Hardtop inside panel

[B328iC]

OK so I'm driving down the road and hear a noise. I look in the rear view mirror and see the side panel to my hard top has fallen. When I stop to check it out I figure the clips just gave up. NOOOOOO the entire piece has crumbled! Totally self destructed and is in too many pieces to fix or reuse. Has this happened to anyone else?

[B328iC]

What am I the only person to experience this?

[txtorquemade]

Pictures

[Bill837]

Show us on this picture where the hardtop hurt you....

[M3rocket]

What am I the only person to experience this?

I haven't experienced that problem, but my ceiling liner has separated from the top (glue let go, I guess) and the fabric droops a bit, sitting slightly on the top of my head! I haven't figured a solution yet, short of taking it completely off (what a PITA) and re-gluing.

[M3rocket]

Any update B328iC on your hardtop?

[B328iC]

I need to take some pictures of the broken panel. I'll try to post them soon.

[B328iC]

Sorry for the extremely long delay but this time of year is crazy. First picture shows the area the panel was and you can see some of it still attached. The other is what's left of the panel after it fell off.

[Twistytee]

That's a real bummer. I've never seen the headliner board and rear wings sold separately and the hardtop itself is NLA. Chances of finding used wings are slim too given it wasn't a common accessory. I would try to epoxy all the pieces together and then use strong fiber tape on the backside for reinforcement. After letting it dry I would buy some foam-backed headliner fabric and recover the front to help hold it all together.

Infortunately the the molded plastic they used for these develops stress fractures from flexing and pulling the wings off to access the wiring, lights, etc. Eventually when they get brittle enough they break apart. Wish I could be more helpful but I don't have a better suggestion.

[B328iC]

Those are the big pieces. There are a lot of small pieces as well so putting it back together might not be possible.

[Twistytee]

True. You might be able to use them to form a mold for fiberglass matte and resin - kind of like doing a molded speaker or subwoofer box. Use some cardboard to fill in the missing pieces and lay the resin across the rear for reinforcement.

[B328iC]

Was thinking that might be what I'll have to do.

[Migou]

Make sure when attaching the 2 pieces back together, you sand them to give the epoxy something to "bite" into.

[B328iC]

I may try to tape them together and reinforce one side with fiberglass.

[66 6]

Fiberglass or gorilla glue Popsicle sticks on the rear across the breaks

[B328iC]

Fiberglass or gorilla glue Popsicle sticks on the rear across the breaks

Great idea. Wait a minute, with all the parts you have you don't have one of these. LOL

[Bill837]

I'm sure he does, but those are most likely inside the hardtops he has

[66 6]

I'm sure he does, but those are most likely inside the hardtops he has

Yeah, I have them but only in the hardtops I have available. I have no F-ing clue how you would be able to find replacements. I piece whatever I can find back together.

[ecooney]

You could just buy a replacement part. It's expensive but I would say well worth it instead of trying to fix what you have.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/54218151494/

[B328iC]

I may have to bit the bullet and buy it new. Don't plan on getting rid of the car anytime soon.