Pic Help - Electric Roof, Final piece of the jigsaw!

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Gert_8
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Post Thu Jun 20, 2013 3:06 pm

Hi Guys,

Been fiddling with the electric roof during lunch time today. As you may already know, I have been successful in getting the roof to work. Only problem is that it gets to this stage.

Image

The horseshoe is sticking at this point, during the opening stage.

My suspicion is that the levers against the back wall of the storage compartment are not moving up and down as they should.

In the image below, You can see these two levers - the front one is oval shaped, which is connected to the rod that pushes the horseshoe up and down, as the lever behind it rotates, left and right, when the roof is raised or lowered.

It is the rear lever that I need the answer for. If you note, there is a "bar" of metal that is part of it, which stops the oval shaped lever from rotating further.

Can someone kindly post an image of this set up, please, when the horseshoe is in the fully open position? I need to understand how these two levers are positioned relative to each other when the horseshoe is fully open at 90 degs.

Ignore the lashings of copper grease!:D

Image


Thanks.
Image
PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:53 pm

Anyone?
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:10 am

Come on guys, none of you got the time to take a snap of the roof mech for me....? :(
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:23 pm

diable wrote:
Gert_8 wrote:Come on guys, none of you got the time to take a snap of the roof mech for me....? :(
With all the p i s s taking that you have done :D
You mean, with all the help I've provided, it's disappointing not to get a response.

Having said that, there might not be that many people out there with fully working electric roofs! :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
pac1982
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:35 pm

Gert_8 wrote:
Having said that, there might not be that many people out there with fully working electric roofs! :D
I was gonna say that, most people with electric roofs convert them to manual
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Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:36 pm

pac1982 wrote:
Gert_8 wrote:
Having said that, there might not be that many people out there with fully working electric roofs! :D
I was gonna say that, most people with electric roofs convert them to manual
Quitters!



:D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Quaser
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:49 pm

i think you have that part upside down -the angled bit on the oval bit should be at the bottom i think, and its possibley angled so that it doesnt hit the metal of the hood compartment.

Also, would the lower cable not be attached to the lower part of the oval piece?
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Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:05 pm

The rear lever rotates left and right - I have not altered anything regarding that. I did however, disconnect the front lever, to replace the pin securing the small bar attached to it at the top, as that broke.

I think this front lever might have to be repositioned, as the bar I have circled (on the rear lever) is stopping it, when the horseshoe lifts to the angle I have shown in my first pic.

I hope that made some sense?

:D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Quaser
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:14 pm

this looks like a more natural way for the cables and the oval piece to go:

Image
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:18 pm

Quaser wrote:this looks like a more natural way for the cables and the oval piece to go:

Image
Brilliant! That's exactly what I needed to see. Thanks very much - that actually does look right. Appreciate your help Quaser.

I know I have not taken the P iss out of you, but if Diable is right (he isn't usually) please forgive me! :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Quaser
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:53 pm

no probs
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
Gert_8
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Post Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:07 pm

Thanks Willnz :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:24 pm

Hi guys any ideas on how I can release the central screw (in the pics) which holds the two levers together? As you know it's a small hex head. It's very tight and I don't want to round it off.

I can't adjust the levers without being able to get this screw out.

Thanks.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
pac1982
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:40 pm

Do you have a welder?
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1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:42 pm

pac1982 wrote:Do you have a welder?
No, I'm afraid I don't. :-(

I'll try some Soaking it in WD40 tomorrow.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
bab-91
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:54 pm

The Internet - It has proven to be worthless, and is nothing but a repository for perverts.

IG - bab91
Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:19 pm

Bab - yes, WD40 is not a good lubricant for the various levers etc. they need something far thicker and longer lasting to keep them working properly.

My problem is undoing a securing screw. WD40 is to loosen that up. The bugger's very tight at the moment and it only has a small hex head, which will easily round off, if forced. Then I will be, er, screwed!
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
bab-91
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:21 pm

I'm yet to find a problem that can't be solved with a blow torch :twisted:
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Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:25 pm

bab-91 wrote:I'm yet to find a problem that can't be solved with a blow torch :twisted:
I don't have access to one of those either. :-( :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
bab-91
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:31 pm

It's about £15, go treat yourself. I bought a few goodies for working on the car and they just make life sooo much easier.


Impact gun, blow torch, breaker bar, a REAL jack, angle grinder and new axle stands.

Next on the list is engine crane and engine stand. 8)
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Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:37 pm

Where from. Have you got a link for an on line supplier or can I pop into my local halfords.

I'll get one of my engineering guys to have a look. Just means wheeling the Oxy tank over to the warehouse, where the car is stored at the moment. :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
bab-91
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:41 pm

Don't need an oxy tank. Just a small one like plumbers use.

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/30051980 ... 80&ff14=63


Does the job. How about a virtual tour of the empire!? :D
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Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:53 pm

Thanks Bab!

No empire mate - wish it was :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:25 pm

It's certainly bolted through. Both levers are removable. I'll check that on Real OEM though. Stupid simple thing like that stopped me getting this finished today. :(
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:00 am

A cog that The horseshoe lifting motor connects to.

I disconnected the motor to see if that made any difference, unfortunately, it didn't.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:41 am

Hmmm, no idea, mate. I think it's behind the panel, access through the boot space. Getting to it, would involve complete removal of the hood motor - I'm not doing that, as the fecker will probably stop working..!

I will give it a thorough soaking in WD40 and see if that helps.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Quaser
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Post Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:23 pm

u had any luck in removing this? your gonna have to hammer in a allan key to make sure its a snug fit - then whack it loose with a hammer - give it some shock treatment!!
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BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
Gert_8
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Post Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:26 pm

Hi. Funny you asking. I couldn't open the horseshoe because I thought the battery had drained and my charger had stopped work. Transpires, the stupid alarm was the cause of the problem.

Anyway. Soaked it today, so I'll have a go tomorrow. Fingers crossed it comes out without too much hassle.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:57 pm

No! The bastards jammed solid. I can't undo it.

I gave my friendly garage a call, and the chap told me to bring it down and they'd sort it in 10 minutes. I explained I was anxious about rounding off the alan head and I was told not to worry, they had the tools to get it out even if it is rounded...!

I hope to get a result tomorrow, and the roof finally fully working. :D
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Gert_8
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Post Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:20 am

Right, got the screw out. Repositioned the arms and everything is working perfectly!! :D

Thanks for your responses, guys!
Last edited by Gert_8 on Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would