Of the 5 bolt set you mentioned to remove on each side, I do NOT recommend you remove the one's with the large washer. Those are adjusted by the manufacturer and adjusted for perfect fitment. You can remove the top by only removing the 3 other bolts.
If we did remove these bolts, How can i get the exact fit back? Im dealing with unevenness that’s causing a leak where the weather strips of the rear part of the convertible top and cowl meet. Are there torque specifications??? Would truly appreciate your help :)
wish i had your help in real life. my zhp was in an accident and the repair shop did a horrible job. went in with no top issues, the top wasnt messed with at all in the minor accident but now its no longer working. i cant get it down with the manual release procedure either. so upsetting but if i need to replace the whole assembly this is much less intimating than i imagined. thank you man
I'm glad I could help. That's weird your top won't go down with the manual release procedure. I don't know if you did this, but make sure your trunk is completely closed and the storage compartment in your trunk is opened into the trunk. Try to fold it then unfold it then turn the ignition off then back on and try to open the top then.
Also make sure the windows are down at least a couple of inches and lift the back of the top where the glass is after you loosen the front and push it up as far as it goes.
Will it turn at all? If not your convertible roof latches are most likely broken which can be a challenging job. The plastic pieces at the end will break. There is a video by someone else on how to do the job. This is a link to the part vehiclemodule.com/bmw-e46-convertible-roof-repair-kit-latch-lever-locking-rh-lh-new/?gclid=CjwKCAiAl-6PBhBCEiwAc2GOVIvOMJ2-FWy57Qsfu_XhtwWjd4LHoDeY_ivUuJAded2ix1QasNvk9hoCTPoQAvD_BwE
There is a long handled 5mm hex head wrench (Has to be at least 6" long) that you can insert thru the left and right side to directly turn the shaft which opens and closes the latches. ua-cam.com/video/voYZ7_ozu5k/v-deo.html
I have a hardtop but I heard that if I remove the soft top the mounting location for the hardtop will no longer be there. Is this true and if so do you know of any workarounds?
Hey brother did u ever find out? I have a Hard Top fitted right now. Id like To remove the soft top tucked away in the compartment for weight reduction To be able to get to the clog drains I have
@@danielmendes1530For clog drains I would just use some chemical dissolver of organic material since it’s hard to stick anything down it. You definitely can’t remove the soft top without removing hardtop mounts. I haven’t gotten to the point of getting a custom bracket made. But any performance shop that has worked on old bmws can probably do it.
Ok, removing the top wasn't an issue, but after switching it over and installing, I can't seem to get any more adjustments so that the top will line up with the support pillars of the windshield. The roof latches are hanging about 1/2" forward of the slots in the windshield support. There are two nuts that can be loosened at the back where it "should" allow some adjustment but I can't move it back any more. Is there a resource I can find how to properly reinstall the soft top?
Hiya, I recently bought a new roof for mine and was told by the seller that you must never move the things on the rear the bolts go into. Any minor movement of these can cause the top to not work correctly
I have a comment. You cannot remove the top with out the 7th nut... passenger side under stability shock and the drivers is in all reality impossible to remove as the valve body is right above it. I have looked at many e46 convertibles as that nut is pivotal at the roof removal. Either yours was already missing, undone or you completely skipped that part.
I just went through the entire process and I'm stuck with my car taken apart without being able to remove the top. The 7th nut on the driver's side is completely inaccessible and on the passenger it's really hard to get to it, you need a flexible socket... I guess I have to put it back together and figure out a way to do what I wanted without removing it :(
Hi trying to put the top down iam doing the cable thing got front unhooked put can't get the back window to fold so I can open the cover any idea why the back window wont fold up thanks man
Make sure you have the front of the top bent back and the back window should be able to be moved. Hopefully that helps I'll have to think about any other problem.
@@E46BMWsandForeigns yea tryed I've had it down last year try this year and ack like the top isn't bending folding right like it locked or something lol still trying
Helpful video. 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: ua-cam.com/video/YRGpqLheUVw/v-deo.html
Sorry for the late reply, have you run a scan for codes? Also the if the piece for extra storage in the trunk is up and not down the top will not operate.
Of the 5 bolt set you mentioned to remove on each side, I do NOT recommend you remove the one's with the large washer. Those are adjusted by the manufacturer and adjusted for perfect fitment. You can remove the top by only removing the 3 other bolts.
Thanks for letting me know, but I also wanted to remove all the mounting hardware due to the fact the car was totalled.
If we did remove these bolts, How can i get the exact fit back? Im dealing with unevenness that’s causing a leak where the weather strips of the rear part of the convertible top and cowl meet. Are there torque specifications???
Would truly appreciate your help :)
wish i had your help in real life. my zhp was in an accident and the repair shop did a horrible job. went in with no top issues, the top wasnt messed with at all in the minor accident but now its no longer working. i cant get it down with the manual release procedure either. so upsetting but if i need to replace the whole assembly this is much less intimating than i imagined. thank you man
I'm glad I could help. That's weird your top won't go down with the manual release procedure. I don't know if you did this, but make sure your trunk is completely closed and the storage compartment in your trunk is opened into the trunk. Try to fold it then unfold it then turn the ignition off then back on and try to open the top then.
Also make sure the windows are down at least a couple of inches and lift the back of the top where the glass is after you loosen the front and push it up as far as it goes.
What if I can’t unlock the latches to the winshield with the pin ?
Will it turn at all?
If not your convertible roof latches are most likely broken which can be a challenging job. The plastic pieces at the end will break.
There is a video by someone else on how to do the job.
This is a link to the part
vehiclemodule.com/bmw-e46-convertible-roof-repair-kit-latch-lever-locking-rh-lh-new/?gclid=CjwKCAiAl-6PBhBCEiwAc2GOVIvOMJ2-FWy57Qsfu_XhtwWjd4LHoDeY_ivUuJAded2ix1QasNvk9hoCTPoQAvD_BwE
There is a long handled 5mm hex head wrench (Has to be at least 6" long) that you can insert thru the left and right side to directly turn the shaft which opens and closes the latches. ua-cam.com/video/voYZ7_ozu5k/v-deo.html
I have a hardtop but I heard that if I remove the soft top the mounting location for the hardtop will no longer be there. Is this true and if so do you know of any workarounds?
I don't know as I don't have a hard top for my vehicle and have never used a hard top on an E46.
Hey brother did u ever find out? I have a Hard Top fitted right now. Id like To remove the soft top tucked away in the compartment for weight reduction To be able to get to the clog drains I have
@@danielmendes1530For clog drains I would just use some chemical dissolver of organic material since it’s hard to stick anything down it. You definitely can’t remove the soft top without removing hardtop mounts. I haven’t gotten to the point of getting a custom bracket made. But any performance shop that has worked on old bmws can probably do it.
Ok, removing the top wasn't an issue, but after switching it over and installing, I can't seem to get any more adjustments so that the top will line up with the support pillars of the windshield. The roof latches are hanging about 1/2" forward of the slots in the windshield support. There are two nuts that can be loosened at the back where it "should" allow some adjustment but I can't move it back any more. Is there a resource I can find how to properly reinstall the soft top?
I am not sure as I never reinstalled the top back on a car. The only sources I could find were replacing the top canvas.
Hiya, I recently bought a new roof for mine and was told by the seller that you must never move the things on the rear the bolts go into. Any minor movement of these can cause the top to not work correctly
I have a comment. You cannot remove the top with out the 7th nut... passenger side under stability shock and the drivers is in all reality impossible to remove as the valve body is right above it. I have looked at many e46 convertibles as that nut is pivotal at the roof removal. Either yours was already missing, undone or you completely skipped that part.
I must have removed mine before I shot the video and forgot to mention it.
I just went through the entire process and I'm stuck with my car taken apart without being able to remove the top. The 7th nut on the driver's side is completely inaccessible and on the passenger it's really hard to get to it, you need a flexible socket...
I guess I have to put it back together and figure out a way to do what I wanted without removing it :(
the job isn’t impossible or else it wouldn’t be able to be done top halfway to the sky for those bolts
Hi do you know how change head liner? On that soft top
I don't really know, but I believe it will be a challenging job. If I ever have to fix mine which I hope I don't I will film it.
There is a DIY on E46 Fanatics for replacing the headliner, I did it recently wasn't that bad no mechanic experience at all
@@marccusumano1138 can you send the link, I can’t find it anywhere
Hi trying to put the top down iam doing the cable thing got front unhooked put can't get the back window to fold so I can open the cover any idea why the back window wont fold up thanks man
Make sure you have the front of the top bent back and the back window should be able to be moved. Hopefully that helps I'll have to think about any other problem.
@@E46BMWsandForeigns yea tryed I've had it down last year try this year and ack like the top isn't bending folding right like it locked or something lol still trying
@@tommycook9620 The only thing I could think of if you released it under the back seat maybe you didn't turn it enough by the windshield.
@@E46BMWsandForeigns yea the front is completely loose but maybe it's not fully unlock the top all the way is what I am thinking thanks for the reply
Helpful video. 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:
ua-cam.com/video/YRGpqLheUVw/v-deo.html
Sorry for the late reply, have you run a scan for codes? Also the if the piece for extra storage in the trunk is up and not down the top will not operate.