Yet Another Cabrio

[jeffnhiscars]

Where to start....I'm another guy who needs another e30 like I need another (fill in your word of choice)....but it was just sitting there...calling my name.

A day later I own it..in the driveway. I'll upload pics shortly...but this one I can't wait to share as I've never seen it before on a new top



Not only is the top new....but so is the frame.

[cat97628]

Mine says the same thing but nowhere near new

[jeffnhiscars]

I can't imagine what the dealer price is for a full replacement top but I suspect it's double what I paid for the car

[ryan SF cabrio]

another cabrio, mi amigo ? ... better simmer down ... might be time for an intervention ... haha

[jeffnhiscars]

another cabrio, mi amigo ? ... better simmer down ... might be time for an intervention ... haha

It followed me home...honestly !!!






My name is Jeff...and I'm an e30aholic

[jeffnhiscars]

That's exactly how I got it although it has since receive a wipe down. The dog did actually eat the rear seat which is exactly why i have a wtb ad up. Dash is flawless and when my ass starting burning is when I realized it had heated seats.

The needs list is fairly short aside from the cosmetics:

Timing belt is just past 4 years so due, but not over due. A good sign
Snowflake sticks. I have spares.
Back shocks are soft
Wiper dampers
Odo gears
Antenna grommet
Deck release handle
14" tires

That's really all I've found so far. Antenna works, central locks good, AC is ice cold, obc lights.

The build sheet shows an LSD and "281 16" chrome wheels round". Not sure where they went but I'm glad they were round :)

[jeffnhiscars]

Ok so this is cool




Note that the top is wet



And THIS is REALLY COOL

http://parts.bmwofsouthatlanta.com/products/BMW/Manual-folding-top/1399939/54318134864.html?partner=Bing_034_BMW_StockCode

[ypresman]

Yet Another Cabrio

I'm in the same boat as you.. Just got another one last month.. Already have about 30 hours of work into it..
.... It was raining when I took the pics

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[ypresman]

Seats found!! Thanks


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[Das Delfin]

I don't think I could ever buy another car exactly like the one I have. Too much work!

Looks nice! My top is also a genuine top but it's around 15 years old. If I'm honest it's a big part of why I bought the car. I replaced the zip window last year with an emiata one and have no complaints

[ypresman]

Unfortunately I don't have a zippered window as it's an e-z top and not an original.. Hate that part


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[jeffnhiscars]

I don't think I could ever buy another car exactly like the one I have. Too much work!

Looks nice! My top is also a genuine top but it's around 15 years old. If I'm honest it's a big part of why I bought the car. I replaced the zip window last year with an emiata one and have no complaints

I am planning to replace the zippered window as well so appreciate the feedback on the emiata version. Was it as easy as zip unzip after taking the tension off the roof ?

[Das Delfin]

It wasn't hard. You get the hang of it after a while. And yeah you fold the back part of the top up to create slack. Sometimes it flows better with more slack and sometimes less. I put it in by myself and used the box it came in to keep the back part of the top from folding down all the way

Two key points:

Mark the center of the window on the old window and the top, then place your old window on top of the new one and copy the center mark. It'll be much easier to find the center when you install the new one. This is important because while the top will zipper on without being perfectly center, you will get waves in the window because it will be trying to stretch where it wasn't made to stretch. Every tooth seems to matter. I put mine in and took it out like 10 times before settling in a place I was happy with. I still don't think it's PERFECT, but at this point I don't want to take it back out and redo it!

Be gentle with the zipper and don't yank on it. Both the new window and the oem geniune top zippers are made with cheap pot medal which bends easily. You'll probably have to install and remove it multiple times getting the alignment right so be careful!


And then you want to get a couple of those clasp pieces they use at the end to lock the zipper in place. There is a male and a female piece to this. Getting the splines to go through the canvas in exactly the right place was challenging because you are at an odd angle but it's easier with a knife or screwdriver and flashlight

Then afterward it comes with a sealer and then I used silicone bead on top of it. It doesn't leak but when it rains sometimes I get condensation on the inside, which didn't happen before (actually before it leaked so I didn't get the chance to get condensation..). But overall it's much better than a hard, worn out (and in my case) split rear window. It's pretty robust too. I babied it for the first month and then started slacking and haven't noticed any scuffs etc. It does develop fold marks but they go away after a day in the hot sun.

[jeffnhiscars]

The voice of experience. Much appreciated.

I see there's a fabric lip on the outside that covers the zipper. Parts seem glued and some not. How did you finish off that part ?

[jeffnhiscars]

Probably ththe biggest challenge to bring this car back from the abyss was the rear seat since you never know what it will take to trip over one.

Got lucky