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Thread: How top of rear shock? manually open soft top?? even just bay??

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    New London, CT
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    1999 BMW 328is

    How top of rear shock? manually open soft top?? even just bay??

    WANT TO Change Rear Shocks!! Cant get to top of rear shock?? Anyone know how? Soft top leaked and had hard top put in, checked fuses, bay wont open, nothing, stuck, please help

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    New London, CT
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    1999 BMW 328is

    Convert not working how get to top of rear shock

    Inoperable soft top, how get into bay so i can get to top of rear shock, trying to change them. Get to if car was raised? Please help. Stuck.

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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    Ca
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    2001 525it
    You would have to open the top manually, which I have know idea how it's done

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Baton Rouge, LA
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    940
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    '98 328i convertible
    If you have the hard-top on, I assume the soft top is lowered. You would have to take the hard top off and raise the soft top and stop when the last bow is vertical and the tonneau cover is open. This can also be done manually by pulling the lever under your rear seat (drivers side) which disengages the motors, then open the tonneau, pull the top out of the well, then lift the last bow. You will need to prop the tonneau and the last bow open with something.

    Changing the rear shock is simple if you can get the cover open!
    Last edited by 110reef; 04-13-2018 at 01:25 PM.
    - Ken -

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    E21 323i, E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by kevinwandzilak View Post
    Inoperable soft top, how get into bay so i can get to top of rear shock, trying to change them. Get to if car was raised? Please help. Stuck.

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    You're going to need to get the soft top compartment open somehow.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Wisconsin
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    98 328IS 03 325xi
    Did you try in the convertible section?

    Gave away my BMWs, driving a VW and an Audi now.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    New London, CT
    Posts
    10
    My Cars
    1999 BMW 328is

    How manually open auto convertible bay 328i 1999 e36???

    Inoperable soft top, how get into bay so i can get to top of rear shock, want to replace rear shocks, many years ago had hard top installed guy unpluged the auto top connection under rear seat, pluged in but it still wont work??? Trunk was closed. Checked fuses. Cant figure out. Did what manual said...pulled lever forward...tryed opening bay, but still locked shut! Please help. I'm stuck


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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Japan
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    merged all 3 threads and moved to convertible section
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    Murrieta, CA
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    '94 325iC, '08 328i, E93
    1.) You need to remove the hard top.
    2.) you need to get the storage compartment lid open. This should happen by pressing the button on the center console. If this does not work, then you can lift the rear seat seatbottom and operate the emergency release. This will disconnect the drive motors and should release the latches (1 left side and 1 right side) of the cover so you can lift it by hand. Then you can lift the roof out of storage so you can gain access to the top of the rear shocks.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    San Francisco, CA, USA
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    '94 318ic, '00 323it
    At least on the 325i's I've seen, there is a gear disconnect mechanism on the driver's side in the trunk to allow manual operation of the soft top.
    Alpine 318ic FTMFW!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Murrieta, CA
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    '94 325iC, '08 328i, E93
    The disconnect is really under the back seat, left side of the car.

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