how hard is it to install a hard top?

[bimmerguy]

ok this guy has a hard top for sale but its couple hours away, i was thinking of driving my bimmer there.... put it on and drive back.....can i just do that or do i need some kind of mounting kit ot special tools etc.... thanks guys.

[bjm442]

you need the mounting kit. I think it is about $100

[vr4boy]

i'd go buy the hardtop mounting kit from the dealer,install it then pick up your hardtop.
last thing you need is for your newly purchased hardtop be flying off your car on the highway ruining it and maybe causing an accident sp being 2 hrs away....
congrats on the purchase:buttrock

[bimmerguy]

thanks guys, so basically if i install this kit can i still use me soft top, what im saying is when i take off the hard top again do i have to uninstall the mounting kit? is all of this hard to do and does it require special tools?

[vr4boy]

the hardtop mounting kit does not have to be removed when the hardtop is off(it becomes a permanent fixture in the car).
This kit in my opinion, should have been a standard part for all e36 cabrio just like all e30 cabrios had...i guess they where just cutting cost for this $120 part.
all it take is a 10 mm socket w/ a ratchet to install.it's basically removing the interior side panels and rear seats to access the factory plug and snake in the wires -prob a 15-20 min install...
best installed w/ the top down.

you'll love the car w/ the new hardtop-get's rid of body flex,110% quieter,fancy interior lights,glass rear window w/ defrost and makes the car looks more like a roadster vs a coupe.
you get 3 cars in one:a roadster,a convertible and ragtop...:)

[MParallel]

You may want to check if you car was factory fitted with the mounting kit like mine was.

[SouthernBoy]

If you don't have time to acquire/install the mounting kit before you pick the hardtop up, no big deal. When you get there, simply lower your soft top, put the hard top in place and lock down the front of the hard top (you'll see how).

For the rear, take two of those ratcheting tie-down straps you can buy pretty much anywhere. On each side, hook one end to the grab handle on the hard top, the other end to the back of the anchor bar for the front seat belts (just inside the door jambs) and then ratchet it down until firm.

When I picked up my hard top, I drove home 2.5 hours at 75+ mph with this setup in place... no issues.

[pwlorraine]

the hardtop mounting kit does not have to be removed when the hardtop is off(it becomes a permanent fixture in the car).
This kit in my opinion, should have been a standard part for all e36 cabrio just like all e30 cabrios had...i guess they where just cutting cost for this $120 part.
all it take is a 10 mm socket w/ a ratchet to install.it's basically removing the interior side panels and rear seats to access the factory plug and snake in the wires -prob a 15-20 min install...
best installed w/ the top down.

you'll love the car w/ the new hardtop-get's rid of body flex,110% quieter,fancy interior lights,glass rear window w/ defrost and makes the car looks more like a roadster vs a coupe.
you get 3 cars in one:a roadster,a convertible and ragtop...:)

I think you are faster than me - my install was roughly 2 hours although a lot of that was spent thinking carefully about the next step. The second time would be much faster. Little things like removing the springs that hold the post cover in place from the right side are important. How the trim separates from the rear body - once you see it is pretty obvious but you can't see until you pull it off. There are two types of parts on a BMW - those that "pop" off and those that break when you "pop" them off. Getting the rear head rests off alone feels like you are tearing your car in half. If you've ever pulled the rear trim panels in the past you know 90% of what you need here. This is definitely on the easier side of the install difficulty scale.

I love my hard top - only problems are that some people (me included) have leaks with the hard top near the A-pillars. Getting rid of these can be a nuisance and made each visit to the car wash in the winter an adventure. Painting to match isn't that bad - the local BMW dealer body shop painted mine from black to Avus blue for about $430 and did a super job.

I agree about buying the kit and putting it on before picking up the hard top. It will also give you a chance to test the hard top interior lights and defogger. It "probably" won't fly off if you don't put the install kit in first but I would not take the chance unless timing was impossible. Securing as Southernboy suggests would be second best but better than only using the front clamp.

You can switch back and forth from hard top to soft top for only the effort of lifting the top off. Get a stand for it.

Peter

[bimmerguy]

thank you for all your help guys, how can i check whether my car has already the install kit in place????? that would be awsome if i have it in there but i dont know how to tell the difference.

[toplezz328]

myself and millertimebmw drove from boston to toronto to pick up my hard top...i did not install the kit first i took the two little panels off the door sill the pegs from the hard top just sat in there used two adjustable bungy cords around the o shit handles and cliped them to the bottom bar of the seat belt holder in the rear floor and the just looked the front handel..held fine all the way home 10 hrs just keep it under 85 and youll be fine..anything faster the rear of the hardtop starts to lift up as noted by my son who was in the back the whole time..lol also i can get hardtop install kit for about $65

[bimmerguy]

how can i tell whether i have the kit already in the car or not?

[pwlorraine]

Just forward of where the top folds away there are two covers on each side - a big one that is spring loaded and a small one. Slide the small one off toward the back and look in the hole. You will have a circular receiver hole with two electrical contacts if you are set up now. Look more closely and you will see what looks like a spiral slide around the hole that accomodates the guides attached to the pin.

Peter