maintenance manuals E30 Cab 325i?

[virginfrank]

Hi Guys,

Just bought a loverly red K reg import E30 cab 325i.
Had it two days and want to play more, but need to fix a few things.

What's the best haynes (or other) manual for this model (1993)?

There are several Haynes manuals, but only one seems to be close:

<http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stor ... &langId=-1>

Anyone got any suggestions, thanks. In particular I have a dodgy electric roof mechanism...

Regards,

Frank

[alane]

ive got the haynes manual and to be honest im not impressed with it

[virginfrank]

Thanks for the reply. I had one for a metor which was great because they're simpler and less models.
Have you got the one on the link or a different one?
Thanks

[Steviec]

The Bentley manual is pricey but well worth it, ill try to find you a link....

[Steviec]

Here you go:

If you go to the New & Used bit, theres one for £21.93 and ships from the UK.

[DaveD]

dont bother for info for the roof ,there is not much detail..you will get more feedback and info from the zone

[virginfrank]

Thanks a lot guys. I will get the Bentley manual.
Anyone got any info on electric hoods?

The arm attached to the motor on ours is bent & there seems to be no mechanism for lifting the metal cover for the hood.

I'll post a new topic when I have time to do some photos I think.

Cheers,

Frank

[DaveD]

it does not lift off you have to undo it...before you do anything take it of and check the casing on the motor ,,,if it is broken, a VERY common fault you HAVE to get a new top casing (avialible ..post again) or a new motor £expensive new arms will set you back about £40...

here is lots more info

http://www.e30ic.com/powertop.htm

best of luck

dave

[TheRealest]

i know someone who said they had fabricated a copy of the bracket that always snaps and sells them now, in darlington he is.

[virginfrank]

Thanks for the link on the soft top (Dave D). The motor runs fine, and it is in the down, disconnected position.
The lid catch opener works as well, there's just no way for the system to open and close the hood lid!

I'll have a look at the page and see if the problems is the same as they describe. At the moment we manually open and close with the motor only working the catch for the lid.

Do you have a link or contact for the guy in Darlington? (TheRealest)

Cheers.

Frank

PS. I have ordered the Bentley manual ooff Amazon.

[DaveD]

have alook at this thread...this guy does the new casting for the hood motor and is a mine of info...from reading your thread it sounds likre the casing has cracked ...it is the most common fault

never heard of anyone in darlington

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ight=jason

[DaveD]

in fact i think he will be at gaydon,,,
this is him

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=

[virginfrank]

Cheers DaveD.

Regrettably you're right. Took the arms off it last night and the motor top is mashed.
I'll need slightly more than the top to fix this one though.
So far I reckon I need:

-motor top
-new arm linkage to replace bent one (not from broken pivot but from the other cam)
-relacement lift arm to open the lid for the soft top
-new cable to run through the mechanism that stops the boot & lid being open at the same time (might take this apart and make my own though)

There's a navy e30 cab in a yard over the road from me with a terminal front end smash, going to check whether they will let me buy parts. Hopefully it has an intact roof electric mechanism...

This lot should get the roof working. When you operate your electric roof does it fold nicely?
I think I would still need to stop it after the lid is opened fully (to avoid bug) but before it is fully down
to refold it.

Doing it manually it doesn't sit down terribly well and is a bit springy.

Oh well. Look out for my other posts later on strange wires etc.

Frank

[DaveD]

I dont have any problem with the so called bug when raising and lowering the roof and i had to replace the flap motor as well but this is because the gears i it were stripped..i had to replace both bars and the pivot thingy..


but it works well now but i give it lots of help i.e. pushing up when i raise it etc to take any strain off the motor ..the roof folds well but i do have to smooth it if the window crinkles

keep us posted

david

[orangecurry]

Frank - whereabouts are you? (in the UK?

as regards folding, there are two straps with wires in, which run each side of the hood (inside) from front to back - these make the hood fold correctly. If they have been abused in the past, they may be broken/bent and so will not do their job.

PS I recommend Bentley as well

[virginfrank]

Thanks.
I got the bentley in the post yesterday.
Pretty comprehensive.

I'm in London (East).

The straps are all there and go tight when closed, but they tend to want to fold out, rather than in, if you follow what I mean when you put the hood down.
So when working the hood manually (as you see the elec is bust) I refold as it goes down.

Frank

[orangecurry]

mine were like that on my elec-hood cab - it think it means they have been bent the wrong way at sometime in the past - I don't know how much a new set is, but it'll be well worth it if you are planning on keeping the car.

I've got a manual-hood cab now - I know it doesn't help you, but manual is much much better IMHO. If the cab in the scrapyard is a manual, I would go and get everything to convert from elec to manual - there is a thread on the 'zone where someone has done this, and describes it in great detail.

Good luck whatever you decide.

PS go and get the bits anyway - you could sell them to a zoner or on Ebay with ease to help pay for your hood repairs.

[DaveD]

Mine used to fold out but you will see over your head on the underside of the roof a narrow fold of material going across the car ..this should have a long rod with a loop at one end in it ,,if it hasn't this is what goes through the tensioners and keeps them with the roof when you fold it back..it is only a part on an electric roof...in fact it is the only difference


its no33 in this

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=54&fg=10


david

[virginfrank]

Thanks Dave,

will have a look and see whether it is there. It is possible that it is missing, since it really folds a little oddly.

Cool site for parts diagrams BTW.

Frank

[DaveD]

if you feed your vin no in it will give specific diagrams for your car..it is the most useful site

are you going to gaydon as there will be lots of cabs there to compare with and people who know more than me...

david

[virginfrank]

Unfortunately I didn't know about Gaydon (this car is our first BMW and I'm new to the scene).
We already have plans that weekend...

I have the wire BTW, need to check out how it works when I have more time. (still chasing the scrap yard owner)

Cheers,

Frank