E30 Zone

Every E30 convertible ever made has probably got one, yet looking for any details in the 'Zone Topics' gives Ratched a zero result. If you've ever replaced one (or both) of the Bowden cables, will you tell me how to open it up to get at the circlips or if they have to be gynaecologically operated on.?

What's a 'ratched'?

Cloggy Saint wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:04 pm

What's a 'ratched'?

It's like a mouseched, but bigger!

When you say Bowden cables for a convertible...
- specifically which ones are you talking about?

Convertible top cover (aka horseshoe) release cable?
Soft top tension cable in the fabric roof?
Or something else?

On an E30 convertible, any engine size, anywhere in the world, opening the trunk lid when the horseshoe is already open, (or vice versa) the Ratched, via the two short cables, stops the boot lid opening fully. Without the mechanism, or if the cables are broke, the two lids bang into each other and can chip the paint as they collide. It's a very thoughtful part of an E30 (if you're restoring one ) to take care of the car in a way BMW no longer bother about. I have an E53 X5 from new, expensive rusty crap . The Ratched is quite robust and is bolted in the boot 'ceiling' behind the left boot hinge. The shorter '50' cable end piece is circlipped onto the hinge. The end of the '51' cable (still available) fixes onto the horseshoe hinge. A Bowden cable is a cable enclosed in a flexible tube, like brake cables on a push-bike, like the cable joining the accelerator pedal to the fuel control. Without the outer tube, pressing the pedal would cause havoc inside the dashboard.

Ah, the cable to prevent opening the hotshot while boot is open.

Check real OEM if you are looking for replacement parts. The boot lining needs to come out and one of the circlips needs to be removed so you can detach and replace the cable

Ah, the cable to prevent opening the horseshoe while boot is open.

Check real OEM if you are looking for replacement parts. The boot lining needs to come out and yes one of the circlips needs to be removed so you can detach and replace the cable

Ah! Gynaecology it is. Thanks.