Top swap done > factory soft top to MIC hardtop

[BroncoMTB]

Yikes! So glad I didn’t opt for the soft top. $7-10k for a hard top is ridiculousness in my opinion. This only strengthens the market for Advanced Fiberglass’s product.

Good on you for having the funds and patience to order the top piece by piece and sharing the details. I also see a conflict with those waiting for replacements to their defective tops… shouldn’t they be prioritized?

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[flip]

What about the swap in regards to the Hard Top going on to the original Bronco that was Soft with factory Hard Top w/ prep kit?

Probably just as easy. The bracket for the hard top latches are already there. My body guy literally had to install the brackets on the bar. Everything else, beside a few bolts was there.

 

[flip]

Yikes! So glad I didn’t opt for the soft top. $7-10k for a hard top is ridiculousness in my opinion. This only strengthens the market for Advanced Fiberglass’s product.

Good on you for having the funds and patience to order the top piece by piece and sharing the details. I also see a conflict with those waiting for replacements to their defective tops… shouldn’t they be prioritized?

I looked at a few of the parts in Fords network and it looks like there are a few hundred available today. Since the bad MIC crew only got the cap, there are a good amount of panels out there too. Probably more than needed for warranty replacements.

 

[TCC]

Boy some people has bags of cash laying around 10k for a top WOW! Inflation.......what inflation?

Agreed. I’m sure a MIC top is more desirable to many (me included) but unless your looking to flip it right away or a dealer, a private seller will never get anywhere near the $7-$10K investment back out when selling it. I wanted the MIC originally but got tired of waiting and dropped it to improve my odds which it did. I decided to be happy with a soft top but also placed another order for one with the hardtop and a few other goodies. If/when that comes in I’ll decide what to do. New cars are a lousy investment so adding a bunch of extras is just money burned IMO. Unfortunately the MIC will never be worth no more than $695 when it comes time to sell/trade… but to each their own.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Agreed. I’m sure a MIC top is more desirable to many (me included) but unless your looking to flip it right away or a dealer, a private seller will never get anywhere near the $7-$10K investment back out when selling it. I wanted the MIC originally but got tired of waiting and dropped it to improve my odds which it did. I decided to be happy with a soft top but also placed another order for one with the hardtop and a few other goodies. If/when that comes in I’ll decide what to do. New cars are a lousy investment so adding a bunch of extras is just money burned IMO. Unfortunately the MIC will never be worth no more than $695 when it comes time to sell/trade… but to each their own.

My plan right now is to sell my 2021 and buy a 2023 and not care when it arrives, then I'm rid of potential engine failure on my 2.7 and have the MIC I originally wanted. Transfer my mods over, and ready to roll. In the meantime I get to enjoy my soft top in San Diego's amazing weather. That is if my 2.7L born on 21209 doesn't explode

 

[Winger57]

Ok Im shaking my head and laughing! I constantly do things like this. But how many people out there would have jumped at the chance to get that Bronco quicker or the one on the lot knowing if they ever wanted to add the hardtop it would cost them 10gs? And already paid a ADM! I sure hope the aftermarket comes up with some cheaper options with decent quality…… Very enlightening post!

 

[Evolkidbell]

I looked at a few of the parts in Fords network and it looks like there are a few hundred available today. Since the bad MIC crew only got the cap, there are a good amount of panels out there too. Probably more than needed for warranty replacements.

Is the top replacement CSP only swapping the back cap, and keeping the front 1.0 panels?

 

[Bad_Bronco]

Finally installed the hard top today. After figuring out the bimini was a PITA to try and do installed, it went bye bye. It's highly probable I'll not take the it off any further than the front two panels anyway. Brackets, remove soft top side window front attachment panels, a few bolts and done. Since I was built pre-prep package we're just going to plug the wiper hole in the glass once we find the right size. The next one will take about 45 minutes after the glass is glued in the cap.

P/N	Description	Quan.
M2DZ-78502G33-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, COMPLETE ASSEMBLY	1​
M2DZ-78502G32-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7850284-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, RH, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7850285-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, LH, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7829700-A	GLASS - QUARTER WINDOW, RH	1​
M2DZ-7829701-A	GLASS - QUARTER WINDOW, LH	1​
M2DZ-7842006-A	GLASS - REAR DOOR	1​
M2DZ-7842104-A	LIFT ASSY - GAS, RH	1​
M2DZ-7842105-A	LIFT ASSY - GAS, LH	1​
M2DZ-78420B00-A	COVER, RH	1​
M2DZ-78420B01-A	COVER, LH	1​
W717246-S450B	BOLT	2​
M2DZ-78245A26-B	SUPPORT, RH	1​
M2DZ-78245A27-B	SUPPORT, LH	1​
W721070-S450B	BOLT, BOLT AND WASHER, M8 X 33MM	4​
W721071-S450B	BOLT, BOLT AND WASHER, M8 X 24MM	10​
M2DZ-17603-A	JET	1​
W790541-S900	NUT, M10 X 1.5MM	1​
M2DZ-9946410-A	COVER	1​
M2DZ-17508-A	MOTOR ASY - WIPER	1​
W506942-S450B	SCREW, 4 X 10MM	3​
W711910-S437	NUT, M6	3​
M2DZ-9946410-B	COVER	1​
M2DZ-17C582-A	GROMMET	1​
M2DZ-17526-A	ARM ASSY - GUIDE	1​
M2DZ-17528-B	BLADE ASSY - WIPER	1​
W708312-S442	NUT, M8	1​
M2DZ-17C526-A	CAP	1​
VM2DZ-58521A03-U	5 DOOR, ACCESSORY, HARD TOP ROOF LINER KIT	1​

I hope you got the right windshield seal for that..... The seal for the soft top is not correct for the hard top, and has to be changed to seal the hardtop properly. There was a TSB on this. I got mine changed, and it still leaks with heavy rain. They are doing another one, but the labor is a joke.... book time 3.5 hours...... Hope you check this out. Otherwise, it looks great !!

 

[GeoWar64]

I hesitantly decided to drop the hard top from my order last summer in hopes of getting a Bronco earlier with a soft top. Glad I did. My Bronco does have the hard top prep kit, but right now I’m loving the Bronco with the soft top. I’m not sure I would take the hard top off nearly as often as I fold back the soft top. I have no plans at the moment to get a hard top. I’ll happily wait and see what the future brings.

 

[pimpjuice]

Looks amazing! I feel really dumb for ordering a soft top with the assumption that I could just add a hard top for $700 later in since that’s all it cost when building lol. I had no idea it would cost thousand to add

I thought the same thing and tried to switch. My dealer told me "Yes it may delay you a bit but trust me, you want to keep this hardtop. WHEN you will be able to get one, it will be crazy expensive." It may have delayed me 5 months but I'm so glad I stuck with the hardtop.

 

[pimpjuice]

What about a Soft Top to Hard Top (w/prep kit) swap on two different Broncos?
Easy as it sounds or not?

It is. There are a few things that need to be removed (brackets on the top, plate in the cargo area) then the hardtop will go right on. The plastic covers in the cargo area are different so those will have ordered (just for ascetics)

 

[Winger57]

Finally installed the hard top today. After figuring out the bimini was a PITA to try and do installed, it went bye bye. It's highly probable I'll not take the it off any further than the front two panels anyway. Brackets, remove soft top side window front attachment panels, a few bolts and done. Since I was built pre-prep package we're just going to plug the wiper hole in the glass once we find the right size. The next one will take about 45 minutes after the glass is glued in the cap.

P/N	Description	Quan.
M2DZ-78502G33-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, COMPLETE ASSEMBLY	1​
M2DZ-78502G32-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7850284-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, RH, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7850285-AA	PANEL ASSY - ROOF, CARBONIZED GRAY, LH, INCLUDES ATTACHING HARDWARE	1​
M2DZ-7829700-A	GLASS - QUARTER WINDOW, RH	1​
M2DZ-7829701-A	GLASS - QUARTER WINDOW, LH	1​
M2DZ-7842006-A	GLASS - REAR DOOR	1​
M2DZ-7842104-A	LIFT ASSY - GAS, RH	1​
M2DZ-7842105-A	LIFT ASSY - GAS, LH	1​
M2DZ-78420B00-A	COVER, RH	1​
M2DZ-78420B01-A	COVER, LH	1​
W717246-S450B	BOLT	2​
M2DZ-78245A26-B	SUPPORT, RH	1​
M2DZ-78245A27-B	SUPPORT, LH	1​
W721070-S450B	BOLT, BOLT AND WASHER, M8 X 33MM	4​
W721071-S450B	BOLT, BOLT AND WASHER, M8 X 24MM	10​
M2DZ-17603-A	JET	1​
W790541-S900	NUT, M10 X 1.5MM	1​
M2DZ-9946410-A	COVER	1​
M2DZ-17508-A	MOTOR ASY - WIPER	1​
W506942-S450B	SCREW, 4 X 10MM	3​
W711910-S437	NUT, M6	3​
M2DZ-9946410-B	COVER	1​
M2DZ-17C582-A	GROMMET	1​
M2DZ-17526-A	ARM ASSY - GUIDE	1​
M2DZ-17528-B	BLADE ASSY - WIPER	1​
W708312-S442	NUT, M8	1​
M2DZ-17C526-A	CAP	1​
VM2DZ-58521A03-U	5 DOOR, ACCESSORY, HARD TOP ROOF LINER KIT	1​

Question is do you love it? Is it night and day compared to the soft top?

 

[SupremoSombrero]

That is mega hard-top love. The soft top makes for an easy convertible. I’m perplexed as to why anyone would throw that away. Is there a “Why” behind the $10k elimination of the convertible top?

 

[Evolkidbell]

That is mega hard-top love. The soft top makes for an easy convertible. I’m perplexed as to why anyone would throw that away. Is there a “Why” behind the $10k elimination of the convertible top?

Some of us live in cold winter states where a hardtop is desirable.
My neighbor with a jeep, swaps his soft top to a hard top in October, and visa-versa in March/April.

 

[flip]

Question is do you love it? Is it night and day compared to the soft top?

Meh. I was fine with the softie but am one of those that could care less about taking it down too so take that for what it's worth. I've noticed the window rattle now when closing and the audio does sound different. Haven't figured out if it's different better or different worse yet.

Is it worth the money to do at this point? NOPE. If I was someone that had no intention of going top off or down I'd have it built with MIC. If I was in a climate and wanted more protection from rain/snow/ice/heat, I'd go MIC. If I wanted a little more "hard" protection as more of a crime deterrent, MIC. For me, the soft top has been completely fine.

I do wish they could design the soft top rear window to lift like the hard top and there was more adjustability to the canvas tension. That, and the f'ing gutters along the edge of the top tapered off so the water doesn't pour in on the lock/unlock switch when the window is lowered.

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