e93 top how to close manually

Drop top e93 · 05-04-2011, 10:28 PM

alright guys i need some major help my e93 335 got hit from the back and now the top wont come down i need a way to make it come down manually any help here, its like locked in place or something the body shop and mechanic shops cant figure out how to get the top down, is there like a spot were u can screw it out from being locked or something

username604 · 05-04-2011, 10:35 PM

that's not a very good body shop now is it?

Auto Pilot · 05-04-2011, 10:50 PM

I could have sworn I saw instructions in the manual about manually opening it.

TotalPower · 05-05-2011, 12:01 AM

i'm sure you can't manually move the hard top...MAYBE soft top...

Drop top e93 · 05-05-2011, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

that's not a very good body shop now is it?

to be honest it wasnt only 1 bodys hop it was a couple of them and then a couple of bmw techs

Drop top e93 · 05-05-2011, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auto Pilot

I could have sworn I saw instructions in the manual about manually opening it.

i think that was for the sunroof =( i read it to i didn't find anything about the top it self it only showed stuff about the sunroof whitch i dont understand why they would but that in the e93 manual

ibimmer954 · 05-05-2011, 02:15 AM

I owned an E93. One thing that was both scary and cool is how complex the roof is. It wouldn't take much body tweaking to make the roof inoperable. And I can't imagine how much it would cost to fix it once the car is damaged.

Why in the world would you want to open the top if the car is damaged? You might never be able to get it closed again. There are clearly belt-driven mechanisms in the roof. I don't see how you'd be able to 'force' it short of disassembling the entire roof.

I wouldn't touch the roof until the body damage is dealt with.

DeepD.Fast.Rider · 05-05-2011, 05:07 AM

there are 32 sensors in the roof alone, something like 70 overall for the mechanism. Any manual intervention would damage the sensors. The roof + Sensors are near $3500 - $4000. Then there is no easy manual way of doing it, bmw engineers know the tricks so they should deal with it.

andrewket · 05-05-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

that's not a very good body shop now is it?

That was my first thought as well. Go to a body shop that is familiar with E93s.

A

Majikthese42 · 05-05-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepak.j

there are 32 sensors in the roof alone, something like 70 overall for the mechanism. Any manual intervention would damage the sensors. The roof + Sensors are near $3500 - $4000. Then there is no easy manual way of doing it, bmw engineers know the tricks so they should deal with it.

From what I've read, at least in the US, replacing the origami top costs waaaaaaaay more than that, it needs to be shipped from Germany as an assembly and requires a special jig to install! (The stories make me queasy about just having a BMW sunroof!) +10000 on not letting a shop that isn't familiar with the top anywhere near it.

killakill · 05-05-2011, 11:23 PM

not sure how accurate this is since i dont own a e93 but ppl have had success by removing the plug form two modules that run the smarttop. Removing the plugs resets the top and some have had success with this method. THis link has a comfort access installation procedure but some have used it for gaining access to at least one of the modules for resetting purposes.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...story+smarttop

if that doesnt work, then u might have a failed sensor which is also somewhat common but costs $500-$1000/sensor and labor from stealership.

goodluck, hope this helps

Thunder Dump · 05-08-2011, 03:21 PM

There is no manual way to open/close the retractable hardtop. And FYI, the replacement cost of the entire roof (should the whole thing need to be replaced) is just under $17,000--and that's *before* labor!

Beemmer · 10-28-2012, 08:23 PM

did you find a way?

JRJ1970 · 10-29-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

There is no manual way to open/close the retractable hardtop. And FYI, the replacement cost of the entire roof (should the whole thing need to be replaced) is just under $17,000--and that's *before* labor!

I'm not meaning to jack this thread but I imagine there will be some after market options for those who need to replace their tops without spending a fortune and going the OEM route. Maybe a manual soft top option or even a detachable hard top shell? You guys think the E93 could be fitted with something cheap and easy like this later on in its life? Just curious what others think....

It would be difficult for anyone, regardless of how deep their pockets are, owning a high mileage E93 and spending $17,000+ to have the fancy top working again.

bmwkbiker · 10-30-2012, 11:12 PM

To echo prior posts, why do want the top down given that you may not be able to get it back up?

If you are asking can I continue to operate the top without having it fixed that's a big stretch. I think you need to either have it fixed by a BMW dealer or accept the fact that your vert is now a coupe.

PS: To address another prior post the top doesn't have any belts, it is all operated with hydraulics driven by electric motors.

Xx__xs · 05-23-2013, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

There is no manual way to open/close the retractable hardtop. And FYI, the replacement cost of the entire roof (should the whole thing need to be replaced) is just under $17,000--and that's *before* labor!

wrong, check my thread on m3post

mr_milo · 05-23-2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by System Of A...

wrong, check my thread on m3post

Nice find! I'd love to see those pictures. Hell make a video.

unrealii · 05-23-2013, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by System Of A...

wrong, check my thread on m3post

Thanks!

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=835175

Kulcskeszito · 11-08-2016, 04:33 AM

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...gency_opening/

Any ideas about the "special tool 54 0 163 together with special tool 13 5 250"? Do you have pictures of these tools? Or any other ideas to close the top without those?

Thanks!

JasW · 11-08-2016, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kulcskeszito

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...gency_opening/

Any ideas about the "special tool 54 0 163 together with special tool 13 5 250"? Do you have pictures of these tools? Or any other ideas to close the top without those?

Thanks!

That seems to be for opening the roof rather than closing it. I'd follow the instructions in the m3post link if for whatever reason you can't have the dealership handle it.

mxchris727 · 11-08-2016, 01:48 PM

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...osing_hardtop/

05-04-2011, 10:28 PM	#1
Drop top e93 Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 219 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cali iTrader: (2)	e93 top how to close manually alright guys i need some major help my e93 335 got hit from the back and now the top wont come down i need a way to make it come down manually any help here, its like locked in place or something the body shop and mechanic shops cant figure out how to get the top down, is there like a spot were u can screw it out from being locked or something __________________ sapphire black e93 335i
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05-04-2011, 10:35 PM	#2
username604 Colonel 124 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: repair shop iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00]	that's not a very good body shop now is it?
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05-04-2011, 10:50 PM	#3
Auto Pilot First Lieutenant 10 Rep 303 Posts Drives: 2011 SG CR 335xi e92, M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: GTA, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I could have sworn I saw instructions in the manual about manually opening it.
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05-05-2011, 12:01 AM	#4
TotalPower Lieutenant 32 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Vert AW Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	i'm sure you can't manually move the hard top...MAYBE soft top...
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05-05-2011, 02:15 AM	#7
ibimmer954 Major 148 Rep 1,427 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [10.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I owned an E93. One thing that was both scary and cool is how complex the roof is. It wouldn't take much body tweaking to make the roof inoperable. And I can't imagine how much it would cost to fix it once the car is damaged. Why in the world would you want to open the top if the car is damaged? You might never be able to get it closed again. There are clearly belt-driven mechanisms in the roof. I don't see how you'd be able to 'force' it short of disassembling the entire roof. I wouldn't touch the roof until the body damage is dealt with.
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05-05-2011, 05:07 AM	#8
DeepD.Fast.Rider Private First Class 8 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 335 M Sport Convertible Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: London UK iTrader: (-1)	there are 32 sensors in the roof alone, something like 70 overall for the mechanism. Any manual intervention would damage the sensors. The roof + Sensors are near $3500 - $4000. Then there is no easy manual way of doing it, bmw engineers know the tricks so they should deal with it.
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05-05-2011, 11:23 PM	#11
killakill Captain 76 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E93 M3,6th Gen Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	hey not sure how accurate this is since i dont own a e93 but ppl have had success by removing the plug form two modules that run the smarttop. Removing the plugs resets the top and some have had success with this method. THis link has a comfort access installation procedure but some have used it for gaining access to at least one of the modules for resetting purposes. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...story+smarttop if that doesnt work, then u might have a failed sensor which is also somewhat common but costs $500-$1000/sensor and labor from stealership. goodluck, hope this helps
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05-08-2011, 03:21 PM	#12
Thunder Dump That tickles 11 Rep 457 Posts Drives: '09 328i E93 SGM/CR Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Western MA iTrader: (1)	There is no manual way to open/close the retractable hardtop. And FYI, the replacement cost of the entire roof (should the whole thing need to be replaced) is just under $17,000--and that's before labor!
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10-28-2012, 08:23 PM	#13
Beemmer Private 22 Rep 80 Posts Drives: crashed e93 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: i dont know iTrader: (0)	e93 roof did you find a way?
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10-30-2012, 11:12 PM	#15
bmwkbiker Private 2 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 335i E93 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SF Bay area iTrader: (2)	To echo prior posts, why do want the top down given that you may not be able to get it back up? If you are asking can I continue to operate the top without having it fixed that's a big stretch. I think you need to either have it fixed by a BMW dealer or accept the fact that your vert is now a coupe. PS: To address another prior post the top doesn't have any belts, it is all operated with hydraulics driven by electric motors.
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11-08-2016, 04:33 AM	#19
Kulcskeszito New Member 2 Rep 11 Posts Drives: E93 225i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Qatar iTrader: (0)	http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...gency_opening/ Any ideas about the "special tool 54 0 163 together with special tool 13 5 250"? Do you have pictures of these tools? Or any other ideas to close the top without those? Thanks!
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11-08-2016, 01:48 PM	#21
mxchris727 Captain 193 Rep 666 Posts Drives: '03 M5, '06 325i, '12 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Westport, CT iTrader: (0)	http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...osing_hardtop/ __________________ BMW GT1 (INPA, DIS, WinKFP, ect..), ISTA/P & /D is up and running! PM me if you want to stop by and code your car.
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