Folks,
I just bought my first BMW - a 2000 Z3 from a private owner. 2 days later, the hydraulic system that opens/closes the top stopped working properly (won't open or close completely). Fluid level is good and motor/pump working. Twisting the T-valve to bypass hydraulic motor allows manual use; but it is VERY heavy compared to a manual top. So, I'd prefer to just remove the actuator that is connected to the top to make it a manual open/close top. I'm hoping that that will make motion significantly easier than just using the T-valve bypass. Has anyone tried this? Any advice? Did removal of the connection to that actuator make it much easier to open/close? Thanks all!
Robert
Also check out #32 here
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=54_0194
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
I"ve done it, goes up and down easily while sitting in the driver's seat. Just unhook the cylinder just behind the driver's seat. You can remove the power top pump or not, your choice. I did: gives me a little more room in the trunk. I just unhooked the electric plug and the hoses, put the hose ends in a plastic bag to keep them clean (and I suppose to catch any fluid left in the hose, but there wasn't more than a drop or two).
Here's a guide on accessing the actuator for replacement:
https://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/bmwz3removalguide.pdf
My top is manual. I don't find it hard to use, but I do not have the strength to pull the top up while sitting behind the wheel.
Even standing beside the car, I think it would not be easy for a small woman to raise it out of the well.
But it must be easier to raise than a disabled power top, because even though the pump is bypassed, you still have to work against whatever friction and residual fluid that the actuator has.
Last edited by Vintage42; 08-17-2020 at 09:46 AM.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
The manual tops used a sprung strut system to replace the actuating ram that power tops had
You could install said strut, in order to help assist in the raising process (thats what the spring is for)
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Okay, I"m going to correct myself. I should have said it goes up "easily for me". I'm a fairly strong guy with short arms. Short arms have an advantage because of the distance between the seat and the grip area on the top. My wife couldn't begin to lift that top, from the seat or the side. I didn't add the strut BB suggests. It's a good idea.
Last edited by zellamay; 08-17-2020 at 02:27 PM.
It is a gas strut like for the hood and trunk, that applies some lift assist. The early '97 cars like my 10/96 did not have it.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...94#54318407233
I ordered a gas strut:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/54318407233/
But when I got into the job, I saw no ball pins on my top's frame or the car's body as shown in this thread, Post #14:
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...0#post27955200
I could have ordered the ball pins:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...n/41218411130/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...n/41218407017/
but drilling and tapping their holes was far beyond me, and it seemed the seat and top would have to be removed for access, so I returned the strut.
Last edited by Vintage42; 08-17-2020 at 01:16 PM.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
You answered a question I had. I thought I remembered that my 97, which came with manual top, was no easier than my 98, which had the power top removed. The 97 had no strut.
Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!
PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!
Any chance that you have that PDF file? The website link doesn't seem to work for me. Thanks!
Since you have to get out of the car to put the towel over the window before closing the top, the power top really is useless.
I might revert mine to manual operation as well, I bet it is faster than using the power top with the towel.
How does manual operation keep you from needing the towel? ..... Also, I've made this comment before: I've never used a towel. At the cost of a window every few years, I figure I'm earning about 25 cents every time I would use a towel.
Takes the fun out of just dropping the top.
I'll bet the microswitch stopped working. Easily replaced.
2001 Z3 3.0i -Oxford Green/Sandbeige
2016 428xi -Estoril Blue II/Black
2018 430iC- Estoril Blue II/Black
2018 330it - Melbourne Red/Venetian Beige/Black
Yes, a towel will avoid/reduce scratching. My window is the original and has scratches from previous owner. I used Meguiar's Plast-X cleaner that helped reduce scratches and clear up visibility.
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