Convertible Electric Roof Failure

[sideshowbob]

Decided to get the 'J' reg. 325 convertible out this weekend. This car is immaculate with only 40k on the clock with full service and owners history. There is only one thing wrong with it and that is the wretched electric hood mechanism. Over the last two years this has failed each year. I have taken it to Bill/Jason at BM Walsall on each occassion and they have retimed the hood, replaced horseshoe motors, etc. The car is then laid up for the winter and when the spring comes the bloody thing stops working ....again !
I am thinking I will give up on the electric hood and convert to manual.
What do other zoners think.
Part of me says persevere, the other half says save the money and agro and convert to manual.
One of the big problems is that at present the electrics are disconnected but this means the horseshoe wont 'lock down' with the hood down, this thing is rattling and squeeking at the back of my head ...just drives me mad.
Anyone got any views on this as I feel converting to manual will lower the cars value ....who cares though as I am not selling

[ImysE30]

I have the exact same problem as you, annoying to say the least. I've not had mine checked out by bill/jason yet though.

Does it not go down?, or is it just the horseshoe not closing?

[sideshowbob]

This spring the hood is completely dead on the electrics, so I have tripped the motors and gearboxes in the boot and can now put the hood up and down manually, but this means that when the hood is down the latches that hold the horshoe in the closed position do not operate and as a consequence the horshoe cover over the hood is rattling and squeeking as it is not being held down in the closed position.
I just feel that this is spoiling an othewise excellent car and ride.

[ImysE30]

Do you operate the hood regularly? Get it fixed i say

[blingsta]

mines been sitting for some time now, but on the odd occasion when i start it, i always try the roof and it works a treat..! what did the guys who re-trimmed it say? from what i hear, they are the best !

[Ant]

I'd strongly suggest binning all but the motor for the horseshoe

Nothing as reliable as your own arm( o-er)

Not a fan of these hood mechs, one bit of stiction in the frame and the whole lot goes FUBAR without warning.

Elect hood= russian roulette IMHO

[djk]

I wouldn't worry about it affecting the value of your car - I, for example, didn't want an electric hooded example as I was aware they can be troublesome, so in my eyes an electric hood detracted - this is a reasonably widely held view so I'm not sure your reverting to a more reliable system of operation would adversely affect value. Your car's obviously got a lot of other things going for it to say the least, so if it's detracting from your enjoyment of a fine example of an excellent car, get it changed.

[325CAB]

Does anybody have the contact details for BM Walsall? Seems to be re-occuring, another
cabby owner with a hood that doesn't work.
Am still lookin to get it retrimmed though so if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

[ImysE30]

Here you go:

E30 Centre

07871 662 902 jason
07968 852395 bill

Based in Darlaston West Midlands

[325CAB]

Thanks Imys E30! Mines the older hydraulic hood so here's hoping the bills not too
astronomical then!!!