F83 Hard Top Recommended Roof Maintenance

EALRADY · 12-24-2023, 02:20 PM

I purchased a 2020 F83 Competitive Executive last summer with about 22K miles on it from a dealer who picked it up at auction. It had a roof hinge cover that was broken that I had replaced but so far so good.

It made me wonder if there is a good maintenance/lubrication routine for the roof. It is such a complicated folding and unfolding process, it screams "maintain me" or pay the price!

icebiker · 12-24-2023, 11:26 PM

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1819261

This is for the prior gen (e93) but basically the same routine.

Fantastipotamus · 12-25-2023, 09:09 AM

Despite that M3 post link proclaiming 'the top position is extremely important', it doesn't actually provide said 'best position'. I even asked in the thread but no dice.

So, I'm not sure if this is best or not tbh, but here's how I stop mine - tops are stacked, and there's a brief pause (1-2sec) during operation before they start shifting into the trunk. That's where I try to stop it. Ideally, the process shouldn't take much beyond 20 min or so, though I do find myself seeing joints/seams i missed every time i move to the other side.

FWIW I do this at least once a year, ideally twice here in New England (once in spring, once in fall).

View post on imgur.com

icebiker · 12-25-2023, 07:31 PM

As for position, I found this following a trail of posts related to the original…

gerri · 12-26-2023, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantastipotamus

Despite that M3 post link proclaiming 'the top position is extremely important', it doesn't actually provide said 'best position'. I even asked in the thread but no dice.

There are two service positions in the Tis but they are practically the same. The important thing is that the angle of the hinges is greater than 90°, between 90° and 100°. In this position the seals and hinges of the three parts of the roof are very accessible.
IMO in your photo all the weight of the roof gravitates on the two arms forcing them while in their position the weight is more balanced.

Fantastipotamus · 12-26-2023, 05:11 PM

Thanks for that! Looks like i've been doing it wrong. Interestingly, it seems like that's more stress on the rearward sections of the roof actuators - like in my second photo above, everything visible there would be slightly more stressed with that weight further toward the front than when it's stacked up closer to the back? I dunno, will try the recommended method next time.. and i'll be quick about it (as much as possible).

12-24-2023, 02:20 PM	#1
EALRADY Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Convertible Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: . iTrader: (0)	F83 Hard Top Recommended Roof Maintenance I purchased a 2020 F83 Competitive Executive last summer with about 22K miles on it from a dealer who picked it up at auction. It had a roof hinge cover that was broken that I had replaced but so far so good. It made me wonder if there is a good maintenance/lubrication routine for the roof. It is such a complicated folding and unfolding process, it screams "maintain me" or pay the price!
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12-24-2023, 11:26 PM	#2
icebiker Lieutenant 506 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2016 F83 6MT Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1819261 This is for the prior gen (e93) but basically the same routine.
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12-25-2023, 09:09 AM	#3
Fantastipotamus Private 51 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Vert DCT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	Despite that M3 post link proclaiming 'the top position is extremely important', it doesn't actually provide said 'best position'. I even asked in the thread but no dice. So, I'm not sure if this is best or not tbh, but here's how I stop mine - tops are stacked, and there's a brief pause (1-2sec) during operation before they start shifting into the trunk. That's where I try to stop it. Ideally, the process shouldn't take much beyond 20 min or so, though I do find myself seeing joints/seams i missed every time i move to the other side. FWIW I do this at least once a year, ideally twice here in New England (once in spring, once in fall). View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com
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12-25-2023, 07:31 PM	#4
icebiker Lieutenant 506 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2016 F83 6MT Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	As for position, I found this following a trail of posts related to the original… Attached Images
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12-26-2023, 05:11 PM	#6
Fantastipotamus Private 51 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Vert DCT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	Thanks for that! Looks like i've been doing it wrong. Interestingly, it seems like that's more stress on the rearward sections of the roof actuators - like in my second photo above, everything visible there would be slightly more stressed with that weight further toward the front than when it's stacked up closer to the back? I dunno, will try the recommended method next time.. and i'll be quick about it (as much as possible).
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