BMW E36 Cabriolet Soft Top Removal
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- BMW E36 cabrio soft top removal, it was the first time i’ve done convertible roof so I apologise if it sounds like i’m making it up as i’m going along... it’s because I WAS!.
Although the video doesn’t show the full refitting of the top, it shows all the important areas for removing and parts to take note for refitting.
This by far the best video on how to do this. I have watched at least six videos that didn't show half of what you did. Thanks bro.
It's exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks a lot!!
If you like, please, we want more videos about E36 convertible roof mysteries!! ;)
Love it man! Im about to pick up a 98’ with a bad window. Very helpful teardown info. I have a small marine canvas shop and am going to try my hand at a rebuild. Keep the content coming!
Good luck bro, make a vid and be sure to send me a link 👍👍👍
Really helpful video. Thank you for doing it. Very detailed and demystifies the whole process. I'll definitely be referencing it throughout my planned summer project to replace my 26 year old soft top. Thanks also for the name of the hood supplier you used (Prestige). If you still have the car, are you still happy with the replacement from them?
Very helpful video!!
Really good video mate helped me alot
i really need my soft top changed bu they charge so much here in florida i might just give up and get a hard top:(
Bro i had never done it before this video, strip it carefully understanding each and every part you remove has a purpose and a role to play. With all things cars things under the skin are (most of the time) irreducibly complex. Things on top (or on the outside) are for aesthetic, protection or encasement purposes.
Tackling each part of the job in stages, taking notes and photos will make things easier.
If i can help with any questions i’m always willing to do my best.
Save for that rag… then think about going for it. The hard top is heavy (loss of power equal or greater to having the AC on) and imagine when the AC is on as well!!! Also the hard top is a separate entity and you always know it and feel it. I like having a hardtop, but its a novelty, nothing like the colour contrast and classic appeal offered by a rag top but i suppose we all have our own preferences and favourite flavours. Good Luck!
@@theeccentrick one year later, i finally ordered a soft top and will try to film me replacing it!
So how did u put on the corners
I put the rear section on first, followed by the pockets that i show you approx 8mins into the video. Then work along the roof all the way to the front. Moving the frame work in between to your advantage to help get things in place is also necessary.
Thanks for watching!!!
⚙️
When you push the button to lower the roof, do the windows go down automatically? If one doesn't go down, would that prevent the roof from working?
Not an expert but i’d say so, there will likely be a micro switch that gives the all clear for the next stage of the roof to kick in.
No, but put them down before you move it if you’d like, if your trying to do a reset procedure and it’s not working check the video I made on testing the motors to see if they work, if they are fine, it may be that your module is bad
Thanks for sharing
Helpful video cheers!
Great video👌
Excellent video
Thank you for this!
Hope it was useful for you. I was learning as i go, so i didnt take as many pictures/videos as i would have liked. But i needed to finish to drive home so we had to speed up the second half of the job!
@0:55 what is the function of that plastic piece? Mine has broke in two
Which piece, can you describe it? If it is the paddles on the sides with string running through them, they are available separately or can be repaired, mine were in terrible condition one was broken, i repaired it and strengthened it on both sides
@@theeccentrick yes I ment the paddles. I run a hard top and saw they were broken. Does it hinder the close and open mechanism?
Yes because they get caught up, best to join it back together and strengthen or to replace them
@@theeccentrick aahh alright thanks for your reply!🍻
Hello my friend, tell me please where I can find new textil roof???? Like yours
I used a company called “prestige” which i found on ebay, but are a reputable company. They offer both vinyl and mohair.
@@theeccentrick how much cost vynil???
@@theeccentrick can you send me the link of this company???
ebay.co.uk/usr/prestigeautotrim
Heres an ebay link to the company, i purchased the cloth/mohair approx £540 with delivery.
This is the same as OE material
Does the roof come with the inner liner? I am assuming you have to reuse. Any tips for fixing sagging inner liner?
(I’m not a specialist - pro advice will be better)
I’m afraid the inner liner is a separate part, I’m not certain how a soft-tops inner lining would sag as they have metal rods running through the backing, maybe they sleeves the rods run through are torn?
Hardtops and other e36 variants do tend to sag, I’ve seen various attempts at DIY repairs on those... some have been poorly finished, some finished well but didn’t last and others are great to this day.
Spray adhesive and evo-stik is what was used from memory, it was allowed to slightly dry to avoid it coming through the material. Sadly from memory the foam between the cloth and the board it is attached to can often be the greatest challenge, without it the finish will be speckled, with it (20+ years old) your glue tends to stick to the foam and then pulls the foam away.
Best results came from removal of the entire board and cloth assembly and doing it on a trestle. The glue and cloth were done in stages allowing sections to fully dry and bond before stretching the cloth over and around contours. The most part with spray adhesive and the out of sight areas under most tension with generous amounts of brush on adhesive like Evo-stik and clamps to pinch it in place whilst it dries.
Would it be difficult to replace the soft top with a removable hard top?
Do you mean to make a folding hardtop like the the e93 or the Hard top that was made for the car?
@@theeccentrick a hard top from a removable hard top convertible
E36 has a “removable” hardtop available for it... but a foldable hardtop from another vehicle and fitted to an E36 would be far too much work and would look wrong, fit wrong and likely cost a fortune to achieve
@@theeccentrick exactly so i was wondering if that hardtop would be easy to install on a car that had the soft top removed
@@Hi-hl7bm you dont need to remove the softop just fold it (just like in summer when you drive with roof down) and put the hardtop on... Although the drainage system design is crap on e36 and your softop will be wet all the time when it rains so if not used it will deteriorate and get mouldy if car is not stored in a garage.
Where did you find that rear bumper trim? Love it.
Factory msport rear bumper brother
Hi guys where are ypu based?..i have exactly the same job that needs to doing..!!
The garage is based in West London
@@theeccentrick ok cool,.how.much would you charge for this work?
Hi Dave, although we are an all makes all models garage and we do everything from bodywork, MOT Testing, electrical, diagnostics as well as engine and gearbox works, cabrio roofs are not our usual line of work and although i’d love to take on the job i think a professional roof installer would be more suited to work on your pride and joy.
It’d probably be approximately £900 with the vinyl roof and £75-80 more for a mohair roof
@@theeccentrick watching this in 2022 and im replacing my top at a shop near where i live in California and im getting charged 2,000 for a new top and tension straps. 1000 for top 200 for straps and 800 in labor, a big part of me feels like i could get it done cheaper else where but at least this shop has a good reputation
those places you drilled out what are you placing back?
I went for rivets but i’ve heard some people have fastened them with screws
Hi great video, where did you purchase the roof from?
Hi bro, i really don’t recall the company, i’m gonna be going through a few bits and pieces soon where i may come across who they were, so watch this space, if i find it i shall let you know 👊
Where do you do this at
Workshop in London UK