Q:Convertible Top Issues?

[Kirby]

I'm looking at a '94 325ic. The automatic convertible top needs a helping hand to completely retract. Anyone have any experience with troubleshooting this? I can think of several POSSIBLE reasons:

- motor is tired
- top mechanism is binding
- car was in an accident, things are skewed or distorted

Does anyone have first hand experience with this? How are the E36 convertible tops in general?

 

[jrt67ss350]

Kirby - do you know what kind of top mechanisms these cars have? Is it a motor attached to a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid into hydraulic ram cylinders that actuate the top? If so, then the top mechanism is probably similar to the mechanisms in first gen Camaros. Early Camaros commonly have this same problem. In those cars, it can be due to three things - a weak motor/pump that can't build enough pressure, a leaky ram cylinder that is letting fluid bleed past the piston, or low fluid level. Obviously, the low fluid level is the cheapest and easiest to fix.

If it moves smoothly with the "helping hand," then I would be less inclined to say that it is binding. Unless of course, you have to force it down.

Run a carfax on it to get an idea if it has been in an accident. If you are seriously considering buying it, I think it might be wise to invest the $20.

You looking at this car for your daughter?

 

[carcus]

I'm looking at a '94 325ic. The automatic convertible top needs a helping hand to completely retract. Anyone have any experience with troubleshooting this? I can think of several POSSIBLE reasons:

- motor is tired
- top mechanism is binding
- car was in an accident, things are skewed or distorted

Does anyone have first hand experience with this? How are the E36 convertible tops in general?

Odds are there is a bad tension string that is making one side bind. Odds are the other side with the added stress will fail as well. The motor is electric but could also be a problem as well. Just a guess from me. I had a tension string fail, replaced it with a combat boot lace. Have a convert top place check it out before you buy it, your best bet....the tops are not cheap to fix and finding E36 convert. hard tops is pretty difficult. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ncntrl]

Hi Kirby,
I have 94 325iC with a relativley new top (2 years old). When I bought this car used, it concerned me that I had to 'help' the top. What I do is I hold the release lever and give the top a tiny bit of pressure until the back drops down. By holding itr, I also ease some of the strain on the top when it hits the back. Then, I quickly tap the fabric between the lever and the first rib to ensure the fabric folds up nicely into the boot. I did not like the way the back dropped down sorta hard, and I also was concerned that if I did not hold the lever up a bit, the top sometimes would not engage or recess.

I took the car to my local bmw dealership, as well as a top respected upholstery/top shop. Both the dealer and the shop said the top was in perfect condition, and even brand new tops behave that way after only a short while. I offered to pay the top shop to try to tweak it a bit, and they declined saying they have never seen one work better.

It was hard to stomach at first, but since then I have seen a few others like mine and they seem to be the same way.

Let me kow if you find otherwise

 

[Kirby]

Kirby - do you know what kind of top mechanisms these cars have? Is it a motor attached to a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid into hydraulic ram cylinders that actuate the top?..........

.......Run a carfax on it to get an idea if it has been in an accident. If you are seriously considering buying it, I think it might be wise to invest the $20.

You looking at this car for your daughter?

Thanks for all the comments and tips. I'll give it a closer look and see if I can get the opportunity to let a specialist look at it.

I assume it is electric, not hydraulic, as carcus suggests. I plan on running a carfax on it in the next day or so. My daughter will be surprised if I buy this for her, and I doubt she will miss the 87 Volvo!

 

[TokFan]

Hmm, the top should definately not need help after just a few years.
Most likely whoever replaced the top before you bought the car didn't replace the tensioning straps as well and that's making your top stick.
You should consider having them checked out/replaced, if they are worn out your top may get damaged when folding.

Hi Kirby,
I have 94 325iC with a relativley new top (2 years old). When I bought this car used, it concerned me that I had to 'help' the top. What I do is I hold the release lever and give the top a tiny bit of pressure until the back drops down. By holding itr, I also ease some of the strain on the top when it hits the back. Then, I quickly tap the fabric between the lever and the first rib to ensure the fabric folds up nicely into the boot. I did not like the way the back dropped down sorta hard, and I also was concerned that if I did not hold the lever up a bit, the top sometimes would not engage or recess.

I took the car to my local bmw dealership, as well as a top respected upholstery/top shop. Both the dealer and the shop said the top was in perfect condition, and even brand new tops behave that way after only a short while. I offered to pay the top shop to try to tweak it a bit, and they declined saying they have never seen one work better.

It was hard to stomach at first, but since then I have seen a few others like mine and they seem to be the same way.

Let me kow if you find otherwise