 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  05-18-2011, 07:31 AM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 6 |  Any good ideas for a Cali-sunroof mod?
My California sunroof is broken on my 96 318ti, has been for years. Its sealed with silicone around the cloth/seal. I was wondering if any of you have done something cool with replacing this - like carbon fiber, cut and paste a E36 2DR roof?, glass insert, anything. I'd like to get rid of the cloth. The BMW dealer told me a few years ago could be $2,000 to fix it LOL (I'd like to spend $200-600 area.) Any good ideas to replace the roof nicely and cost effectively? |  |  | | 05-18-2011, 11:26 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,019 |
Hmm you COULD just get a shop to insert a moonroof style piece of glass installed or you could get it repaired. There's a cali top being parted out on here I believe, why not just fix it?? If I could get a cali tip id be happy just saying.. | | | | | 05-19-2011, 03:42 AM | #3 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
.50cal  | | | | | 05-19-2011, 04:19 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 131 |
^ EPIC WIN! __________________ -Alex
1995 Bmw 318ti - Cordoba rot | | | | | 05-19-2011, 07:15 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 |
dude. that would be smart. then no one could steal your car unless they gernade you out. __________________ 
-Theta Chi-
Float like a cadilac, sting like a BIMMER
.... my socket is just too thick and won't fit in the hole! damnit!
Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll  ...
Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...? | | | | | 05-19-2011, 08:54 AM | #6 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 6 |
Like cooljess' idea. | | | | | 05-19-2011, 01:30 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,625 |
What do you mean by 'broken'? Does not open or does it leak?? My top refused to close at one point - I took it to the dealer (years & years ago before I decided to most of the repairs myself) & they told me it was gonna be 2K to fix. Turned out only the motor was broken... didnt even buy a new one ($200), but simply rigged the old one. Still working fine after 6 years. F the dealership! Quote: Originally Posted by gemcutter187  My California sunroof is broken on my 96 318ti, has been for years. Its sealed with silicone around the cloth/seal. I was wondering if any of you have done something cool with replacing this - like carbon fiber, cut and paste a E36 2DR roof?, glass insert, anything. I'd like to get rid of the cloth. The BMW dealer told me a few years ago could be $2,000 to fix it LOL (I'd like to spend $200-600 area.) Any good ideas to replace the roof nicely and cost effectively? | __________________ 
SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!
Metric Mechanic's 2.0 stroker/258' intake cam/42 lb. inj./remap/HD fuel pump
/DASC w.3' pulley @ 15psi/SNOW System/3.45 LSD/Billstein PSS coils
/Stromung Exhaust/DS1's/X-Brace/Front & Rear H&R Sways/OMP 300mm SW
/SAP delete/ASC+T delete/Hayabusa valve springs/MM's LTW flywheel | | | | | 05-19-2011, 09:17 PM | #8 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Apparently there's a little plastic gear that is known to strip out or break. I remember Steven mentioning something about this and I'm sure there's an article floating around about this issue. Edit; here's a thread that talks about the gear: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=30141 and here's a thread with TIS articles on California top removal, installation and disassembly: http://www.318ti.org/files/showentry.php?e=8&catid=1
Last edited by cooljess76; 05-19-2011 at 09:43 PM. Reason: added links | | | | | 05-20-2011, 01:16 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,625 |
Yep, little plastic gear... However on my car, the small metal pin which moves the gears snapped in two, so the motor ran but roof was not moving. I simply replaced the broken pin with a stronger metal piece (a cut down alen key actually) and its been fine since then. I remember the douches from the dealership tried to convince me that 'my cables were tangled up' and so entire roof mechanism needed replacing. F-ing thieves! Quote: | Originally Posted by cooljess76 | __________________
SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!
Metric Mechanic's 2.0 stroker/258' intake cam/42 lb. inj./remap/HD fuel pump
/DASC w.3' pulley @ 15psi/SNOW System/3.45 LSD/Billstein PSS coils
/Stromung Exhaust/DS1's/X-Brace/Front & Rear H&R Sways/OMP 300mm SW
/SAP delete/ASC+T delete/Hayabusa valve springs/MM's LTW flywheel | | | | | 05-24-2011, 11:33 PM | #10 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
| | | | | 05-25-2011, 12:17 AM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MD/PA/DC Posts: 1,629 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 .50cal | That and the PS'd mud tires from an older post would be great... __________________  No more ti. | | | | | 06-25-2011, 09:44 AM | #12 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 6 |
Sorry, Its sealed with epoxy in the back and i think silicone the rest of the way around lol. I would like to cut it all out and replace it with something else. Like carbon fiber, or some type of glass or mirror. | | | | |
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