Does anyone have some advice in regards to replacing the 2 gas shocks that support the convertible lid?

The lower-most mounting points on each side look like they are a pain to get to.

Do you access these lower points from the trunk or inside the top compartment?

Thanks in advance.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8892094&postcount=103

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8892094&postcount=103


Thank you sir!


My searching skills clearly suck today.

Not to big up myself, but make sure you use my trick as this will take years less of your time and will save your hands.

Hey what is the part number for the shocks? Where can i buy them?

Don't want to sound like Mr. Obvious, but....BMW dealer?

why did you need to replace the storage shocks? Was your cover not opening all the way?

the directions that have already been established are good, and worked for me. this job is one of those things that will take you forever the first time, but if you had to do it again, it would only take 20 minutes the next time around.why did you need to replace the storage shocks? Was your cover not opening all the way?

when lowering the top, if the rear bow clunks against the storage lid on the way down into the compartment, you need to replace the shocks.

My vert sometimes does the same thing, and i hate it...

So just to make sure, is it no. 5 on the picture we're talking about?

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w244/pomfritten/5.png

Yes! (2 in total).

My top hits the back on the way down as well. It seems that my shocks don't open that extra 1/4cm that it used to.

under pelican parts i typed in the part number i got from realoem.com(54318135313). It said for manually operated tops only two are required. I drive a 99 m3 convertible. So that means i only buy one since mine is fully automatic? here is link to what they say (i would buy from the stealer but i wouldn't be able to afford it):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/S-mart.cgi?command=add&weight=0.5&itemid=54-31-8-135-313-BOE&itemname=Gas%20Pressurized%20Shock%2C%20%28For%20m anually%20operated%20tops%20only%29%20%32%20Req%2E %2C%20BMW%20E%33%36%20%33%20Series%2C%20All%20Conv ertible%20Models%20%28%31%39%39%32%2D%39%39%29%20B rand%3A%20Genuine%20BMW&itemprice=40.25&itemquant=1

under pelican parts i typed in the part number i got from realoem.com(54318135313). It said for manually operated tops only two are required. I drive a 99 m3 convertible. So that means i only buy one since mine is fully automatic? here is link to what they say (i would buy from the stealer but i wouldn't be able to afford it):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/S-mart.cgi?command=add&weight=0.5&itemid=54-31-8-135-313-BOE&itemname=Gas%20Pressurized%20Shock%2C%20%28For%20m anually%20operated%20tops%20only%29%20%32%20Req%2E %2C%20BMW%20E%33%36%20%33%20Series%2C%20All%20Conv ertible%20Models%20%28%31%39%39%32%2D%39%39%29%20B rand%3A%20Genuine%20BMW&itemprice=40.25&itemquant=1


That's misleading. It doesn't matter what type the roof is, the rooflid is held up by 2 shocks nomatter what.
And (as on mine) only one side failing is enough to not clear the roof.

under pelican parts i typed in the part number i got from realoem.com(54318135313). It said for manually operated tops only two are required. I drive a 99 m3 convertible. So that means i only buy one since mine is fully automatic? here is link to what they say (i would buy from the stealer but i wouldn't be able to afford it):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/S-mart.cgi?command=add&weight=0.5&itemid=54-31-8-135-313-BOE&itemname=Gas%20Pressurized%20Shock%2C%20%28For%20m anually%20operated%20tops%20only%29%20%32%20Req%2E %2C%20BMW%20E%33%36%20%33%20Series%2C%20All%20Conv ertible%20Models%20%28%31%39%39%32%2D%39%39%29%20B rand%3A%20Genuine%20BMW&itemprice=40.25&itemquant=1

you are not even looking at the right diagram, but if that's the part you think you need, go ahead and buy it. we've already told you a few times what part you should get to solve your problem, but you seem to want this one for some reason.

the part number you have listed here is for a shock within the convertible top. you need the shocks that lift the soft-top storage compartment cover, which is part 5 in the diagram above.

Lift Supports Depot.com forget the 'dealer', thats what he is, the Dealer.

But that diagram is not on realoem.com. i dont know the part number to buy it. The link i posted from pelican parts, is that right? So i'm guessing im buying 2 for $80? Is that how much they are at dealer?

when i changed mine it was pita since the shocks themselves extended too much (shocks have longer distances between 2 attachment ends than the 2 body attachment points). and once you get 1 on, you don't have much leverage to push it down in order to compress it & push it onto the body. i had to use some ratcheting straps in order to compress it (we're talking about 1/4-1/2") and it went on w/out a problem.
good luck

under pelican parts i typed in the part number i got from realoem.com(54318135313). It said for manually operated tops only two are required. I drive a 99 m3 convertible. So that means i only buy one since mine is fully automatic? here is link to what they say (i would buy from the stealer but i wouldn't be able to afford it):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/S-mart.cgi?command=add&weight=0.5&itemid=54-31-8-135-313-BOE&itemname=Gas%20Pressurized%20Shock%2C%20%28For%20m anually%20operated%20tops%20only%29%20%32%20Req%2E %2C%20BMW%20E%33%36%20%33%20Series%2C%20All%20Conv ertible%20Models%20%28%31%39%39%32%2D%39%39%29%20B rand%3A%20Genuine%20BMW&itemprice=40.25&itemquant=1


I got mine pretty cheaply off ebay. Have yet to do it, but you do have 2 you will need to replace.

you have a link where i can buy them?

See post #7 in this thread for a simple tool to make the install a snap:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=775778

when i changed mine it was pita since the shocks themselves extended too much (shocks have longer distances between 2 attachment ends than the 2 body attachment points). and once you get 1 on, you don't have much leverage to push it down in order to compress it & push it onto the body. i had to use some ratcheting straps in order to compress it (we're talking about 1/4-1/2") and it went on w/out a problem.
good luck

If you did my trick that's no longer a problem and makes installing a doddle.

(take of the roof compartment lid of the hinges so both boot and compartent are open. Now you simply slide the shock on fully extended).

:buttrock