Soft top replacement..

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fekaiki
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Cobham, Surrey

Post Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:23 pm

Guys,

How do I...

Remove my old soft top (frame + canvas) and install the new convertible roof I just bought?

I've been told it's "only a few bolts," but I need a bit more help than that for somebody who's a novice!


Help would be greatly appreciated friends,

Ally. :) :)
cecotto479
Caution Unreliable Seller
Caution Unreliable Seller
Posts: 2949
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: On a golf course somewhere probably

Post Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:07 pm

It really isn't difficult.

Remove the rear door "cards". Actually I usually just pull them forward. It saves undoing the seat belts.

Break the roof and lift the rear.

Using a 13mm socket on a long thin extension undo the two nuts you can see down at the bottom. A dab of coppaslip on the socket will hold the nut in place and save you dropping it. It's more important when refittting but helpful when removing.

There's one nut and bolt mounted horizontally at the front. Again a 13mm spanner along with your socket and extension is required. Here you need to loosen it off just a fraction holding the 'U' shims at the same time as you crack it. When it's just loosened about an eighth of a turn pull out the shims one by one. If you don't hold the shims as you loosen or if you loosen it too far you'll drop all the shims and you'll need to pick them out once the roof is out.

Do the same on the other side. Keep the shims separate. There may be a different number on either side.

Undo the electrical connection on the frame and unclip the connector from the frame. Uncle the horseshoe release cable from its routing clip.

Fold the roof right back and lift it out. It's better with two people.

See any Haynes manual for the refitting process.

Allow an hour for your first time. 20 minutes is feasible.
1981 E23 735i
1989 E30 325i Motorsport Convertible
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