Do you find problems with your convertibles?

[sea164]

Good Day Everybody,,,,

i have just bought a new BMW 318ci convertible and finding it a very nice car....

BUT....[???1]

my work location is 80km (55miles) from my home, and i am afraid that the soft top will be having problems soon..... do you think that this distance everyday will affect the car's top??

how much does it cost to buy a hard top for my car??

Thanks........

 

[PuShAkOv]

Yes. A lot of road will take its toll on the softtop and other potential noise-making places. I have mine adjusted under warrenty but the sound came back about a month later since I drive hard, a lot and often take my car to the limits. I wouldn't recomend getting a hard top since it will set you back $2500.. and on 318 you would need every HP you can get. Hard top would only give you more problems since it is heavier but attaches to the car in a very similar way.. so it will also make sound. I would just stick with a soft top and replace it after some years for 1/5 the cost of a hard top.

I listen to music everytime I drive so I do not mind some rattling and other noises that started to pass gas during the last several months.

 

[MyHarley]

I have 6000 miles in two months on mine and it is still a charm..........plus I raise and lower mine about 10 times a day...........the dealership also put on a rubber seal to keep the top from sitting on the chrome..........thus reducing noises.....I think it will be several several years if you take care of it before you would have to replace one.........

 

[PuShAkOv]

Replace?... BMW convertible tops are very well build. Several years is too little. 6-8 years is when you replace them... if ever!!

 

[MyHarley]

several = three or more

several several = six or more

I was close........

 

[Tigas Bud]

Still have the original top, car has 96K and is 9 years old. Needs new rear window and I'll do that in about a month - before it goes into winter sleep.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Bud,

Does the car go through winters?

 

[BlackandSand]

I replaced the top on my '90 after 12 years and 100K miles, and then only because the plastic window cracked in half. The 330 has a glass window which gets rid of the weakest link. However, for the 318 with a plastic window I would recomend a UV protectant. I would also recommend that you hand wash ONLY. Use Woolite or a soft top cleaner with a very soft brush about 4 times a year on the soft top. (as often as you wax) Never soap the top when you're doing a regular wash, just hose it down with water. I don't wash a black cotton sweater with the regular laundry detergent, likewise I'd never use the soap for cleaning the body on the roof. As for the wind taking it's effect on the roof. I'm not sure about that. I think UV rays, salt, and acid rain are going to take a much bigger toll on your roof than the wind (miles). Good luck and enjoy your Vert!

 

[PuShAkOv]

You should also consider the fact that e46 hard tops are much tougher than on the older convertible models. Glass instead of plastic and such... should last even longer!

 

[sea164]

Cool

ppl....now i feel much comfortable with your advices...

every time i wash the car, i use soap to wash!!! but i think i will stop using it to keep the black color shiny...

Thnks All

 

[akbmw]

Still looking for someone who has a rattle! Any ideas??? -- my convertible top rattles somewhere in the rear passenger side when up. Drives me nuts! Any suggestions???

 

[PuShAkOv]

I have a rattle... they will fix it under warrenty but it will come back in a month or so.. :-(
Nothing much you can do about it.. it doesn't bother me at all since I always listen to music so that covers up any noise ...

 

[MyHarley]

Has the dealer installed the new seal around the chrome that is being provided by the factory? It cut out a lot of noise on mine. My front passenger seat and rear right panel rattles, as well as several leather swooshes during movement. This is the third try to get them fixed, they say it takes trial and error...........