The eye has snapped off the ram in the boot.....

[Geoff]

Im about to look at a 325i Cab today, but it has an electric hood but the above has happend to it. What is the cost to fix this myself, and what is the cost to convert back to manual, and finally to do this whats involved?

Thanks in advance

Geoff.

[Geoff]

Nobody on the greatest E30 website in the world no? SHOCKED

[pacerpete]

E30 electric roofs are notoriously fragile and costly to fix, the most common ailment is the main roof motor casing breaking, you might be lucky and only the connecting rod may be bent or broken but mostly it is the housing. There is allegedly someone that can repair the housings ?. The rod is a BMW part only and not repairable or straightenable for that matter (ive tried !).
I have seen several broken roof mechanisms caused by retards lowering the roof with the rear windows still up, if you watch the roof in operation you will see why this is not very clever !.
Providing the frame is not broken(check carefully !) you want to allow Ԛ£500 to fix the roof, you might get lucky or it may cost you more! .
The roof can be used manually by disengaging the motor with the lever in the boot under the motor. As long as the flap motor works this is probably the best option.

[Geoff]

Cheers Pete. The motor works perfectly well and and the frame is in fine working order. The only thing broken is the "smaller" rod with the eye on it broken off.

Can i just buy the rod or does your Ԛ£500 esitmate a reapr kit youcan buy?

Questions questions....

[dasparkybad]

if its just the rod thats broken you can buy them separate they are about Ԛ£30 to Ԛ£35 pounds each from your local steeler

[Geoff]

Is this true? Wow if it is thats fantastic news!! AWESOME!!

[Ant]

Geoff, I've found that link I spoke to you about

all relevant power hood info can be found : http://www.e30ic.com/powertop.htm

HTH

[Geoff]

Cheers Ant. From what ive read i think its mainly to do with a broken motor or power not going to the relays. I did find a link on there that takes you to another site and it shows what appears to be the rods.

But they look quite heavy duty, and i cant imagine one of the eys on it snapping. Plus they dont look stainless steel to me.

Who knows!! I'll keep looking.

[stevetigger]

If it helps, convertibles have "rods" in the boot for the boot lid! Is it this that has snapped??

[Geoff]

Yes it is!! What does this mean?

Quote: "the eye has snapped off of the ram in the boot which operates the locking system for hood lid. But can be operated manually".

Is this a cheap and easy fix then?

[HartgeH27]

Geoff
Think you getting mixed up between hood and boot LOL !!!!!!

The one you are talking about seems to be unique to the power hood system whilst Steve is talking about the normal boot piston type rod either side of the bootlid internally.

[Geoff]

OH FOR F##K SAKE!! Im so keen for this issue to be not expensive i'll get suckered in every time!

Cheers Iain

[Quaser]

Do you have any pics of the issue?

[HartgeH27]

Do you have any pics of the issue?

Think I am on to go down and take a look over the car Geoff is talking about on his behalf.

Am gonna go Monday and will get photos.

[Geoff]

Hi guys, now got a pic of the part thats broken. I dont know where in relation this is to anything...

hopefully one of you tech gurus can shed some light, and hopefully suggestions on ways to fix it.

[Quaser]

ok - if im not mistaken, that looks like the strut that holds the hood flap open!

there should be one on each side of the flap!

i think that they are about Ԛ£40 each(ish) but some of us have used struts from some old seats. They are slightly longer, but do the job!

Q

[HartgeH27]

Geoff bought the car today .........................piccies Geoff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geoff]

Right folks, got back about an hour ago, traffic was HORRENDOUS!

Overall im pleased with the purchase. It needs plenty of work, but mainly of the spit and polish type. Its dirty and grimy, could do with a good t-cut and polish, and a decent valet inside and im certain it'll come up looking fantastic.

Always a bonus to discover a nice 6 brancher in there too, along with stainless exhaust. Sounds nice and fruity.

Problems:

Rev counter has stopped working, and along with that the fuel consumption gauge isnt working.

Boot strut as already mentioned

Steering column cover tray missing

OBC 12 button not working.

Alarm needs to be refitted and tuned not to go off all the time (reason why it was disconnected) Its a clifford concept 50 i think.

Plan of Action

Giver her a service, oil, plugs, dizzy cap, rotor arm, flush out fuel stabilizer valve, replace F.S.E with original kit (anyone selling) new airfilter, bleed brakes.

Too dark for any decent pics but will post a new thread tomorrow once i have at least clean her on the outside.

Great to be back in an E30 again!! Roll on the summer.

p.s anyone have any theories on why certain bits arnt working please let me know!

[Geoff]

Firstly sorry for the lack of pics.

If you look at the pic that i posted, and the hydraulic strut that is broken, i sent the same pic to BMW Vines in sevenoaks after they ordered me the wrong part.

As it turns out, this particular strut costs Ԛ£330 + VAT and they need to order it from Germany!

I dont have the money (which to be fair is scandelous) so any suggestions would be welcomed.

My dad is thinking of taking the strut off, take it to a machinest, remove the threaded end and then dril about half an inch in to the strut, and tap it. Then put in a new piece of rod and araldite it or seomthing.

What do you guys think?