Vert top repair info

[BaNaNaBoy69]

F**k! I just saw this thread and realized I've had the same problem for awhile now. Although my roof is showing signs of wear, it hasn't leaked yet. My warranty lapsed last year, I wonder if BMW will fix my roof. The dealership did a final warranty inspection to fix any issues before it ran out, but they didn't catch the roof issue.

[Zuzu]

When I had my 08/135i vert, I had the roof replaced twice under warranty before I traded back to BMW..
Even the 3rd roof replacement was showing signs of wear.

[BaNaNaBoy69]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

When I had my 08/135i vert, I had the roof replaced twice under warranty before I traded back to BMW..
Even the 3rd roof replacement was showing signs of wear.

Wow, mine lasted about 4 years before I started noticing in the past year. Did they replace your roof based on the TSB each time?

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by BaNaNaBoy69

Wow, mine lasted about 4 years before I started noticing in the past year. Did they replace your roof based on the TSB each time?

Yep, they did.

The first roof had extensive wear on the drivers side pillar.

I had the moonlight black roof fitted as an option from new. The defect was more obvious on this roof than the standard black.

The second roof had the spacers fitted in the fold mechanism, but then the passenger side showed signs of rubbing, plus the roof was twisted.

The third roof started having slight rubbing/wear issues after only a few months..

[BaNaNaBoy69]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

Yep, they did.

The first roof had extensive wear on the drivers side pillar.

I had the moonlight black roof fitted as an option from new. The defect was more obvious on this roof than the standard black.

The second roof had the spacers fitted in the fold mechanism, but then the passenger side showed signs of rubbing, plus the roof was twisted.

The third roof started having slight rubbing/wear issues after only a few months..

That must have sucked, what a hassle. I wonder if I'm SOL. It's not fair I should have to pay if it's a known issue, warranty or not.

[GuamX1]

Originally Posted by AlBinVA

and I exercise the top as often as I can (reason why I opted for a vert) and I have no issues with the top at all. Hope i didn't just jinx myself

same here, just wondering if you had to top up any fluid for the hydraulic system of the top?

[RoundelM3]

Keeping my fingers crossed...wife's 2011 128i convertible has the moonlight black top, and at 30K+ miles, no problems at all. Normal top operation frequency - not every day, but a few times a week, and if the weather's nice, we just leave the top down when parked in our garage.

[ryanSTL]

my daughters 2008 convertible has this wear spot and the glass is starting to separate from the top. Will the dealer laugh me out of the room if I bring them this TSB and ask what might be covered?

I honestly just stumbled on this thread searching online for replacement tops. A local shop is telling me there aren't any options besides an OEM top.

appreciate any advice, thanks

[perth_vert]

Originally Posted by ryanSTL

my daughters 2008 convertible has this wear spot and the glass is starting to separate from the top. Will the dealer laugh me out of the room if I bring them this TSB and ask what might be covered?

I honestly just stumbled on this thread searching online for replacement tops. A local shop is telling me there aren't any options besides an OEM top.

appreciate any advice, thanks

Not sure but as a known fault you would expect there would be some goodwill from BMW after the warranty has run out. Best to try it. The dealer said it would have cost $12000 (Australian Dollars) to replaced it. It was shipped from Germany and this cost would be almost half the price of buying a used 2008/2009 replacement car!

[GuamX1]

My rear glass window is separating from the canvas top, has anyone tried to fix this?

[Enoe Ulbeht]

Real OEM seems to suggest that the top cover only, costs ~ US $1500. I wonder how much the labour to install that would be...

[blue135]

Originally Posted by Guam135i

My rear glass window is separating from the canvas top, has anyone tried to fix this?

Guam;

Any update on a repair for this? I noticed over the weekend that mine is doing this. Have not put the top up in weeks, so am not sure how long it has been like this.

[germ]

I had the same problem in a 2001 Audi TT Roadster. In 2011 the glass started coming off--the glue simply does not last past 10 years in CA weather. I tried glueing it back but it's very hard to do and after a short time the problem re-occurs. I ended up selling the car.

My 2008 135i still shows no sign of this, but I know it's only a matter of time.

German car makers say that the design lifetime of a convertible top is ~5 years. This is ridiculous but they get away with it. It's a shame.

[Enoe Ulbeht]

It seems that now there are aftermarket tops on offer.

I found this online :
www.convertibletopguys.com/convertible/2760/2008-2013-BMW-E88;-1-Series

The price is about $1K for complete top with heated rear window included.

[JimD]

My top still shows no wear. The little plastic guides added by the tsb change seems to work well.

[LiGuy]

Is there a similar issue or TSB for a newer 2013 model? I had similar issues on D/P side towards the back of the top - wearing from a plastic, birthday-hat shaped "guide" piece on the inside of the top, which has a slightly rounded but still sharp tip. BMW said there was a fix, but I see this only applies though Model Year 2009. BMW "patched" the worn area, but I see it will continue to happen as that sharp piece in the top mechanism hasn't been modified.

[JimD]

My top still shows no sign of wear in the areas it wore two times previously. I think the tsb parts work pretty well. The unknown is whether the newer cars have those parts or something in between what mine had originally and what it has now. They are apparently very cheap - like less than $5 - so if you are concerned, I would get them and stop the top part way open and look to see if that is what is on your car. If it is not, then you have to decide if it's something you will do or look for somebody to do it. It looks like it would be pretty simple with the hardest part being getting the top stable at the right stage of opening to have good access.

The part numbers are in the tsb I posted earlier in this thread.

[Edrift]

Ok it's a long shot but I just bought a 2008 135i e88 and it has the signs of wear on the passenger side C pillar area.

The car has a full BMW dealer service history but the roof was never repaired.

Any chances of warranty?

I've contacted BMW to ask given it was a known issue.

It is 11 years old but only has 46,000km on it.

[lorilo07]

thanks