318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Regional Forums > United States > California > SoCal

Notices

SoCal For the discussion of social events in Southern California only.

.
» Recent Threads
M50+manual swap bastard...
03-01-2024 10:00 PM
Last post by Andy318
Yesterday 02:34 PM
3 Replies, 47,121 Views
Cali Top owners: How...
07-14-2014 04:29 PM
Last post by Trusted-1
03-15-2024 02:37 AM
2 Replies, 44,214 Views
FOR SALE: 82k mile 1995...
03-15-2024 01:24 AM
Last post by di318
03-15-2024 01:24 AM
0 Replies, 39,801 Views
BMW E36 Compact rear...
03-13-2024 12:56 PM
Last post by BMW Welsh rally
03-13-2024 12:56 PM
0 Replies, 50,669 Views
WTB: 318ti with...
04-20-2022 08:57 AM
Last post by di318
03-10-2024 08:08 PM
21 Replies, 247,406 Views
The 318ti OBD-II engine...
10-19-2006 06:48 PM
Last post by Cybersid13
03-09-2024 02:12 PM
209 Replies, 680,528 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-18-2008, 07:14 AM   #1
318tifan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so cal
Posts: 138
iTrader: (0)
Default cali top help in so cal

hey folks...
finally got my ti
it's a 96 cali top, 5spd that came from atl
with shipping and all the costs it came out to about 4k

LOVE the car... drives awesome... VERY SMOOTH compared to my mr2 spyder... but i know i will be missing that go-cart feel once i sell it.... but i think i need to move on to something a bit more... comfortable and with a trunk =P

looking for some recommendations for a shop that can work on the cali top...
i know some great mechanics in the san gabriel area who would probably be able to take care of all the mechanical/electrical stuff (saying probably because even though i see mbs in their shop all the time, i've only worked with them with my mr2 and legend)

i also know of a great place for leather work (will be reupholstering my cloth seats with leather... maybe at the end of summer... kinda liking cloth seats for cali summers)

BUT... for the past few years, i still haven't found a paint shop or a body shop that will be able to work on my cars AFFORDABLY...

looking for recommendations... especially needing a convertible specialist to work on the cali top... for less than what dealerships will charge...

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!
__________________
cars i had: 89 pulsar 90 celica 91 mr2 92 svx 98 clk 94 urs4 04 626 00 mr2 spyder 00 forester 97 s320 91 legend

cars i have: 90 acura legend 96 318ti cali top
318tifan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2008, 07:33 AM   #2
HuGo
Senior Member
 
HuGo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: çî†ÿ øf åNgëL§, CA
Posts: 5,314
iTrader: (11)
Default

Hey how's it going. Im Hugo. President I hope to see you at our meets here in SoCal 318ti Special Forces. The only person that owns a cali top in our group would be harold. I dont think he has done work on the top yet. The M Shop in eagle rock is a bmw specialist mechanic shop. I'm not sure if they work on cali tops though. The owner of the place has a 318ti himself too. Welcome and hope to see you in our meets.
__________________

[SIZE="4"]///M7
DASC TT Stg 3 Delete! S52 Powered!
Not Your Usual Ti, Twice As Fast Than Most


BMW ///Motorsport...



It doesn't need park distance control, and hates decadence. It is musclepacked, yet lightly wound. It lets you feel the asphalt and get you going with the smallest touch of the pedal. It provokes, seduces, and demands to be driven hard. It looks, sounds, and smells like performance.
HuGo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2008, 08:02 PM   #3
Mallard
Senior Member
 
Mallard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of the Vikings
Posts: 2,700
Vehicles
iTrader: (0)
Default

whats wrong with your cali top bud?
__________________


Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM
Mallard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2008, 08:39 PM   #4
lazoh
Moderator
 
lazoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SoCal318ti
Posts: 1,574
iTrader: (3)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mallard View Post
whats wrong with your cali top bud?
+1 on Mallard's question and I have a guy in Monrovia that is BMW Master Mechanic that has worked on my Cali-Top. He does side jobs for me from time to time and he will be less expensive than the dealer.

Let's find out what's wrong with it first though??
__________________


1984 BMW 323i E30 BAUR (Euro)
1989 BMW 325i E30
1998 318ti E36


Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/318tiorg/127481623988696
lazoh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2008, 10:06 PM   #5
318tifan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so cal
Posts: 138
iTrader: (0)
Default

hmm...

in addition to the fact that i don't have a true seal when the top is covered... according to the previous owner... will not keep a storm out)

the motor is acting up... i think the motor will only go back half ways... or when covering up, the top will be in full closed position but the motor still sounds like it's running...

also.. when the roof is open... seems like lots of glue looking stuff in the tracks...
__________________
cars i had: 89 pulsar 90 celica 91 mr2 92 svx 98 clk 94 urs4 04 626 00 mr2 spyder 00 forester 97 s320 91 legend

cars i have: 90 acura legend 96 318ti cali top
318tifan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2008, 10:22 PM   #6
Mallard
Senior Member
 
Mallard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of the Vikings
Posts: 2,700
Vehicles
iTrader: (0)
Default

ok, the glue stuff in the tracks is grease mixed with dirt and gunk, no major worries there. just get some PTFE grease and paste it in after a good clean out of the old

the motor sounds like its lost its "position" on the winder. when you fully close the roof, keep the button pressed down until the motor stops by itself. then hold in on for about 10 seconds more.

then full retract if possible. and hold again for 10. this should re - initialise the roof start and stop memory.

if there is still a problem with the full retract then you may need to retract maually with the tool in the wheel well. Peel of the cover by the sunroof switch , and wind the roof back . then using the butto wind in the slack on the motor. Repeat above.

If this dont work then you mayeed to remove the motor, and pull the roof back to fully open by hand (carefull not to buckle the metal wires that give the roof shape) then mount the motor and retract psition fot 10 seconds. then close and hold for 10

if this dont work, blow up the car

as for the leaking. its beause the roof seal isnt keeping the water out anymore. You will need to remove the entire roof and silicone seal it .

it sounds hard but i did it (twice as i needed to redo something ) in a few hours

the full instructions are here ( download section missing? )
__________________


Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM
Mallard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2008, 04:50 AM   #7
318tifan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so cal
Posts: 138
iTrader: (0)
Default

thanks for all the tips...
give me a couple of months to do some tlc-ing, and i would love to meet everyone...

can you give me the contact info for the tech in monrovia?
as much as i can do the windup stuf myself, i really don't have confidence in the seals and stuff.... plus the leak i'm talking about, i think, its a bit just more than the seals... like the top wouldn't close completely....

thanks in advance!!
__________________
cars i had: 89 pulsar 90 celica 91 mr2 92 svx 98 clk 94 urs4 04 626 00 mr2 spyder 00 forester 97 s320 91 legend

cars i have: 90 acura legend 96 318ti cali top
318tifan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2008, 05:43 AM   #8
Marv17
Senior Member
 
Marv17's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LA, Bellflower, CA
Posts: 3,613
iTrader: (4)
Default

well. wish i could help you out but i dont know much about the cali top since i dont have one. just have the regular sun roof. however. feel free to come on by at the meets. we'll help you out on somethings if we can. maybe we'll meet in june.
__________________

-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...?
Marv17 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2008, 08:14 AM   #9
318tifan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so cal
Posts: 138
iTrader: (0)
Default

thanks...
well... i'm actually right around bellflower on most weekends... in artesia...
are there more folks just around that area? we could get a mini meet just to have coffee or something sometimes...
__________________
cars i had: 89 pulsar 90 celica 91 mr2 92 svx 98 clk 94 urs4 04 626 00 mr2 spyder 00 forester 97 s320 91 legend

cars i have: 90 acura legend 96 318ti cali top
318tifan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 3 (0 members and 3 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
just one page not loading tiFreak Site Feedback 25 06-16-2010 06:55 AM
Add a 318ti wiki to the page? hitchhike79 Site Feedback 32 08-19-2008 03:02 PM
Car Domain page the governor Personal bios and Introductions 3 05-22-2008 09:15 PM
Spotters/Spottee's page Flametail Site Feedback 36 05-09-2008 11:50 PM
Page describing the 318ti in detail L84THSKY Misc 0 11-15-2004 06:06 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:15 AM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 103.54 k/121.29 k (14.64%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.