BMW E46 roof latch repair

[@arch01com]

This was a life saver indeed. Thanks for the video. It is great to have the advice of someone who has done it to help me miss the typical mistakes.

[@rickcarter2174]

Tim,
I'd like to reach out and say thanks for the video you did 4 years ago on BMW vert top repair. I would have never guessed that about the 2 screws for the mouldings on the side windows.
Have great weekend from North Carolina
Thanks Rick

[@birdseyetwo]

Great job, Tim! Thanks for posting. Had the same issue with my '03 E46. Panel comes right off when all the nuts and bolts are off. If I were BMW I would be embarrassed to install a cheap plastic part in a place with lots of torque, when metal would do much better. But as a friend of mine stated: The accountants have taken over a good company. Sadly so.

[@watcherwatchmen7785]

I'm currently working on getting a manufacturer to make a BRASS replacement part. I will post to e46 fanatics message board when the part is available. Since BMW wants to make cheap parts, this opens up opportunities to guys like me to fill the gap with niche products that fulfill needs that aren't being met by OEM.

[@armr3151]

Watcher, did you ever get the part design in brass?

[@stearman]

Most all the videos I post are of the “how to” variety for the sole purpose of helping the public out. My videos are not flashy or edited really, and they’re not for profit. Just free information that will hopefully help my fellow man solve a misery or two. I’m glad so many have found these useful.

[@ericduhoverk1llz]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video! it helped me fix my e46, i wish i could like this video more than once!

[@stearman]

I appreciate that very much. I'm glad you got some use out of my awkward ramblings.

[@kathrynlouiseberman7919]

Oh, I hope I can repair my latch. Of course it breaks the day I decide to finally sell my '02. I thought it was just stiff and gummed up since I hadn't opened the top in about 8 months, so I sprayed some lubricant in there. I hope I didn't really mess it up now.

[@thaddeusbosman5643]

This fix worked great. Save hundreds of dollars by fixing your latch instead of replacing it.

[@stearman]

Guys, I don’t know much about this thing other than those locks and only that because I had to fix them so we could drive the thing with the top closed. As for Michael, I have an extra top for this car because the guy parting a 330 out wouldn’t sell me just the locks, which I ended up not needing anyway. I’ll go look at it and see if I can figure something out. If you were close I’d give you this whole top!

[@AlbertJCopperstonePA]

Hi, Tim great video, I need some guidance from the beginning...meaning how to release the top to get to the gear. Any help would be appreciated

[@frankdamelio1351]

Just picked up a 2003 and it won’t latch. Everything else seems to cycle fine right up to the point of the latches locking in the top. I purchased it this way.

[@robertmendoza656]

Very helpful thx for the video .

[@stearman]

Yessir, you’re entirely welcome.

[@watcherwatchmen7785]

My top wouldn't close the entire way. Started hearing little pieces of plastic tinkling down (That part you just repaired.) If your blue top is still available, I wouldn't mind driving the 4 hours to you to get it.

[@stearman]

I don’t know where you’d be coming from but it is yours. I was about to haul it to the dump. Good timing.

[@watcherwatchmen7785]

@@stearman I've fixed my top using your tutorial and the e46 message board, but I'd still like to get that top for R&R for manufacturing a brass replacement part. I already have a guy that is a great machinist that I need donor parts to send to so he can make the parts. Due to fixing my house I wasn't able to come to you last weekend, but I will contact when I can make the drive to you. Don't throw it away!

[@stearman]

Watcher Watchmen The top was given away. You eventually came and got it and I thank you for getting that thing out of my way.

[@ArmTheCreative]

i love you!! Great video!

[@sircamps_.-.1199]

Life saver

[@thefeydakin]

Thanks for the info, is it possible you would sell or do mods to E46330CI to match this?

[@stearman]

What do you mean “do mods”?

[@michaelseebeck4700]

Tim, I need assistance with the replacement of the rear window on my 2002 e46 convertible. The window has come apart at the bottom. It is not broken.
Also, is there anyway to talk with you about this vehicle and the repairs?

[@brianross9926]

Anyone have any tips troubleshooting mine. I have abandoned the hydraulics years ago and just manually lifted and pulled back the top while using this electric roof latch. Then recently I went to close it and the roof latch didn't work. No noise at all. It didn't make any unusual noises before failing either. I checked the switch in the trunk for the shelf. I also checked the fuses and they all appear to be fine.

[@stearman]

Brian Ross I’m afraid what I showed on this video is about the extent of my knowledge on it. This car got totaled not long after this video was made by a flood. I’ll never own one again.

[@sircamps_.-.1199]

Whats the size of the bolt inside the black block .?

[@stearman]

If I remember it was a 5/16” I had laying around. A 1/4” will work but I wouldn’t go any smaller.

[@mohammadafani148]

I’m having problems with my top on my E46 M3 as well. Would I be able to contact you for assistance?
Thanks,
Moe

[@placidnick100]

The issue I am facing:
e46 330ci, car storage cover does not open during top down/up sequence.
I pulled out the rear seat and see the CVM motor is moving and the latch is engaging to unlock storage cover.
What could be the problem?
Here is the video link:
czcams.com/video/YRGpqLheUVw/video.html

[@SoundChemist]

my top dont open, the top part i put a allen key in it to turn it but the allen bolt made on the car falls out, or if i use the button to open the allen bold spins but dont open, any ideas whats wrong?

[@stearman]

Chemical “the Allen bolt falls out” are you talking about above the mirror? Do you mean the Allen wrench falls out? That’s not a bolt that the Allen wrench fits into, it’s a gear and they break a lot. If you turn that and it doesn’t do anything and cause the locks to unlock, then most likely the plastic gear is broken in that gearbox in the center of the roof.

[@SoundChemist]

the thing the allen wrench turns, above the mirror, when i put the allen wrench in and i turn it, it falls out, when i turn it to lock it dont fall out, but when i turn to open, it falls out.

[@johnnymeza5454]

It's a broken gear inside the latch motor. Mine had the same issue along with broken latches. I fixed both and now my top goes up and down just fine.

[@stearman]

Johnny Meza This is the same reason I changed mine out. Can’t believe they make such an expensive car out of such cheap materials. Those gears in the overhead lock drive motor gearbox as well as the gears in the box under the rear seat should have all been made from bronze or brass.

[@jessepacheco8248]

What length and widrh did u make the pieces

[@stearman]

Jesse Pacheco I didn’t have a set measurement. I made them as thick and wide as I could to span as much surface area as was available in those little pockets in the plastic to both thread it to accept a bolt and to spread the tension the tightened bolt would create in hopes that it wouldn’t crack the plastic any more than it already was. A flat washer and a nut would work just as well, this is just material I had laying around my shop so I used it.

[@frankdamelio1351]

How long to remove the motor?

[@stearman]

Which one, the one in the center that drives the two latches? 10 minutes for that one.

[@user-ew3bp4jz4f]

Heygen traduit

[@osamamomani600]

%100

[@takissamantas7378]

This does for opel Astra bertone cabrio can you give me an email so I can ask you something please

[@stearman]

This repair was on a BMW. I don’t know anything about an Opel and I don’t give out my email.