Hardtop Fit Issues

[Core]

My hardtop is leaking on the passenger side, where it meets the top of the windscreen. From looking at the exterior, I can see a gap between the gasket and the windscreen that begins on the passenger side, and fades out toward the driver side.



Also, it seems that the top is pushing the driver's side rear window forward, making the front window not want to fit nicely.





This makes me think that the entire top is 'rotated' slightly clockwise when viewed from the top.

Is there any way to adjust the way the top fits? It looks like there are coilover style adjustment washers underneath the 11mm release bolt, but I have no idea how to go about adjusting these.

Is there a manual or guide for this? Didn't find anything about hardtops in the Bentley manual.

Thanks!

[TSI]

You need a special tool to adjust the rise on either side, or you can get creative with some bent-nose pliers. The gap in the front isn't normal though--are you sure the mounting pins aren't bent?

[///M42 sport]

you should adjust your windows

[hendrixvodu]

The handles that you release the hard top with , there are holes on the window frame that have a part of those handles go into it .they look like little cones they are made of plastic they look like they are missing from your car #27

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326&btnr=54_0162&hg=54&fg=10

[Trptguy]

The handles that you release the hard top with , there are holes on the window frame that have a part of those handles go into it .they look like little cones they are made of plastic they look like they are missing from your car #27


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...62&hg=54&fg=10

Yes this,plus the rear can be adjusted without the tool. Use a 11 mm wrench for the top of the pin. If you need to loosene the locking ring a flat blade screw driver and small hammer work

[M-technik-3]

Just purchase the spanner wrench they are cheap.

[Trptguy]

Hahaha....he could do that to.

[joeym215]

I would make sure the rear window is seating properly in the hardtop seal. The seal has a tendency to "unseat" itself from time to time. Also, I had a similar leak on the drivers side and it ended up being the felt-like seal on the windshield cowl. I hammered the felt down on the opposite side of where the locking handle pin is and it stopped the leak.

[Core]

Thanks for all the replies! I pulled the top off and didn't see anything obviously out of whack. One of the pin receptacles is cracked, but I don't imagine that would effect fit much, since all the mechanical connection is happening below that.

It appears that I am missing part 27 (covering for centering bolt), or else it's flush in the hole at the top of the windscreen and I'm not seeing it?

[jeffnhiscars]

It actually looks like you have the cover for the centering pin but that its just a little chewed up at the bottom which should not effect how it sits once its locked down.The only adjustment Im aware of is the up/down on the rear pins which doesnt seem likely to cause your fitment issue. Im wondering if the plastic "hardtop holders" in your last pic could possibly be damaged or out of position although I dont think they are adjustable.

There are instructions to adjust the hardtop but I never did figure out how to post a pdf. Its in the factory manual under 54-21 and Ive seen it posted as well somewhere. It does say:

"adjust spacing between hardtop and body to 5-6mm..turn locking screw with an open end wrench til lock engages....engage front locks".

I have new lock pins, pin covers and the adjusting tool here and will install them soon. The tool was about $27 and the new left pin had a damaged thread in exactly the same spot as the original pin so I had the dealership fix it. In other words check that pin turns easily by hand before you put the top on. My guess is that the new pin was made on the same machine as the original and that in 27 years no one realized it was nicking a thread.

[Core]

Thanks for the clarification. I found the .pdf of the hardtop adjustment page on another forum, but like you said, it's hard to imagine being able to fix this by just adjusting the height of one of the rear locks.

I might look to see if there's a way to adjust where the hardtop sits on its locking hardware. If there's a way to scoot the right rear pin back a touch, that would have the effect of pushing the right front corner forward.

[N2MYE30]

As a reference, can you attach a link for that pdf for us?

[jeffnhiscars]

Here's the good news. I just pulled my hardtop out of its storage case to get it ready for winter and while test fitting my new lock down pins I notice that the screw part of the pin is much smaller than the opening which means if you back off the lock nut (the star nut that likes the special tool) you can move the pin.

Although the instruction say to adjust the pin height before you lock down the front, you may want to lock it and then free up the rear pin so it will self locate, tighten the star nut, then unlock the front to re check the height

[Core]

Rad! Looking forward to getting this squared away before the rain returns. For reference, here is the manual for adjusting the top (in typical low-res form).

[e30blitz]

you should adjust your windows

😊


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