Electric convertible conversion to manual

[jaginsligo]

Long story short, both motors in my electric hood are damaged so to keep me going I have changed it to a manual. I havent used any kit all. All I did was disengaged both motors and then I fold the roof manually. I have worked a system using an alen key to hold the lid closed and when I want to open the lid to lift the roof i remove the alen key. This will allow me to easily return it to electric when I get the motors replaced.

The only thing I would like is to fit a gas strut to the lid so that it remains open when I fold the roof (open or close). At the moment opening or closing the roof is a 2 person job. I have purchased the gas strut and I can see it attaches to the lid on the pin on the hinge, however there is no attachment point on the body of the car for the other end of the strut. Looking on realoem I don't see it marked as an individual part

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=41_0797

That leads me to believe that this attachment is welded to the body work? Can someone confirm this?
Can this attachment be bought or how have others worked around this problem when converting electric to manual.

Thanks for your help in advance

[paultv]

Hi,

its number 7 here:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=41_0261

there's two of them and two gas struts and the brackets are spot welded - you could easily buy and drill and tap or spot them in, they fit between the floor of the rear panel in the compartment and the back wall - send you a photo if you need it.

Paul

[jaginsligo]

thanks Paul. If you could send me a photo it would be super. Are the gas struts held in place with a circular clip?

[paultv]

Here's a picture:

yes they have spring washers

Paul:-)


http://whitewatermedia.net/media/rear%20lid%20strut.jpg

[jaginsligo]

thanks a million paul

[M3KUK]

There is only 1 gas strut in the picture though?