convertible top leaking

[thereisnoyun]

so my top leaks intermittently for hte longest time. I did all the adjustement and it help sometimes and not others. Finally i bought the convertible top rejuvenator from 303. You literally see the water bead up on the top. The gap is still there, but there is no drip, not one drop.

almost 9 out of 10 its the top.

[knotcher]

well, i replaced those springs with some more stout versions from THD and they didn't do squat. it's not a function of how tight you can get that cable...at least it's not on my car.

i either need to stretch the canvas more, or somehow adjust the frame to squeeze in more...this is frustrating.

could some one take a couple of good pics of their top from inside the car...specifically, right were the gap is on mine (right about the window). i want to see if my ribs are messed up in some way.

thanks in advance.

[NC325iC]

wow original top, im on #3, the first one was replaced in the early 90's the second was replaced in dec '04 after i put my elbow through it.

[CorvallisBMW]

is there an adjustment that would stretch the canvas over the seal a bit more...i mean other than the cable...i just don't see the cable stretching it enough to make a significant difference.

i drove by a 318 vert this morning and his top fully covered the seal. my top would have to move more than an inch on either side to look like his.

I still have that same problem, even after fixing the cable. I think it's caused by old age and the top just knd of 'shrinking' over the years (I know mine is the original, making it 17 years old). I don't think there is any way to fix it.

[knotcher]

is there an adjustment that would stretch the canvas over the seal a bit more...i mean other than the cable...i just don't see the cable stretching it enough to make a significant difference.

i drove by a 318 vert this morning and his top fully covered the seal. my top would have to move more than an inch on either side to look like his.

[87-325ic]

good call on that cable. it keeps everything tensioned and tight.

there are all sorts of little adjustments on the tops, from the cable and other frame things, to adding and removing the shims in the rear ?top-boot?

that cable really looks like your problem. spend a few days just playing with it and see what you can figure out.

[hotrodlincoln]

i went and checked the spring. the cable is there, and it's attached to the spring, and it looks tight enough, but i guess if that fixed other's i'll give it a shot.

Do you have a pic of the cable and spring?

[knotcher]

i went and checked the spring. the cable is there, and it's attached to the spring, and it looks tight enough, but i guess if that fixed other's i'll give it a shot.

[knotcher]

on a side note, it looks like you are a Liverpool supporter from your avitar. at least you aren't for Arsenal.

Go Spurs!!

[knotcher]

i think it's threre, but it's loose.

so does the cable run under the lip of the seal? i guess i'm failing to see how, even when tight, the cable would pull the fabric closer to the seal.

[NC325iC]

my driver side cable fell out of its bracket and is now in the top somewhere... but no leaks so no worrys.

yeah knotcher it looks like your top is pulling away from the frame. in the second picture you can see where the cable should be attached and its not there. to the left side of the picture just below the canvas you can see a little metal loop , the cable runs through that.

is the top still attached to the cross bars inside, they like to rip free from the canvas.

[hotrodlincoln]

Anyone have a pic of that cable and spring? Is it accessible with the canvas on?

[knotcher]

here's some pics

[smooth]

I'll have to wait for the wife to come back with my vert but iirc, there are two flat strips that rest in the area you are talking about. The best I can describe it are two 1/16" strips that are belt-shaped. Or if you ever messed with bicycles, it's like the rubber stripping that sometimes line the wheel on top of the area where you can tighten the spokes.

[hotrodlincoln]

WTF? Another thing the j o I bought the car from f'ed up?

I just have the tensioning straps. Can I see those cables and springs easily?