Measurement Request

JHZR2 · 03-10-2009, 05:24 PM

Hello,

Yes, I can and ultimately would do this at a dealer, but that would be weeks before I get the number...

Long story short, my driveway is quite narrow for a fair stretch... My E30 4dr is narrow enough, and being 4dr, has short enough doors that getting in and out is more or less a non-issue.

However, 2dr cars tend to have long, heavy doors, and that has me a bit worried.

My pickup truck is roughly the same width as a 135i, and has reasonably long doors. Therefore I'd like to compare as close to apples to apples as possible, and "run the experiment" of fit on various narrow spots of my driveway.

So, can anyone please provide me the length of a 135i (preferably convertible) driver's door? It would be great if it was given at the top (where metal and glass meet), bottom, and the widest point... however if youre just able to eyeball the widest point, that would be fine too.

Curvature of the sheetmetal will add a bit of length if you just put a tape across, but that is fine...

If anyone could possibly give this measurement, Id really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Tom K. · 03-10-2009, 05:35 PM

45" at the top
52" at the widest point (on the crease about 3" above the handle)
47" at the bottom

(128i 'vert)

Tom

JHZR2 · 03-10-2009, 06:13 PM

Thanks so much!!! Greatly appreciated!

smithtravel · 03-10-2009, 07:33 PM

Tom K. gave you the door measurements, but another one that might be useful is the distance away from the car when the door is open. I my 135 convertible the widest point is 42" from the car when the door is fully open.

JHZR2 · 03-10-2009, 08:10 PM

Aaaah, interesting point. Great point to compare to even my E30 then... What was the inner point at the car, from where you did the measurement? Was it near the hinge in the door jamb? Thanks again!

smithtravel · 03-11-2009, 10:06 AM

1) I opened the drivers door (135 convertible) as far as it would go. 2) Found the point on the door that was farthest out from the car and marked that on my garage floor. 3) I made a line from that point strait back to the car and marked the point it hit the car on the garage floor. (That line formed a right angle with the side of the car.) 4) Measured the line. That gave 42" as the "widest" opening you need when fully open.

AchtungF80 · 03-11-2009, 10:15 AM

Not the most helpful/technical advice I've ever gave...but my garage opening at my condo is space restrictive as there is a support pole at the passenger side of my car...my FX35 was impossible for a passenger to get out when in there, my E30/E82 no problems, and my 944/350z were problematic but doable with a 2nd person checking door to pole clearance.

My wife will attest that our E30/E82 are limited door space friendly but is trained to check and double-check before chancing anything LOL.

03-10-2009, 05:24 PM	#1
JHZR2 Major 74 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Measurement Request Hello, Yes, I can and ultimately would do this at a dealer, but that would be weeks before I get the number... Long story short, my driveway is quite narrow for a fair stretch... My E30 4dr is narrow enough, and being 4dr, has short enough doors that getting in and out is more or less a non-issue. However, 2dr cars tend to have long, heavy doors, and that has me a bit worried. My pickup truck is roughly the same width as a 135i, and has reasonably long doors. Therefore I'd like to compare as close to apples to apples as possible, and "run the experiment" of fit on various narrow spots of my driveway. So, can anyone please provide me the length of a 135i (preferably convertible) driver's door? It would be great if it was given at the top (where metal and glass meet), bottom, and the widest point... however if youre just able to eyeball the widest point, that would be fine too. Curvature of the sheetmetal will add a bit of length if you just put a tape across, but that is fine... If anyone could possibly give this measurement, Id really appreciate it! Thanks!
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03-10-2009, 05:35 PM	#2
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	45" at the top 52" at the widest point (on the crease about 3" above the handle) 47" at the bottom (128i 'vert) Tom
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03-10-2009, 06:13 PM	#3
JHZR2 Major 74 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Thanks so much!!! Greatly appreciated!
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03-10-2009, 07:33 PM	#4
smithtravel Private 4 Rep 64 Posts Drives: Join Date: Dec 2008 iTrader: (0)	Tom K. gave you the door measurements, but another one that might be useful is the distance away from the car when the door is open. I my 135 convertible the widest point is 42" from the car when the door is fully open. __________________ First ED: 335 convertible on June 25, 2008. Second ED: 135 convertible on December 23, 2008. Jet Black, Terracotta Leather, Light Burl Walnut, Step., Premium, Premium Audio, Nav., Heated Seats
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03-10-2009, 08:10 PM	#5
JHZR2 Major 74 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Aaaah, interesting point. Great point to compare to even my E30 then... What was the inner point at the car, from where you did the measurement? Was it near the hinge in the door jamb? Thanks again!
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03-11-2009, 10:06 AM	#6
smithtravel Private 4 Rep 64 Posts Drives: Join Date: Dec 2008 iTrader: (0)	1) I opened the drivers door (135 convertible) as far as it would go. 2) Found the point on the door that was farthest out from the car and marked that on my garage floor. 3) I made a line from that point strait back to the car and marked the point it hit the car on the garage floor. (That line formed a right angle with the side of the car.) 4) Measured the line. That gave 42" as the "widest" opening you need when fully open. __________________ First ED: 335 convertible on June 25, 2008. Second ED: 135 convertible on December 23, 2008. Jet Black, Terracotta Leather, Light Burl Walnut, Step., Premium, Premium Audio, Nav., Heated Seats
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03-11-2009, 10:15 AM	#7
AchtungF80 Brigadier General 276 Rep 3,465 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3, '17 G30 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135is [9.50] 2010 Cooper S [10.00] 1991 318is [10.00]	Not the most helpful/technical advice I've ever gave...but my garage opening at my condo is space restrictive as there is a support pole at the passenger side of my car...my FX35 was impossible for a passenger to get out when in there, my E30/E82 no problems, and my 944/350z were problematic but doable with a 2nd person checking door to pole clearance. My wife will attest that our E30/E82 are limited door space friendly but is trained to check and double-check before chancing anything LOL.
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