help me debug why my 348 targa top isn't flush

I doubt your windscreen has sagged (that wouldn't make any difference anyway) or the shop is right. Under the part on the inderside of the windscreen where the clamp bolts in there are 'spacers' to bring this away from the windscreen. Adding a spacer lowers the roof line along the top of the windscreen. Over time the clamp can have a bit of give or the spacers and rubber of the clamp can compress. Adding a spacer or two each side can realign the roof line. Think the part number is 63238700.

Just be sure that when you try to clamp the roof down after adding a spacer you push the roof down from the top then clamp it in, don't just have the clamp pull the roof down or the clamp can give way if it's too tight.

 

The 's' roof panels can take a bit of manipulation to get right, on mine the side windows will wind up ever so slightly too high, so I need to adjust their stop point when I get around to it, could be the case with yours, or at least contributory?

That last pic (thumbsdreamstime) of examples of correct roof line.....his roof may be right but bugs me how his wheels are fitted wrong, its quite obvious when its only the front left v right, or rears left v right, that are wrong.

 

It's obvious to you because you are aware that the factory 348 wheels are directional, and that there is a "correct" side for the wheels to be fitted to, but most non-owners (and quite a few owners come to that), are not aware of that fact.

At the end of the day, it's only a cosmetic issue that makes absolutely no difference to how the car drives, and the vast majority of people simply wouldn't care about it.

 

Are you sure? Thought the correct way puts more air onto the brake discs. You need to look at the back of an actual wheel to see what I mean.

 

its ok Pete, Phill just has an issue with me I think, its not the first time he's nit picked, its often why I don't bother writing in the forum, I know he'll do it, shame but there it is!

Having said that I still don't agree with Phill's point but giving him benefit of doubt maybe he didn't get my reason for this occasion being so obvious. If you look at the image I discussed, I'm not picking it up because of the more common but quite understandable incorrect fit of all four wheels. Rather I'm mentioning it as being obvious in this case because just a front pair or back pair are wrongly transposed side to side, and NOT BOTH.

 

Hi there. Do think I'm right though. If you have standard wheels you'll see that effectively you have angled 'blades' for the 'spokes' of the star. Rotate these in the correct direction and it pushes a little air from the outer surface of the wheel inwards. Rotate it the other way and it doesn't. Probably doesn't make a great deal of difference but every little helps

To me, when I see 348 wheels on the wrong way, it says whoever is looking after the car (beit indie, main dealer or other) isn't totally familiar with the model. I may be being unfair but it's the impression I get.

 

I actually have 3 roofs - a colour coded 348 roof, an original black plastic 355 roof but have added 348 seals and a foldable targa for the parcel shelf so I don't need to keep a targa behind the seats if it threatens to be sunny here in the UK. 348 roof leaks quite badly, 355 is much better (although I have no idea why, maybe just newer seals?), foldable is also pretty much dry. Anyway, new roof seals could help or maybe just 'feed' the rubber with Swisswax 'seal fed' or equivalent. Vasaline would probably work just as well tbh.

 

I got my top to sit tighter by removing adjustment shims from under the latches.

 

Mine fit wonky when I got my car as well. My solution was to take apart the latches and fix the excess play in them. The rubber on the latch "feet" was degrading and worn as well so I put a couple of layers of heat shrink tubing around them to thicken them up. Clamps down perfectly now.