covertible top hinge leak

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:15 pm

Top isn't working and its not the hydraulic pump. Just got a new one of those earlier this year. We took the top off to find out its one of the hinges. The leak is obvious its coming from there. The one opposite of to where the pump is. Thoughts?

thanks

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:42 pm

has anyone here bought a new hinge?

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:54 pm

hinge is $600...

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 6:13 pm

any other options besides a new $600 hinge?

this sucks

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:15 pm

found out Top Hydraulics can maybe repair these

horseofwar · Post by **horseofwar** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:54 pm

Sorry to hear about your soft top issue

Hope you get it sorted soon. Sorry I don't have any advice

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:49 pm

horseofwar wrote:Sorry to hear about your soft top issue

Hope you get it sorted soon. Sorry I don't have any advice

appreciate it

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:39 am

going to pass on a new hinge and operate it manually from now on

bmwmasterrace · Post by **bmwmasterrace** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:04 pm

Doesn't even unlatch anymore. We put the top back on and nothing at all happens when I press the close button. When I press the open, the pump makes a noise, but nothing when I click the open button.

horseofwar · Post by **horseofwar** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:39 pm

If you're operating the roof manually you have to unlatch it manually too. The is a panel next to the interior lights that you remove, turn the locking mechanism with an Allen key to unlatch

rlwoodin · Post by **rlwoodin** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:59 am

Looks like we have a leaking passenger side hinge just like the photos. Has anyone replace the hinge? It looks pretty straightforward once the top is out of the car.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:24 am

rlwoodin wrote:Looks like we have a leaking passenger side hinge just like the photos. Has anyone replace the hinge? It looks pretty straightforward once the top is out of the car.

Surely that's not a faulty hinge but a faulty hydraulic ram instead?

Dietcokeman · Post by **Dietcokeman** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:54 pm

^^^^ this is exactly what it is , but I believe the OP is from across the pond and it may be a US term .

The roof has two motors, one that powers the roof up and down and one that unlatches it . The unlatch motor is located in the front of the roof panel just behind the interior roof light , under a small removable plastic panel set into the main front roof panel on the roof sections inner front edge.

Both motors can be bypassed / overridden . The roof up and down motor that powers the hydraulic Rams , has a bypass red handled cable mounted on the back edge of the roof rim inside the boot . ( trunk ! ) , the unlatch motor has an Allen key slot on the actuating cam under the panel in the roof mentioned in the above paragraph.

If the OP has refitted the roof but not pulled the bypass cable the motor for up and down will just empty the hydraulic fluid contained in the pump through the leaking ram , but as the system depends on circulation being pushed around the system there will be fluid still left in the pipes once the pump is empty . If the bypass cable is not pulled this fluid in the pipes will cause resistance in the operation of the roof when manually operated .

If the unlatch motor now doesn't work after re installing the roof , I suggest this is an electrical issue as the unlatch motor is completely electrical . I suggest a poor connection or a broken wire or earth problem .

Dietcokeman · Post by **Dietcokeman** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:02 pm

Holy thread resurrection !

Must pay attention

rlwoodin · Post by **rlwoodin** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 7:48 pm

Both are correct. (1) From across the pond (California). (2) The leak is from the hydraulic ram. The roof is out of the car now. Added fluid and cycled it, and reproduced the leak from the ram. The ram is built into the hinge assembly (BMW calls it the "hinge" in the parts description). Looks pretty straightforward to replace. A few screws and one hinge pin.

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