how many have leaky cabs when it rains hard?

[blacksoul]

hi guys on my cab at the momment my drivers side window does not meet the rubber seal tight thats just under the roof. as a result yesterday i had a right soaking. just wondering if anyone else has had same probs.

[orangecurry]

nope - mine still has the original hood (and therefore is well aligned), but I did replace the front seal which goes all the way from one front window, over the windscreen and over the other front window. But before you spend lots of money make sure the rubber is clean and then put some silicone grease on it; see if it still leaks. If so you can adjust the windows and/or even the frame - look at your copy of Bentleys.

Good luck

[blacksoul]

thanx will do:)

[peejay]

Yep mine leaks like mad in this kinda rain. Why are hardtops so expensive....?

PJ.

[jordano]

yeah mine is the same, mum has got a hardtop from gerany comin so mite see if i can use her hood durin the winter

[Gouki]

mine lets in a little bit of rain but not enough to get a soaking suppose thats the fun of owning a cabriolet!

[DaveD]

It is not strictly a leaky hood it's a leaky seal..it seems to be a common problem and stems from the rubber drying out ...put some SILICONE grease on it and it should soften and seal better..it did on mine

[t11mfn]

Ive got to realine my drivers window up as its not meeting the rubbers on the hardtop leaving a small gap, all i can hear on the motorway is wind!!!

[orangecurry]

make sure your hardtop is 'down' far enough before you adjust the windows; you'll only have to adjust it back again when you go back to the hood next spring.

Check that both sides of the hardtop have a small gap to the bodywork at the back (and the gap is similar both sides) - if not adjust the hardtop 'down-ness' by taking the pin assembly out (of the side that is too 'high'), turning the grooved pin a few turns relative to the square fixing-plate, and fix the pin back in again once the hardtop is down.

DON'T fix the pin in the hardtop first, as it might not line-up perfectly with the 'hole' in the bodywork; put it in loose, then tighten in place, THEN rotate the top of the pin to lock it in place. Don't force it; if it won't lock easily, loosen it off a 1/4 turn as above.

Hey I did this all yesterday so it's fresh in my mind

[bennyboy]

yeah mine leaks at the front of the side windows. i am getting a new roof fitted soon so will get a new seal at the same time. think they are 90quid from bmw though!

[elliot]

mine leaks where the roof meets the windscreen piller, its part of the charm

[orangecurry]

get the front C-shaped front seal from Motormec (no association with me).

It is o/e BMW but 60-odd quid instead. I assume they buy in bulk from Germany.

www.motormec.co.uk

[DemonDaz]

Mine did, are you sure the seal isn't split?
What happened on mine, was the seal was slightly split, the rubber would fill up with water and when full, with the door shut would continually leak.

I pushed all the water up and stuck the split with superglue and it hasn't leaked again since!

[Cabrio]

Most common reasons for leaks at the front windows etc are:

Badly adjusted windows or worn runners hence window not in alignment...can be easily adjusted

Poor quality or badly fitted roof..but not most likely...unless old roof and water comes through stitching sometimes

Front seals are normally longlasting unless damaged when new roof fitted...most problems can be fixed with silicon...or automotive vaseline if dry and needs softening

BUT...most importantly remember it is a convertible and even the hardtops can leak..test is if the the rain starts when in the car..and it does not leak but after opening the door it then leaks after closing the door again you will have to live with that as even the best roofs and seals do that...as the water will find its way in and leak about 6" in onto your knee

Its a convertible car and you have no gutters in the roof

But most problems can be fixed or improved...they are good cars but old cars

[blacksoul]

yeah my window does need slight adjusting the roof is very good. and the silicone is a good idea. i think i can get it to let in little amounts of rain. and i can live with that. but as so many have said all cabs can leak even the new bmw cabs are leaking so its life. just good to know im not the only 1 who has a bath towel next to me when driving in the rain.

[Taz]

my cab is like a fuckin fishtank!.......i'll be putting some pirhanas in there

[Cabrio]

Hi

When you have a new roof fitted it can cure most problems if done properly but if fitted badly or in a poor fabric etc it will create problems further down the line....remember these cars are old and anything rubber will not be as new although these cars have proved if maintained to be VERY robust

[Steviec]

Mines not too bad, water just drips in through the passenger side about halfway along the window.

[Cabrio]

Thats normal...try automotive vaseline on the seals..thats what we do for the hardtops and softtop seals...but I reckon it only leaks or is worse after you open the windown while raining cheers

[johnna]

Mine is as tight as a drum! The old one was tatty, but water proof and I live in the North East so it has to be! Just fitted the new one and that is dry as well, only the shutting the door drip on the thigh problem. I wipe the rubber seal with my finger when I get in and this stops the drip.

[Cabrio]

When you say tight as a drum do you mean to water, as when new it should be tight, be dependent upon the fabric..the correct fabric should strech and loosen..some of the wrong fabrics shrink so keep an eye

Good luck

[Globulator]

I just get an occasional drip - sometimes it is fine.
It might be the 'open a door in the wet starts it dripping on the leg' thing.

Main problem is when I park up for the day the seat/floor can get wet if
there is continuous rain - I'll try wiping the rubber strip. and see if it helps.

Finding these problems is tricky as I hate standing in the rain!

[MARTYCAB]

yep always on the right leg had two cabs now always on the leg

[mrLEE30]

mine is drier with the roof open!!! iimpossible to leave it out in the rain, but the several rips dont help!! patched one up with rubber glue and a pair of my wifes Levis a professional bodge job that has lasted 3 months!!! (the jeans are stuck on the inside for those concerned!!)

just got a new roof though so lets see if that helps!!!

mrlee

[Cabrio]

Not sure about using your wifes jeans

If anyone considers this bodge I will happily supply some fabric offcuts in the original fabric...but in the long term a good new roof will be required if you plan to keep the car or sell for good money...but take some good advice...BMW did not use mohair for the E30 or later models

[stevetigger]

Not sure about using your wifes jeans

If anyone considers this bodge I will happily supply some fabric offcuts in the original fabric...but in the long term a good new roof will be required if you plan to keep the car or sell for good money...but take some good advice...BMW did not use mohair for the E30 or later models

If they didn't use MOHAIR, what did they use??

[Cabrio]

German cars use Sonnenland Dralonstoff (BMW/Mercedes)...but Audi/VW use A5 which is basically same stuff...but a far more superior fabric to Mohair..

Hope that helps...very easy mistake to make..but only 12+ down the line will you realise it

[mrLEE30]

If the material is available then of course go for it!! but here nay chance! so an old pair of levis, cut into a five inch strip and glued on the inside with rubber glue, mate sounds and looks shite from inside but i can use my cab with the roof down, impossible before as there was a 24inch rip in it where my neighbors cat had slept on a small rip then fell through! the bodge is still there now , three months later, and only really visible from inside car, the roof folds up and down with no probs and can be driven at speed with no probs! thought was a good idea for an emergency fix as everyone has a pair of old jeans about, not everyone has a strip of sonneland material!!


but i did have plans for a complete roof. which is now in my hallway

[Cabrio]

Sound...just make sure you get someone who has fitted one before to install it...or it is likely that it might kick up at the
back

Bad roofs are sometimes the reason why some people get hardtops

Goodluck