Thanks so much for your information and advice - very helpful. I will most likely go the BAS route. I have seen Robert McCubbin's work on the XF Facebook group sites, but didn't realize he also travels to California. I will check with one of the local shops here to see what they say and decide based on that. Window seems to be separating more and more each day even as it just sits in the garage. I have a towel wadded up under it just in case it lets go. Thanks again!

 

Bob's girlfriend lives in CA and they are both retired, so.......

 

I definitely recommend the BAS International top over the other brands.
There are very detailed instructions on how to remove and install the top in most of the Facebook Crossfire Groups under the "Files" section. Even if you find a local shop to do the install, I would print the file and give them the instructions. I travel back and forth between Olathe, KS (Kansas City) and Rocklin, CA (Sacramento) where my girlfriend lives, so still not very close to where you live.
We recently did attend a Crossfire event in Paso Robles, CA and while there I installed a top for a guy that rode down from the Seattle, WA area.
If there's anything that I can assist you with, feel free to contact me.

 

So, for a while I think BAS was lifetime warranty on the back window. That has most likely changed once windows started separating. There is not a lot of cases on here but it did happen to me (mind you previous owner stored the top in his attic for a few years in Colorado before moving to Florida and installing it). I was the buyer who purchased his car with a 1 year old top on the vehicle here in Florida and a year later the window started to separate. if I am correct, there is a 1 year warranty on tops now. BAS is a fantastic vendor and they offer great prices and real customer service so I think it was just a once in a thousand (or more) defect.
EZ-ON tops cost twice as much and I do like them. They look great and I’m sure especially in hotter climates the sewn in pocket helps.
But is it worth the price? I don’t know. Have heard stories of the top not being cut the right size etc.
BAS worked with me on the price as the window shouldn’t have had an issue, despite me not being the original purchaser. So that is a huge credit to them. I would 100% recommend them and would go with them again. The top makes the car look brand new and it fit perfectly.

Like anything else, it’s a question of preference and how much money you want to spend but for the price you cant beat BAS! Would purchase again!