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How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

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Scott
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by Scott » Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:34 pm

All the photos in this piece have been removed or covered somehow and are not accessible. We were about 1/3 through when it happened? Is it possible to re-post the photos into Repairing/replacing BMW E85 Z4 Soft top and drive units or am I going to have to go and buy a repair manual?

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by bladeowner » Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:21 pm

2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

59 Vette
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by 59 Vette » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:56 am

I need to replace the my soft top motor - and upon reading this forum last fall I decided to order the motor and do it myself - - so I ordered the parts and went to get the instructions and it looks like hte website is gone, and hte phots have been removed - - di anyone print this out? can you scan it in and repost it????

HELP I have the parts but now Id like the photos before I tackle this project!!!!!!

Yes I have a vette the bride has the BMW...

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by RJS-Z4 » Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:48 pm

Look above you. Plus, if you're doing it yourself, I'd advise cleaning up and re-using the roof motor. There's nothing wrong with them generally (unless it looks utterly butchered).
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by inject » Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:48 pm

I did the motor/hydraulic replacement in my daughters 2003 Z4 this past weekend, she has had the car since new and has never had a top motor failure before (11 years). She did have problems with one of the computers early on and they did replace the top wiring harness while trying to fix that problem. I want to thank everyone for the instructions on how to remove the top which was a great help. I do have one suggestion, I found it better to remove the 7 10mm bolts that hold the aluminum piece that the top is attached to prior to removing the rubber strip that attaches to the body, this relieves all the tension and allows the the weatherstrip to come off much easier, it also helps putting it back.

I had one problem that I have not seen mentioned in any of the forums, the original motor banjo bolts that go through the hydraulic lines would screw all the way into the pump body with no threads exposed, however they would bottom out in the new pump leaving approximately three threads exposed and would not tighten up the fittings, I went back to the BMW dealership and looked at another new pump and it was the same, I thought thicker washers might take care of this but BMW does not list the copper washers in their parts list. I had to grind three threads off the banjo bolts to fix the problem. Her car is an early 2003, I guess BMW made a change to the motor design, just not sure when.

Also when I removed the top I discovered the the motor housing bracket was broken and missing, I assume this happened when the dealership was working on it, no one else has ever worked on the car. It would have been nice if they would have replaced it, they just shoved it into the hole.

Has anyone ever looked into extending the hydraulic lines and wiring and installing the motor into the trunk of the car to prevent this from happening again?

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by LukeO » Fri May 09, 2014 6:55 pm

I'm having the same problem.

Can someone re-post ShipKiller's instructions? His website seems to be down, and I can't find a copy.

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by Bing » Fri May 09, 2014 11:41 pm

LukeO wrote:I'm having the same problem.

Can someone re-post ShipKiller's instructions? His website seems to be down, and I can't find a copy.
They are all linked 4 posts above yours - in the 'instructions' folder on the site you end up at.
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by Ringmassa » Mon May 19, 2014 12:29 pm

Any chance you still have the photos to accompany this tutorial? They are showing that they have been removed by the owner.

Or do you have the PDF format still available? My 2006 z4 hydraulic pump is dead.
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by inject » Mon May 19, 2014 1:20 pm

Bladeowner posted links above, here is a more direct link

http://dellis.co.uk.linkpc.net/Z4/Pdfs/Instructions/

Ken

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by HenD » Thu May 29, 2014 5:13 pm

Hi all,
I've just joined as looking to buy a Z4! :)

I've spotted one for sale that needs a roof motor and wondering how easy/difficult it is to do and how much it will cost?

Also, does anyone have the PDF talked about earlier in the thread? None of the links seem to work.

I'm pretty handy on the tools so would be prepared to take this on if it's not a massive job.
All thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated! :)

Cheers!

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by DR-Z » Thu May 29, 2014 5:59 pm

HenD wrote:Also, does anyone have the PDF talked about earlier in the thread? None of the links seem to work.Cheers!
+1

Would like this pdf if anyone has it. Also, did we ever retrieve the other Shipkiller notes on pdf? Does anyone have the full set?
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bladeowner
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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by bladeowner » Thu May 29, 2014 7:19 pm

Sorry Guys! I accidently shut the server down yesterday. :headbang: Should be working now. :D
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by DR-Z » Thu May 29, 2014 9:47 pm

Brilliant, thanks Bladeowner. Will file these away safely in case I ever need them! :thumbsup:
Z4 28i (E89 2014) - mineral grey
530d (F11)
Previous (most recent first)
BMWs: 330D, Z4 2.5si (2007), 535D; Marlin Sportster (M3 engine, self-build); 330D Coupe; 123D coupe; 520i; 523i.
Also: Audi A6 2.7tdi; Audi TT 225; Audi 100 avant; Porsche 944S

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by bladeowner » Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:21 am

Hi, Looks like the server has stoped with the pdfs on it. I'm in Kos at the moment and so can't investigate. I've copied the files here though for people that want them still:

https://app.box.com/s/ifbawtbk7h56h016ow2v
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

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Re: How to Remove your Soft Top.....56k Beware

Post by bladeowner » Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:03 am

Home again and rebooted the server.
These files are available here again now:
http://dellis.co.uk.linkpc.net/Z4/Pdfs/Instructions/

:thumbsup:
2004 Sapphire Black 2.5 SE Z4 SMG

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