Cabriolet Conversion

[spikec]

Just thinking about stuff since I finally have my 8 sorted and spinning like a top...

Does anyone know who did this conversion in TX way back when? Don't mean to sound blasphemous but this is my toy and it's about the only thing I can come up with that'll make it more fun:

http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2015/03/bmw-8-series-e31-convertible.html

[TheShark850]

I'm actually thinking of picking up a beat up 850 non runner and cut the roof and back panels off and have it strictly for summer (I say cheap and beat up in case I miserably fail in the process which I doubt I will) . Of course sand it down and do some body work to look good , repaint it Ferrari red or yellow and call it a day . It'll be getting 2-3k a year in miles max. The huge downfall is that I live in rainy Oregon and we get sun 3 months out of the year at best but as you said it's your baby , in my case I'm bored and I like doing extravagant things that others won't . Another idea is to be able to bolt on that precut hard top back on for the winter with some slick sturdy hardware but that will require some engineering to be able to seal it properly and prevent water leaking .

Currently in the process of installing a see through moonroof on my 91'

[spikec]

Good luck with your project -- way too ambitious for me. The thought of taking a sawsall to my 8 makes me cringe, but I'll gladly pay someone to do it if they can make it look oem.

[TxGR8White]

You will be going far down the rabbit hole with that project. You do know that the roof structure is the biggest element of overall structural rigidity and just cutting it off without the proper chassis stiffening will result in very undesirable consequences. Good luck though.

[XAlt]

I'm actually thinking of picking up a beat up 850 non runner and cut the roof and back panels off and have it strictly for summer (I say cheap and beat up in case I miserably fail in the process which I doubt I will) . Of course sand it down and do some body work to look good , repaint it Ferrari red or yellow and call it a day . It'll be getting 2-3k a year in miles max. The huge downfall is that I live in rainy Oregon and we get sun 3 months out of the year at best but as you said it's your baby , in my case I'm bored and I like doing extravagant things that others won't . Another idea is to be able to bolt on that precut hard top back on for the winter with some slick sturdy hardware but that will require some engineering to be able to seal it properly and prevent water leaking .

Currently in the process of installing a see through moonroof on my 91'

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/6030813712.html

Haggle the crap out of this guy.

[PabloRock]

I think there were a few after market vert conversions out there. Here is one that you could have had for $25k back in 2008;

http://www.carscoops.com/2008/12/cus...le-up-for.html

[spikec]

Yep, that's the one I saw that got me thinking! I guess any capable place with could do it, but I'm guessing it would cost a fortune. I'm curious what mods BMW did to the prototypes to beef up the structure.

[Major Cheese]

...I'm curious what mods BMW did to the prototypes to beef up the structure.

They put a roof on it.

[spikec]

No, they actually built 3 of these:

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1...Cabriolet.html

[Sniff38]

I know this is just a matter of personal taste, but I think the E31 is one of those cars that will always look better as a coupe. Sort of like the 911 (from certain angles) and the Aston Martin DB9.

[DriftGirl]

Newport Car Conversions.... theyll do it right...itll cost ya tho!
http://newportconvertible.com/

G'luck

[cartoonz]

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/6030813712.html

Haggle the crap out of this guy.

WTF??? You have to buy two complete cars and you STILL end up without a complete rim set of any of the 3 styles... aye yay yay...

[e31gixxxer]

I know this is just a matter of personal taste, but I think the E31 is one of those cars that will always look better as a coupe. Sort of like the 911 (from certain angles) and the Aston Martin DB9.

Well said, I'm with you on this.

I got rid of my E36/7 last year and the relief at not worrying about cats making holes in the rag top, not to mention squirells using it as a trampoline, and of course bird crap all over it was just the best.

[8eights]

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...onvertible+E31



https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...onvertible+E31

[kiwiCSi]

I've heard that the one at BMW Classic can't be driven, and is just wheeled around using a steel frame underneath the car to hold the chassis rigid.

[legoman67]

I've heard that the one at BMW Classic can't be driven, and is just wheeled around using a steel frame underneath the car to hold the chassis rigid.

That sounds far fetched, im sure its perfectly drive able. Anyone with a welder and some basic physics could make that happen. Making it handle like the hard tops and meet requirements for crash testing and safety is another matter...

[TxGR8White]

The red convertible at the BMW museum can in fact be driven. While we were there for the anniversary celebration in2014, the BMW tour guide told us that the convertible was actually canned because of a marketing decision. Apparently the added cost (they felt) was too great, and very few people would actually wind up ordering one ( think R.O.I.). I guess they should have passed around a questionnaire, they would have sold A LOT...