Vert top motors- need imput

[Lmg]

Hey guys, just throwing an idea out there and I'd like your input.

If you could have a working electric top that was reliable and inexpensive to service would you keep the electric feature?

Also, what would be a price you'd be willing to pay to keep the electric top working as it should?


Thanks for your input guys, I look forward to hear your response

[rcsoundn1]

Are you considering making a replacement kit? I have never owned one, but I would Prob go manual the second the motor broke. Its not hard, and the cost for the electric is just insane, and seems overly complicated.

[flyboyx]

my electric top works. probably because i have a hard top on my car and never use it.

i think that most people, given the choice, would prefer to have a working electric top. however, given the complexity and cost of repairing a damaged mechanism, it is too easy to just disconnect it, go manual, and head on down the road.

i am getting the impression from your post, that you don't have a good grasp of the complexity of the system. it isn't just the motors that go bad. there are a plethora of things that can get out of adjustment, break, or wear out that will cause the top not to work. all of them generally result in the car's owner disconnecting the mechanism and running manual. i can't imagine the scope of developing a product that will fix all of these things.

[Das Delfin]

I prefer my top being manual so I can make sure the rear window folds correctly.

[jayamasaki79]

I would love for my electric top to work.

for a 1 time get it working properly kinda fix, i'd pay no more than $350.00

I have an non working electric top. I would love for all to work. If more than $350.00 i'd just leave it disconnected as it is now.

or if someone offered a manaul swap kit and proivded the labor plus parts install etc i'd convert over for $500.00

[aegul44]

manual is too much work. I prefer electric.

[rcsoundn1]

^^Really???

[Das Delfin]

^ I lol'd. Give it time

The guy on e30ic has some kind of reinforcement kit for the motor which is supposed to help. I never really looked into it since my car was a manual from the factory but from what I understand it's either an old link or still expensive. It seems to me that keeping the electric top working would either involve a relationship with a bmw specialist mechanic or a devoted diy approach, which isn't that hard for very many people on this forum. I think most people end up with cars which have broken motors and no one ever wants to buy a new motor for $800 so they don't get the opportunity to listen to the top work over time and learn its quirks.

So what would be a nice product is some kind of diy fix for the motor which isn't very much more than a couple hundred dollars

[Todd Black 88]

The repair plate is available on eBay UK for under $150 iirc.

It was $75 when I bought it.

Edit: Nope the price has gone wayyyyyyy up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-Cabriolet-Convertible-Electric-Roof-Motor-Repair-Kit-318-320-325-M3-/191715500433?hash=item2ca3226191:m:mk7j5zOFUJWc1rJBIUTMABQ

[flyboyx]

^first, that is certainly not worth 170 british pound. second, although that is a common failure point, it certainly isn't the all inclusive fix that will take care of every power top woe.

[Todd Black 88]

I agree it's not worth that, that's why I said I originally paid $75 Canadian dollars for mine 7 or so years ago.
That said, that is the failure on every car I have seen other than worn tension straps that cause the top to not fold correctly.

[Das Delfin]

The top is complex and a number of things can fail, but a cheap/reliable motor upgrade would solve a majority of the problems people have with their tops. After that you would be able to fine tune the top to work properly. This approach isn't what the OP was asking, but if he's going to attempt anything (cheap), it should be the motor replacement with the understanding that the e30 owner will have a diy approach on the rest of the top

[Lmg]

Thanks for all your input everyone. I agree the ebay "repair kit" is a terrible value and doesn't seem like a permanent fix.

Can I ask, what is the most common failures with the power top?
From what I gather the "top" motor (not the one for the lid) is the most common failure. Can you guys elaborate on your experience? Do the rods ever loose adjustment and how often does this happen?

[Lmg]

Btw guys, my car has working motors but my top and tension straps are bad so i'm running it manual for now. I am really fed up with the squeak that comes from the lid not being locked down, this happens every time I go over a bump. god this is annoying.

[cory58]

Bought my 'vert in 2006. The first thing that failed was the top motor. The kit from Germany fixed that and I've had no problems with that motor since. Now the boot lid motor has failed for the 2nd time in less than 5 years (I don't drive the car very much). Last time I got a used replacement from a great guy in the yahoo group. My first thought when it failed again was to convert to manual, but was told that would require some welding, so now I'm considering the $650 for a new boot lid motor.

The worst part for me is paying a shop $500 to re-synch the operation every time something goes wrong. I really need to learn how to do that.

To answer the OP's question - I would pay quite a bit for a reliable solution, but the system is very complicated and would require a complete retrofit to be reliable. Seems unrealistic to me.

Cory