E36 sedan roof replacement

[Juhl]

Hello, anyone knows how to do a roof replacement on a sedan? is it only bolted in, or is it also welded? pics of where it is fastened would be a huge help!

check the Picture and you will see what i mean
http://s14.postimg.org/gwjsg71jx/bmw_tag.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/gwjsg71jx/)
i can see in the parts catalog for the sedan it is possible to buy a roof replacement bodypart

The reason is i wanna do a swap so i can get a sunroof mounted

[snaponbob]

Welded. And it is not a home based project. Done wrong, doors will not seal properly and/or front and rear glass will not install properly either. It may be so expensive that it may be more economical to sell your car and buy a sunroof car.

Why? Front and rear glass will need to come out, complete headliner dropped (thrown away), roof cut off, new roof installed, new glass installed (as the existing glass will probably crack), sunroof system installed, and a new headliner install. In reality, it might be easier to cut off the roof at the A, B, and C pillars and install one from a salvage yard car. Cheaper parts and potentially less labor !!

The best plan would be to discuss this with a QUALITY body shop and put together a shopping list of parts to understand the cost.

Then ......................... a) give up, or b) buy a sunroof car !!!

[Juhl]

Hmm... you got a point there...

the trick is i need a car with some certain specs that doesn't really follow naturally! 1. i need a non-airbag car (only scraped early models has this) 2. i want the sunroof BUT where is live it is raining 40% of the year cloudy 40% and 20% sun so... often the cars with sunroof i higher equpiment cars that for the most have airbag too...

Well i will look into the cost and yeah probaly give up that part of the project... but thanks for the help anyway, i really apriciate it :-)

[snaponbob]

Hmm... you got a point there...

the trick is i need a car with some certain specs that doesn't really follow naturally! 1. i need a non-airbag car (only scraped early models has this) 2. i want the sunroof BUT where is live it is raining 40% of the year cloudy 40% and 20% sun so... often the cars with sunroof i higher equpiment cars that for the most have airbag too...

Well i will look into the cost and yeah probaly give up that part of the project... but thanks for the help anyway, i really apriciate it :-)


I forgot something VERY important. The BMW sunroof has water drains at all four corners. They are routed down the A and C pillars to drain on the ground under the car. If not done properly, you will flood the interior of the car. Frankly, this would be a huge project.

[whitee36]

Hmm... you got a point there... the trick is i need a car with some certain specs that doesn't really follow naturally! 1. i need a non-airbag car (only scraped early models has this) 2. i want the sunroof BUT where is live it is raining 40% of the year cloudy 40% and 20% sun so... often the cars with sunroof i higher equpiment cars that for the most have airbag too... Well i will look into the cost and yeah probaly give up that part of the project... but thanks for the help anyway, i really apriciate it :-)

Just get an E30!

[Juhl]

Just get an E30!

And why may i ask? they have become WAY more expensive the recent years than the e36 where im from... looking from Financial perspective then the e36 would be a smart buy because the are near their lowest prices at this point, after that they will become more and more worth from now on

[whitee36]

And why may i ask? they have become WAY more expensive the recent years than the e36 where im from... looking from Financial perspective then the e36 would be a smart buy because the are near their lowest prices at this point, after that they will become more and more worth from now on

Could be true in your area it's not really like that around me. From my experience, our e30's have been the most reliable cars that we own. My e36 has also been quite reliable. I don't believe that there was an e36 produced without an airbag so you'd probably have to just put an aftermarket wheel on. That's why I suggested the e30 because they are great cars and fit your qualifications.

[snaponbob]

Could be true in your area it's not really like that around me. From my experience, our e30's have been the most reliable cars that we own. My e36 has also been quite reliable. I don't believe that there was an e36 produced without an airbag so you'd probably have to just put an aftermarket wheel on. That's why I suggested the e30 because they are great cars and fit your qualifications.


Umm ----------- he is in DENMARK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Juhl]

The e30 is great cars correct but the cheapest (and baddest, but not wrecked)e36's that almost fit my qualifications cost around 25-3000 DKK (350-450$) which is almost the scrapping Price the e30's is about 1000-1500$ in as bad shape.. an the e36 is the best looking 3 series produced from my point of view.

The reasons for the e30 becommin expensive is we salt the roads during the Winter, and it rains alot so the cars become rusty (probaly most common reason for scrapping here) so the e30's become rare because of the age, they have been a Young mens "racing/ricer" car for many years until the e36's got affordable, and one thing more is the Insurance, there is a quite big difference in Insurance on the e30 vs e36 because the Classic cars is cheaper to insure

Regarding the airbag until end of 1994 is was an option you could get when buying the car (in my part of europe)
but look here: http://s30.postimg.org/gpm6xjzrx/10636545_10205052085372573_4961562096091659857_o.j pg (http://postimg.org/image/gpm6xjzrx/)
this is a original e36 non-airbag sport steering Wheel, which in Denmark is VERY rare because the sport package were almost never purchased without buying airbags too! :)

But i probaly just dump the sunroof idea (can only be used 2-3 months a year anyway) unless i meet one fitting the specs i want! :)

[whitee36]

Oh wow. All great information! Learn something everyday! Good luck with your endeavors.

[Juhl]

Yes you do, and i like to learn that kind of Things myself too! :-)

Thanks for the help, and thanks i will struggle my best and share it when i get to the project ;)

[xlDooM]

Why do you need a non-airbag car? You can just swap the steering wheel and take the bulb out of the cluster if necessary for inspection or something.

My first car was non-airbag with sunroof 316i. Still have a non-airbag steering wheel in the attic, but it needs to be refinished.

[Juhl]

To be honest they are often quite good at finding out anyway if you do stuff like that (dont ask me how)
Second thing if there is a driver airbag there is a passenger airbag too(Where is come from at least).. and the dash looks way better in my opinion without the airbag :)
second, the most 20-25 year old cars that have airbags doesnt Work or atlest that is my experince from a few crashes and looking at scrap yards, other than that i want the car to be a Little simpler to Work on because beside being a daily driver it is also gonna be a 1/4 mile weekend car (205% import taxes and high Insurances = the cars that hits the 1/4 mile is rarely over 150 hp so the 140 hp IS can follow) and ligther weight = at Little extra speed (together with a couple of other Things as exhaust and light flywheel)

About the sunroof the problem is the climate, in very rainy countries sunroofs are rarely found in low specs cars rather than high spec cars :(

- - - Updated - - -

about the first car thing my first BMW (my first car was actually a seat cordoba 6k2 1.9 tdi boooriiiiiiing) was a 316i compact with airbags sport steering Wheel, violet Black(cool color), beige interior...., and some few gadgets :-)

[xlDooM]

Track cars often ditch the sunroof cassette and replace it with a carbon fiber filler panel to save weight and lower the center of gravity.

[E36328Coupe]

................ it might be easier to cut off the roof at the A, B, and C pillars and install one from a salvage yard car. Cheaper parts and potentially less labor !!
Mild steel is soft, welds are hard and crystalline, so the least labour way of doing that is the most dangerous cut and shut style. Plus the car needs to be supported level and probably braced too. Add to do it "properly" the cuts would need staggering in each skin that would mean one cut in the inside skin, offset with another on the middle skin and two on the outer skin.

Much quicker and easier to use a spot weld cutter where visible (door seals and front rear screens out) strip minimum paint elsewhere to see hidden joints, remove the old skin, fit the new skin, align, add screws to hold in place, remove clean up joints, screw and clamp down and weld. The roof frame should hopefully be strong enough to hold integrity doing this.

However, not worth the effort / cost really. Something aftermarket or steel from another car may be a solution. For example Mantas have been transplanted with Calibra sliders to overcome rust in the factory roof