Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Moving soft top TOWARDS windscreen? Power top

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Moving soft top TOWARDS windscreen? Power top

    Hi folks,

    Okay, so I am trying to tackle this challenge, but can't seem to figure it out. I'm looking to move my soft top forward (if this is even possible). The rubber seal at the top of the windshield has a little air/water leak sometimes and some wind noise. The rear of the soft top is also rubbing against the metal arm of my tonneau cover and some of the parts get caught going up and down. The top requires a lot of finesse and i think moving it forward will relieve some of the pressure on the soft top.

    The problem is that the majority of the content I have been reading seems to outline adjustments for a MANUAL top. I have a POWER top.

    Many people have pointed to this instructional manual, though it seems that the power top components are different: http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/i...top_adjustment

    Following the videos and instructions, it seems that you loosen the front mounting bolts and adjust your top, adding shims to adjust for the gap. The Problem is my frame does not have these components, or at least I can't see them.


    Here are some pictures of what I am working with. Any ideas. Does anyone know what to do here?
    Attached Files
    Last edited by mugenius; 07-18-2017, 10:42 AM.

    #2
    loosen the 4 bolts holding the frame to its stowage compartment and then loosen the two others that face the front of the car. Remove a shim or two from the front facing bolts on either side. Tighten everything. Done


    it's a Kenny Powers quote on wheels

    Comment


      #3
      Just be mindful that the forward shims are U shaped and if theres too much room they will swivel and drop off the bolts. Then the real pain begins.

      It also appears (and Im not certain from your pic) that you are missing the top hinge gas struts that unload your electric motors and lifting hardware. If they are there they are 98% likely to be blown.
      Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

      https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
      Alice the Time Capsule
      http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
      87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Das Delfin View Post
        loosen the 4 bolts holding the frame to its stowage compartment and then loosen the two others that face the front of the car. Remove a shim or two from the front facing bolts on either side. Tighten everything. Done
        Ok, after further inspection there are no shims under the bolts that are closest to front of the car. I'm not even sure how I would be able to get in there because it's so crammed between the frame of the soft top.

        So if there aren't shims under those bolts, how do I get the top to move forward?

        Comment


          #5
          Are you looking between the hinge and the body, not under the bolt head ?
          Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

          https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
          Alice the Time Capsule
          http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
          87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by jeffnhiscars View Post
            Are you looking between the hinge and the body, not under the bolt head ?
            It looks like there may be one shim under the frame (hard to see). If I remove the only shim, will that make a difference?

            Also, how do i even access this shim?

            Comment


              #7
              ^ there are six bolts. The two that control fore and aft movement of the top are mounted horizontally in the front corners of the convertible top compartment. To remove or add shims, you get a set of pliers and take them out because they're easily accessible right in front of you

              I tried searching for a picture to show you but there aren't any on google that point this out. There is a bmw service video in a sticky thread in this subforum that mentions adjustment of the top. I'd watch it and see what you can find.


              it's a Kenny Powers quote on wheels

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Das Delfin View Post
                ^ there are six bolts. The two that control fore and aft movement of the top are mounted horizontally in the front corners of the convertible top compartment. To remove or add shims, you get a set of pliers and take them out because they're easily accessible right in front of you

                I tried searching for a picture to show you but there aren't any on google that point this out. There is a bmw service video in a sticky thread in this subforum that mentions adjustment of the top. I'd watch it and see what you can find.
                All of the BMW service videos I've seen only show adjustments for a manual top, never a power top. I have taken a picture of what I have under the compartment. The front bolt is not easily accessible as you describe, or at least I may be missing something.
                Attached Files

                Comment


                  #9
                  You can barely make out the horizontal bolt in your picture. You need to remove your door trim/speaker panel, which you can do without removing the seat but it's an easier job if you do. There are only two 17's holding the entire seat in so it's not hard.

                  here's a video

                  you can see the bolt in the top right of the screen at and around 6:18


                  it's a Kenny Powers quote on wheels

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Das Delfin View Post
                    You can barely make out the horizontal bolt in your picture. You need to remove your door trim/speaker panel, which you can do without removing the seat but it's an easier job if you do. There are only two 17's holding the entire seat in so it's not hard.

                    here's a video

                    you can see the bolt in the top right of the screen at and around 6:18
                    Great, thanks. So the bolts I am looking for which control the back and forth movement are actually located vertically on the car body? Not horizontally? The picture I took really shows the bolts and shims that are locate on the horizontal axis of the car (i.e. the floor of the convertible compartment). Is this right?

                    The bolt I am adjusting is located vertically against the car? What if I get there and there are no shims between the bolt and the frame of the car? Are my adjustment efforts dead?

                    Comment


                      #11
                      You're speculating and assuming the worst. Just go look.
                      Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

                      https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
                      Alice the Time Capsule
                      http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
                      87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

                      Comment


                        #12
                        the bolts you're looking for are mounted horizontally, which means like this: --

                        the four bolts you know of already are vertical, which is this: |

                        the bolts you are looking for are parallel to the direction of the car when it is in motion

                        Just watch the video and figure it out man


                        it's a Kenny Powers quote on wheels

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X