Dodgy top, converted to manual but doent shit properly!

Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:05 am

I'm sick of this, I've had 3 years that ,my top's not worked, I dont mind doing it manually but would like to get it going again. And if that wasn't bad enough when I put it down the lid doesnt close fully, its like something's stopping the hood folding down in the right position and the lid just can't close. I've seen it in various other pictures of e30 verts so it must be a common fault,,,argghhh, hair..coming..out! Advice PLEASE!

Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:02 am

How are the tensioner straps? They're responsible for folding the hood correctly and often end up stretched. I used to have to tuck mine in as my tensioner straps were fecked. If you don't, the hood doesn't fold properly, not flat enough and shutting the horseshoe becomes difficult.

I used to fold the roof back and balance the front part on the bottom of the shallow 'U' (the horizontal bit, I know it's much wider than that character), then tuck it in properly from each side, tucking the tensioner straps in too. Once it's folded tight, I'd then drop int into the cavity and tuck it again, making sure it was tight. Then I could shut the roof no worries.

For a permanent fix, I reckon you'll need to investigate gettting the tensioner straps replaced. Anything to do with soft tops, is not DIY for the feint hearted. If you've got the cash, speak to a roof specialist. Not something I'd necessarily trust with a main dealer. How many roofs do they see compared with a coachworks/reupholtering specialist?

Good luck

Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:16 am

ivesy wrote:I'm sick of this, I've had 3 years that ,my top's not worked, I dont mind doing it manually but would like to get it going again. And if that wasn't bad enough when I put it down the lid doesnt close fully, its like something's stopping the hood folding down in the right position and the lid just can't close. I've seen it in various other pictures of e30 verts so it must be a common fault,,,argghhh, hair..coming..out! Advice PLEASE!

There is a good roof specialist in chessington industrial estate that is not far from you.

Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:45 pm

Yea thanks, I just remembered about that guy, barwell industrial estate if memory serves. The folding seems (seems) to be okay. When its in the cavity its like one side of the frame rubs on the side of the cavity but the other goes in fine....

Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:08 pm

love the title

Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:00 pm

The cover will not close unless the motor is working, it pulls the cover down using the cables to the spring loaded latches.
But if your frame is hitting the bodywork then you have other problems.
Why were the motors disconected ?

Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:35 pm

Basically because I'm an idiot! I tried to put the hood down half asleep and forgot to undo the handles, how I did this I dont know...anyway, I realized after about 1 second, undid the handles, pushed the roof up and pressed the button again and the roof started to go down, then all of a sudden it stopped and i heard a thud. i think one of the motors had worked its way out. I managed to pull it shut which was hard and probably not doing it any good. Then I figured out how to disengage the two motors to allow the lid and top to move feely.

I've opened up the control unit and tripped both the swithches and the motors both work fine, I havent tried tripping the motor to fully lock the lid, I will have to give that a try. But for some reason now the switch in the car doesnt do anything, somthing to do with reseting micro switches I've heard. I'm a bit sick of it after all these years, I'm tempted to take it to Jason who I think is the zone's resident hood specialist but I'm just worried about the cost, argghhhhhh!
Anyone want to fix it for free please?

Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:38 pm

P.s. for anyone who has problems with tension straps not being tense enough and not folding your hood properly.... there is a product available called Velstretch that alot of yanks use, its basically elastecated velcro and it looks alot like the straps themselves. You can strap it around the bars in the same way as the straps then velcro it together and it forms a stretchy band which helps the original straps. According to the yanks on e30ic@yahoo it works perfectly, I'm still trying to find a UK stockist or someone state side to send me some.

Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:44 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/VELCRO-90441-STRAP- ... .m20.l1116

Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:34 pm

Good tip!

Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:38 pm

I had the roof grief you are going through and understand how frustrating it is and the worry of how much its going to cost!!!
I took mine to TCS of High Wycombe who are BMW specialist's and they re-synced it and apparrently fixed it. It worked fine for 3 days of sun and then when I put the roof down there was a noise and the roof enclosure lid was coming down before the frame was in. I took it straight back and they had it a while but were unable to rectify the fault. I feared the worst of a BMW main dealer visit but someone on this site suggested a trip to my local car upholster's / trimmers. I took it there doubtful but to my surprise I had a phone call the next day to say it was sorted and even better it was £100+vat. I still have to aid it in a little (folding) but it other than that its fine.

The Trimmers were Hukes of Hemel Hempstead if this helps.
There is also a CD / DVD on E BAY on how to sync the roofs and common fixes but i never got to that stage...

Maddogg

Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:35 am

ivesy wrote:Basically because I'm an idiot! I tried to put the hood down half asleep and forgot to undo the handles, how I did this I dont know...anyway, I realized after about 1 second, undid the handles, pushed the roof up and pressed the button again and the roof started to go down, then all of a sudden it stopped and i heard a thud. i think one of the motors had worked its way out. I managed to pull it shut which was hard and probably not doing it any good. Then I figured out how to disengage the two motors to allow the lid and top to move feely.

I've opened up the control unit and tripped both the swithches and the motors both work fine, I havent tried tripping the motor to fully lock the lid, I will have to give that a try. But for some reason now the switch in the car doesnt do anything, somthing to do with reseting micro switches I've heard. I'm a bit sick of it after all these years, I'm tempted to take it to Jason who I think is the zone's resident hood specialist but I'm just worried about the cost, argghhhhhh!
Anyone want to fix it for free please?

If the button is pushed while the roof is still locked down the micro switch (if working) above the sun visor should cut power to the roof, so the motors will not do anything.
Sounds more like the roof became stiff and just got too much for the motor to handle. With the rear window and cover up out of the way have a look in the storage compartment and remove the motor cover on the drivers side.
See if either of the two levers has snapped at the pivot point to the motor.
Hopefully not as thats the expensive bit to fix, if they look ok make sure the smaller of the two rods has about a 45 degree kink in it and is not hitting the bodywork. Pictures speak a thousand words

Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:18 pm

Yeah mate, I've checked under that cover, I was hoping that 45 degree kink was supposed to be there because it is so thats a relief. It doesn'thit the bodywork which is good. My micro switch must not work because when I pressed the button with the roof still locked it started to do stuff. I'm going to take it to a local roof specialist and hope its cheap.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:32 pm

Give it some laxatives

Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:47 pm

Had similar problems with my roof. Mechanism had been disconnected and system was in manual mode. Switch on dashboard completely dead.
If the motors are not synchronised then the failsafe is to cut off power to both motors.
Took my car to Bill and Jason in Darlaston (W. Midlands) Bill synchronised the motors with the horse-shoe cover and had the whole lot operational in 10 minutes (unbeleivable) He was then not happy with the action of the horse-shoe cover motor and gearbox which he then replaced with a recon. unit. System and operation now fully functional and super smooth. Total time 40 minutes cost £70.00 .......thanks Bill ...highly recommended.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:46 pm

Sounds like Bill's the man, shame he's in the w-midlands though, I'm in s.London, bit of a trip but might have to be done at some point, argg.

Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:44 am

A blast from the past!!... did anyone get to try the velcro strips from the ebay link above? or does anyone still have trouble with the tensioner straps not tucking the roof in? are the velcro starps the best way forward, or would it be a visit to Bill?

Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:28 am

The americans on e30ic yahoo group have had luck with the straps, I think I'd give them a go before more expensive work. Does anyone know any hood specialists in the south?