Convertible roof not folding down properly

[D17LLY]

Need help with my convertible power roof. I recently replaced it with another power roof in better condition. Problem is when it tries to fold in to the car it hangs over the rear seat and does not fold in to the compartment, can’t think what it can be any help would be appreciated.

[e30ata]

most of them do the same once the hoods been replaced

[Alex]

i notcied when i put mine down that there is a bit that swivels around and if not swiveled round it will hang over rear seats, mine was a manual hood though. Does a leccy hood have a similar setup???

[DaveD]

was it in better condition ...are your tensioner straps ok ...that is the usual reason they don't fold properly...does it have the wire that goes across over the drivers head...

[D17LLY]

Yes it was in better condition my original roof was ripped all over. Tensioner straps seem to be ok how can I tell if there is some thing wrong with them. I am sure it has the wire going across the drivers head.....will check that when I get back home

[DaveD]

Have you serviced the roof
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ctric_roof

the tensioner straps should pull everything together and back and if they sag in the middle they just don't work ...
this might help
http://www.e30ic.com/strapfix/StrapFix.htm
or do a search for 'crimping' under my name

[D17LLY]

Hi Dave not had a chance to get to the car today when I got back from work it was to late to get in the garage. From the pic below coule you please mark out what I need to crimp.

Thanks Del

[DaveD]

no sorry ...need to see a pic of the new roof ..not fully opened

[Blitz]

I'm going to upload a very rare BMW hood video on a E30.

[D17LLY]

Blitz

When will you be upload this video.......
Dave not had a chance to get to car been busy enjoying the nice weather.

[grantfk10]

Yeah, go for it - I've been meaning to post up a vid of my electric roof in operation, but still haven't got around to it..........

[D17LLY]

Hi
Dave I've had a chance to go out to the car today. There is a thin wire going from the drivers side to the passengers I did notice that on the drivers side it loops over and on the passengers side there is no loop. What I tried to do was pull the straps after the second bar in the roof and it did not hang over like the pic I have copied from another Zoner.



The roof did seem to fold with out hanging over but when the lid closes it does not go down fully. I was going to take pics but the dam digital camera needed charging will get pic up tomorow.

Del.

[Blitz]

It looks like the tension straps are weak. That fold hanging over should be pushed in the opposite way.

[Gert_8]

Hi,

I've got the exact same problem!! The roofs new. Regrettably, I disengaged the opening/closing motor and the whole thing has stopped working.

Obviously, the car's been garaged over winter but I need to fix this problem, now that the weather is better. I'd also appreciate any help you guys can offer - especially the video upload.

Thanks.

Naz.

[ben9040]

yeah, that part would fold the other way if the tension straps were working properly. If you have disengaged the motors they are pretty easy to re engage just follow the guidance on the 325ic website that is linked to above

[DaveD]

have a read through this thread

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... t=crimping

[Gert_8]

Hi,

Firstly sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I do have the same roof retracting (not folding properly) problem. However, before I can get to the solutions being offered, I need to understand why after re-engaging the roof motors the bloody thing has stopped working?

Do you guys think this could be a simple fuse problem or a relay that has stopped working now?

I was under the impression that after disengaging, re-engaging would be pretty straight forward.

Cheers.

[D17LLY]

Hi Dave read though thread

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... t=crimping

The pictures have been deleted I am going out to take pics of my roof going up and down so you can see the problem I am having.

[D17LLY]

Pictures of my roof going down









Pictures from inside the car when roof is going down





Pictures of straps when roof is fully closed and locked down

[ben9040]

In pic two the roof should bend the other way around the area where the wire goes from left to right (the black stitched bit).
The tension straps look like they are not working, they either need crimping or new elastic adding. They will always stretch out like they have when the roof is closed but should gather up like ~~~~~~~~~ when the roof is opened!

[D17LLY]

I have heard alot of people talking about crimping could you hightlight from my pics what needs to be crimped and what the process is please.

Del

[finluxsuperstar]

my auto roof isnt working either, have now managed to get roof down but cannot get horseshoe to lock with the centre motor engaged.

am really struggling to get to the bottom of this now.. again, any help greatly appreciated

[ben9040]

finlux, try locking the horseshoe down with the allen key before engaging the horseshoe motor that normally works.
Crimping is basically taking the strap, making a small u shape and squeezing this tightly with needle nose pliers or similar, do this all the way along each strap and it should then gather up a bit better meaning it tucks the roof in properly. I'll try and get some pics of my working straps up to show what they look like before the elastic gets weak

[D17LLY]

Ben if you could get pics up that will be great.

Del

[finluxsuperstar]

Hi Ben

Allen Key wont move either way!

Andrew

[ben9040]

you should defiantely be able to lock the horshoe down with the allen key without the motor connected, cant remember which way it turns but you do have to overcome a bit of resistance, not too much though!

[finluxsuperstar]

was hoping you wouldnt say that.. i've looked under the horseshoe and the two cables that go to either side of the car, one is attached so just the cable moves in the sheath, but on the other the entire thing moves. could this be my problem?

[ben9040]

both cables should move in the same way but they are a pretty simple design so if not working it should be straightforward to see why.
From the diagram in http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/C ... lding_top/

Part 10 should turn pulling the wires (part 5) thus locking the horseshoe via part 6.

As the horseshoe is nearly closed i think the allen key just turns 10 that bit further to lock things

[finluxsuperstar]

thanks Ben. DaveD came over this afternoon and we managed to at least get the hood to lock which was progress. think a trip to E30 in Wolverhampton is in order.

[Gert_8]

Hi Finlux, How did you manage to get the lid to lock. I can manually put mine down, but the lid will rattle because it isn't locked closed. Cheers!

[finluxsuperstar]

we took the central motor out (its a 2 person job unless you've got arms like mr tickle) and re-seated it. i cant get the roof to fully lock in when down but im going to have another go today. it locks, but not flat - if you get my meaning.

[Gert_8]

Oh, okay. Is there a screw that will lock it in place that I can look at?

[imsmithster]

hi guys same problem with my roof the clown i got it off left the car out for 2 years in all weathers now i cannot get roof right down please help

[finluxsuperstar]

went to see Bill at the E30 centre off the M6. Nice drive out, roof sorted in less than an hour..

only problem was the lack of sun on the way home to have the roof down!!

[ImysE30]

What needed fixing?