 08:06 AM

What do you reckon of a black hardtop over a silverstone?

AusS2000

08-05-2008, 08:31 AM

I'm not feeling it.

STAiN MASTER

08-05-2008, 10:26 AM

If i were change my roof id go for a Burgundy roof on a Silverstone.

AusS2000

08-05-2008, 10:47 AM

I take it you are referring to a burgundy canvas soft top?

Or are you suggesting you would paint a hard top burgundy?

STAiN MASTER

08-05-2008, 12:50 PM

I take it you are referring to a burgundy canvas soft top?

Or are you suggesting you would paint a hard top burgundy?

canvas soft top

Smooov

28-06-2008, 08:07 PM

any luck finding the install kit for ur hardtop? i need one too... hardtopguy isnt responding...

AusS2000

28-06-2008, 10:54 PM

sales@hardtopbuy.com?

I don't have any problem with Jeff.

irvinchua

16-07-2009, 12:36 AM

What do you reckon of a black hardtop over a silverstone?

I've recently bought an OEM hardtop that is in pristine condition. The red paint has no swirl marks at all. Might as well be brand new.

It's gonna look funny on Silverstone so I'm going to get it vinyl-wrapped gloss black. Got a quote for $800.

Anyone know of a place that can fit my hardtop kit?

BTW, to illustrate how a red hardtop would look like on a non-red car, these two MX-5s are great examples:

Doesn't work as well with silver, huh?
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b327/pharaon19/miatashots/DSC_6023-Edit.jpg

Nope, not really.
http://www.mx5club.hk/gallery/20060611/dsc_74881200.jpg

JMSBND

16-07-2009, 07:37 AM

I'm using an OEM. Picked it up for.........

$1500!!!

OEM FTW...................$1500????? Damn you!!! LOL!

irvinchua

17-07-2009, 12:42 AM

I have just got my hardtop install kit today but I'm not sure if everything that's supposed to be there is there.

I guess I'll trust hardtopguy's reputation but does anyone know where to get it installed in Melbourne? I've tried the search function, I've tried google. Maybe I just don't know what search term to use. Anyone have any ideas?

irvinchua

01-08-2009, 08:46 AM

Hmmm that'd look good. Grey car, grey windshield and red hardtop. Nice!

I :thumbsup: it very much! :wave: Needs a detail but it's been raining every day for the past 2 weeks.
http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv87/AcKcident/DSC00539.jpg

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv87/AcKcident/DSC00543.jpg

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv87/AcKcident/DSC00548.jpg

So if any Melbourne S2K drivers see a FOB a SIlverstone with a red hardtop, that's probably me. :wave:

mikoZ

01-08-2009, 08:10 PM

nice work, hope i can get my one done sooner

drsilliez

02-08-2009, 01:39 AM

looks weird to me esp the side pic.

just looks like the ppl ran out of paint to paint the roof lol....

but hardtop on a s2k is HOT!

irvinchua

02-08-2009, 07:59 PM

Ha ha!

The color combo kindof grew on me. I think I'm gonna get a set of red lugnuts for the wheels too! :p

Maybe it's just the lighting but it does not look too bad on this guys car:

http://www.mx5club.hk/gallery/20060611/dsc_74881200.jpg

JMSBND

02-08-2009, 09:16 PM

Hardtop = win. Well done!

irvinchua

02-08-2009, 10:55 PM

Bugger what color it is from the outside, from the inside where it matters, it's black.

The best thing that I've noticed when driving with the hardtop is that the car sounds much more quieter. I guess the inner lining insulates a lot of the ambient road noises that the soft top lets in.

My only gripe is that past 70kph, I get some wind noise that is a soft whistle. Any solutions? Is it a fitment issue?

ludecrs

02-08-2009, 11:09 PM

you need new hardtop strikers.

Usually about $70ea + post from the US.

Will solve your wind problems..... :cool:

irvinchua

02-08-2009, 11:32 PM

I have replaced the strikers and have had them installed when the hardtop mounting kit was put in. It had stopped the clicking noises that occur from the soft-top anchor hooks when I drive over rough surfaces. The whistling does not come from the top of the frame but rather from the rear of the side windows. The noise does not occur with the soft top on either.

Maybe if I apply 303 Vinyl Protectant to condition the rubber seals on the hard top I might mitigate the problem. Now I say it's wind noise but it may be a buzzing piece of trim. At present I haven't the time to investigate but I'm sure it's wind noise as the 'whistling' only occurs at speeds above 70kph.

aramiK

22-09-2009, 11:26 AM

I don't understand why you would not want the roof to go down on a car thats stock convertible.. unless it was for chasis stiffness/track..
doesn't make sense to me.

aozora

22-09-2009, 04:41 PM

I :thumbsup: it very much! :wave: Needs a detail but it's been raining every day for the past 2 weeks.
*snip*
So if any Melbourne S2K drivers see a FOB a SIlverstone with a red hardtop, that's probably me. :wave:

I think I saw you going down Princess hwy.... do you have dual HKS or something exhausts?
Otherwise I saw your car at Officeworks I'm quite sure on Kings way... next to the BMW dealer :)

vyets

22-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Ohh... so your the silver s2000 I saw when I picked up my s2000 with the red hardtop
I was driving home.. in my silver hardtop I was guna turn around and pull you over and ask to swap! hahaha
You probably would have thought I was some dodgy asian in a van trying to sell you a home entertainment system
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4069/agdagdagadgadgadg.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/i/agdagdagadgadgadg.jpg/)

drsilliez

22-09-2009, 07:29 PM

You probably would have thought I was some dodgy asian in a van trying to sell you a home entertainment system

wtf! i was sittin in my car at bunnings sunshine the other day and 2 wogs came up to me in their white van and asked if i wanted to buy a home entertainment system for cheap! he said he got a "spare" one from one of his customers he works for or soemthing and is willing to sell it cheap....

G-Stick

22-09-2009, 10:11 PM

haha those guys always got spares ;) LOL

ncmx5

24-09-2009, 01:22 AM

yeh i think you guys should do a swap! blue/red looks better imo...

irvinchua

25-09-2009, 11:33 AM

I think I saw you going down Princess hwy.... do you have dual HKS or something exhausts?
Otherwise I saw your car at Officeworks I'm quite sure on Kings way... next to the BMW dealer :)

BINGO!! :wave:

irvinchua

25-09-2009, 11:38 AM

mrwillz

25-09-2009, 11:49 AM

i thought that was you vyets the other day, driving down the road where from dt. did a uturn in front of me

hot s2k