Anyone have a good solution to keep cab horseshoe cover down

[PeteE30Tourer]

As per the title... the electrics for my cab hood gave up the ghost long ago and I'm quite happy to put the hood up and down manually, but I can never get the horseshoe cover to clamp down tight, so it rattles constantly. Currently, I have a pair of mole-grips on the shaft of the mechanism in the boot that I can turn to pull on the bowden cables, then lock it in place with the motor, but it's a faff and as I said, never really works.

I was thinking of putting a couple of toolbox type latches, one either side inside the cabin, but there doesn't seem to by much in the way of secure metalwork to screw these into.

Any other bright ideas or proven solutions?

[Stefan on probation]

Retrofit the manual horseshoe locking mechanism.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Hmmmm - didn't realise there was such a thing to be honest. Is there a kit of parts available to do this?

[Stefan on probation]

Convertibles with a manual roof have these fitted like in mine, on the passenger side under the rear speaker cover do you have a cut out/handle?

[PeteE30Tourer]

No existing cut out or handle, but I found an informative YouTube video showing how the manual kit is retrofitted. Thing is, getting hold of the parts necessary. Been to BMW today and they don't sell them. Looks like I'll have to find a breaker.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[M3KUK]

You can lock it down using the Z shaped allen key thingy in the tool tray.
There is a hole in boot panel it fits into.
That's what I do, my roof is electric but is currently not working.

[PeteE30Tourer]

I think I know what you mean, but I've already exploited that option - a previous allen key broke off in the middle of the shaft that's turned to clamp down the cover, hence the use of mole grips as an alternative.

[M3KUK]

Right, if you are going full manual you will have to locate the manual handle etc. I don't know how it works in manual because I am Semi Auto!

[dave525]

the manual mechanism is simple. Its 2 catches,2 cables,a handle and a safety catch. best got complete from a breaker.I retrofitted one to mine.

[corkie]

Cable ties !youre welcome !

[Stefan on probation]

Cable ties !youre welcome !

Post your photos up then.......

[PeteE30Tourer]

the manual mechanism is simple. Its 2 catches,2 cables,a handle and a safety catch. best got complete from a breaker.I retrofitted one to mine.

Thanks Dave. Looks easy enough, but at least I know where to go now if I need some advice!! Kit of parts required obtained through someone on here, so should be getting on with this early next week hopefully.

Loved the cable tie suggestion Corker, but I was looking for something a little less permanent!

[Stefan on probation]

Loved the cable tie suggestion Corker, but I was looking for something a little less permanent!

Do you have a chubby/fat girlfriend?

[corkie]

I do she 6 months pregnant a˜€

[Stefan on probation]

Get her to sit on it then........

[j4gz]

HI i know a guy who had the same prob as your are facing he used these https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/252327407203?c ... 929&crdt=0 on the actual horshoe cover on the outside itself attached to the other to the moulding from what i can remember ...

[PeteE30Tourer]

That's exactly what i was originally looking at, but I couldn't find anywhere to secure them to both the horseshoe and the interior of the car that was strong enough to take the force of locking these down.

Hopefully I'm sorted now with a kit of parts to convert to manual coming in the post shortly.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Loved the cable tie suggestion Corker, but I was looking for something a little less permanent!

Do you have a chubby/fat girlfriend?

Sorry - missed this suggestion! I do have a wife, but I wouldn't call her chubby or fat. Not sure it would do her hair any good either bombing around sat on the cover!!

[Quaser]

Forget all that - when I had this issue on my cab, I wired up a 2 way switch direct to the horseshoe motor (I think I used an electric window switch and put in where the ac switch goes)

Then you simply press the up button to unlock it, and down to lock!

[M3KUK]

That's a brilliant idea thanks! I will use it on my roof.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Forget all that - when I had this issue on my cab, I wired up a 2 way switch direct to the horseshoe motor (I think I used an electric window switch and put in where the ac switch goes)

Then you simply press the up button to unlock it, and down to lock!

I had considered this option as it's how it all worked when i bought the car, but something stopped working and I gave up on trying to fix it.

[PeteE30Tourer]

the manual mechanism is simple. Its 2 catches,2 cables,a handle and a safety catch. best got complete from a breaker.I retrofitted one to mine.

Hi Dave, as expected, I have a query having retrofitted most of this kit to my car today. It's about the "safety catch" - where does this bolt on to and what does it "catch", i.e. do I need a secondary hook for it to latch on to, or does it latch on to one of the existing two hooks?

Here's a link to all the parts - http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=41_0805

I'm querying whether I need part 3?

[Stefan on probation]

On the passenger side of the horseshoe do you have a sticky out bar with a rubber bit on the end welded to it just behind the U shaped bits if you get my drift.

The safety catch attaches to the inner side of where the roof folds in to. If needed I can take some photos tomorrow for you.

[PeteE30Tourer]

On the passenger side of the horseshoe do you have a sticky out bar with a rubber bit on the end welded to it just behind the U shaped bits if you get my drift.

The safety catch attaches to the inner side of where the roof folds in to. If needed I can take some photos tomorrow for you.

Crikey - you're always on the ball aren't you! Thanks for the prompt response and offer of help.

I cant see any such sticky out bar - I've taken a photo to show what I do have:



Am I missing a sticky out bit???!!

[Stefan on probation]

Yep, looks like it.


Let me get a photo of it tomorrow I had one but deleted it off my iPhone.

The thing is it will lock in place with out it between you open the horseshoe you can just pull it up without un hatching the safety mechanism.

[Stefan on probation]

Crikey - you're always on the ball aren't you! Thanks for the prompt response and offer of help.

Always happy to help the younger generation and have messed around with my roof enough times and now have a decent one that needs no more work done to it.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Thanks - I'd really appreciate a photo of what your's looks like. If it's welded to the horseshoe insides, I guess I'm buggered, though I may be able to fabricate something that does the same job.

Having ordered the safety catch from BMW (collecting it tomorrow), I'd like to be able to fit and use this. If possible, I'd like to see how this secondary catch bolts on too as it's not clear from the RealOEM diagram you kindly provided.

[Stefan on probation]

Your not totally buggered as to be honest you could get away without the safety catch, mine has never opened u on it on in the last 6 years.

I did a search on google and can't find an example and the photos I had on my phone I deleted as I thought you where sorted, grrrrrrr

[PeteE30Tourer]

I guess you're right - having seen how the main two catches work, I cant see them both coming undone and releasing the cover. I dont ever have anyone in the back to accidentally operate the handle - only the dog, and although she's a smart pup, she's not that clever!

Sorry for the hassle with the photo

[Stefan on probation]

No worries if you have the bits you may as well fir them and if you ever sell the car you can state that its been converted I think the little bar you could make ruer self and all it need is a couple of spot welds or buy the right horse shoe and sell yours but it may not be worth the hassle.

Give me a day or so and I'll get some photos just need to get the car out of the garage unless my son pops around tomorrow and I abuse his ;o)))

[PeteE30Tourer]

Always happy to help the younger generation and have messed around with my roof enough times and now have a decent one that needs no more work done to it.

Younger generation??!! I wouldn't put myself in that bracket! I'm an old timer!

Anyway, been down A&E this morning as the horseshoe fell on my hand yesterday and it's all swollen up today and I cant use my right thmb. Nothing broken thankfully.

[dave525]

Sorry ive been away.The safety catch is just that. if the 2 main catches work you don't have to have it.I will have a look at mine,i cant remember what it clips to

[PeteE30Tourer]

Sorry ive been away.The safety catch is just that. if the 2 main catches work you don't have to have it.I will have a look at mine,i cant remember what it clips to

Thanks Dave, apparently there's a bar or something welded on to the inside of the horseshoe itself, which I curiously don't have, suggesting there were two variants of the horseshoe itself. I've fitted the safety catch just because I'd already bought it from BMW, but will look into fabricating something that this latch will catch, if you see what I mean.

[Stefan on probation]

I will try to get a photo for you tomorrow of the bar.

[Stefan on probation]

Try clicking on these links


https://ibb.co/dungMa
https://ibb.co/iH5qEv