Keeping Your 3 Series Origami Top in Tip Top Shape

Originally Posted by matreyia

The only way to prevent streaks when rolling down your window is to wait until the car dries completely which will take a few hours. Depending on the humidity it may even take a day or two.

+1
If you are really impatient, which pretty much describes me, after washing the car, put the windows down, and put the top down to dry the front cowl area and the back trim strip area. Also, this allows caught water to drain from the taillight areas. Put the top back up, and the windows back up. The windows will be all water streaked. Immediately clean them with a quality window cleaner like Meguiar's Professional Glass Cleaner. Then leave them in the up position for about 18 hours. Unless you live in a swamp (and Houston pretty much qualifies) you should have little trouble with the dreaded white streaks.

Originally Posted by matreyia

The only way to prevent streaks when rolling down your window is to wait until the car dries completely which will take a few hours. Depending on the humidity it may even take a day or two.

I Still have streaks even after 3days I leave in miami it's always hot here so I know the sun dry the water, but for some reason soon as I roll down and back up I'm al dirty again...

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

+1
If you are really impatient, which pretty much describes me, after washing the car, put the windows down, and put the top down to dry the front cowl area and the back trim strip area. Also, this allows caught water to drain from the taillight areas. Put the top back up, and the windows back up. The windows will be all water streaked. Immediately clean them with a quality window cleaner like Meguiar's Professional Glass Cleaner. Then leave them in the up position for about 18 hours. Unless you live in a swamp (and Houston pretty much qualifies) you should have little trouble with the dreaded white streaks.

Thank you I will try that...I'm in Miami...real Hot..lol

I did but can't see where setting is...I manage to add a picture as my signature..thanks.

Originally Posted by THE HAITIANMAN

I Still have streaks even after 3days I leave in miami it's always hot here so I know the sun dry the water, but for some reason soon as I roll down and back up I'm al dirty again...

It may be the humidity. In less humid areas, after overnight drying, the windows can be rolled down with no risk of streaking.

Originally Posted by fun2drive

I think your dealer need to show PROOF that this isn't required. Frankly I would NEVER darken their door and take the SI to another dealer and explain the issue. Waiting for BMWNA to take action is your choice but for some reason these guys seem to be obstructing the repair of the car. Lubing isn't going to solve a clearance issue which does happen tolerances open up at times...

Fun2drive,

I finally got an appoitment set up with BMW technical engineer next week to go over the rattle issue, I hope he could finds out what is the root cause and fix the problem.

There isn't any problem that they can't fix (is they want to given the expense). I hope you get some level of customer satisfaction and get this problem resolved. All cars even high end models will either have a problem when delivered or discovered after delivery.
Please post what happens so we can all learn from your experience...

Engineer came out and he said there is nothing wrong with the vehicle, I'm so upset and will take it to another dealer to have a look at.

One suggestion that might get more attention is to document via audio/video (cell phone or camcorder) noise is and then post to Youtube. BMW and for that matter all car manufacturers follow popular forums like ours and that would get there attention. I would also contact BMWNA with the posted Youtube link to let them know that the problem has gotten to the point that you needed to take this measure to obtain results.
Best idea I can provide at this point...

Originally Posted by fun2drive

One suggestion that might get more attention is to document via audio/video (cell phone or camcorder) noise is and then post to Youtube. BMW and for that matter all car manufacturers follow popular forums like ours and that would get there attention. I would also contact BMWNA with the posted Youtube link to let them know that the problem has gotten to the point that you needed to take this measure to obtain results.
Best idea I can provide at this point...

Excellent idea.
Rattles are hard to diagnose unheard. Case in point, a week or so ago I thought I was developing an annoying rattle around my rear view mirror area. After poking pushing and playing with every conceivable thing, I finally determined it was that my V1 wasn't balanced in its mount to the windshield. It wasn't until I hear the noise and saw it bobble that I put the two together. I also had a creak last winter that I finally diagnosed as not being the top, but being the rear and front windows rattling against one another because the seal had gotten dry. That's when I learned about very sparingly using Krytox on the seal between the front and rear window. Not saying these are your issues, just saying that documenting them audibly might be the key to solving them.

Originally Posted by fun2drive

One suggestion that might get more attention is to document via audio/video (cell phone or camcorder) noise is and then post to Youtube. BMW and for that matter all car manufacturers follow popular forums like ours and that would get there attention. I would also contact BMWNA with the posted Youtube link to let them know that the problem has gotten to the point that you needed to take this measure to obtain results.
Best idea I can provide at this point...

I was able to tape a short video of the problem and sent it to BMWNA but they refused to look at the video and I kind of expect what the answer would came from the field engineer. I was thinking contact my local ABC news and make a complaint to the consumer affair and see if what they could help.

Originally Posted by 1zamboni

I was able to tape a short video of the problem and sent it to BMWNA but they refused to look at the video and I kind of expect what the answer would came from the field engineer. I was thinking contact my local ABC news and make a complaint to the consumer affair and see if what they could help.

Top rattles are going to be a stretch to get resolution on. Your best bet is to take the car to another dealer to see if they are better able to sort things out. If the roof was leaking (or failing to completely open, or other clear mechanical failure) you could pursue a lemon law claim and as long as you had the necessary 4 failed repair attempts, the car would be repurchased.

Best of luck getting to a successful resolution. The E93 is an absolute blast when everything works and a perfidious lash-up when things don't.

Been in the shop five times since July this year, the car experience this problem around 700 miles when ask if they have perform the BMW RA5437240 and they confirm my vehicle won't need it since the RA was create back in 2009.

Went pick up the car and dealer told me that BMWNA regional manager would like to take another day to review the problem let's hope he can find the root cause and fix it once for all.

That is certainly good news and hope they can resolve this problem for you....

Originally Posted by 1zamboni

Went pick up the car and dealer told me that BMWNA regional manager would like to take another day to review the problem let's hope he can find the root cause and fix it once for all.

I would STRONGLY suggest that you along with the manager on the ride and point out the rattle to him... dont just watch from the curbside ...

Originally Posted by Submariner

I would STRONGLY suggest that you along with the manager on the ride and point out the rattle to him... dont just watch from the curbside ...

They had the car since last Tuesday they drove for 24 miles and said no problem found typical vert design and that noise is acceptable.
they promised to do further evaluation and nothing has been touch since last test drive, I'm thinking posting the video on Youtube what is your take?
Strange thing is when BMW engineer test drive the car they will not let me tag along for the ride.

That is why I suggested Youtube for documenting this and getting the video out there. You will either get a lot of support and attension or not. BMW does read these forums and none of us can judge anything without hearing what is causing you such issues.
If this was me and I could hear it but not get it corrected I would document it.

Point is what do you have to lose?

Thank you for the great post. I just bought a 2009 328i last week. I spent the day detailing the interior and finished with the seals on the top. My seals were dry and in need of TLC. I used the Gummi and found by giving the bottle a little squeeze while pointing the bottle down I was able to load the dauber with enough to do the up facing seals. I love this forum and have been non stop reading. What a great group. look forward to learning and sharing more. I am going to lube the hinges tomorrow. Thank you again for the great info.

On behalf of Kat and myself you are most welcome. As you get experience please share anything useful with the forum as we are all here to learn and enjoy driving our BMWs...

I just entered the BMW club last week with the purchase of a 2007 335 HTC, and after signing up I have already found the forum to be benificial and thats just in this thread. So now to order the recommended lubricants and to lube my top! Hopefully one day I can contribute useful information here too

thanks
Hondo

Is the noise level & squeaks sounds normal to you?

That doesn't sound normal to me. Granted I've only had my 335i vert for a month or so, but it's an '11 and is as quiet as a church mouse. That rattle certainly isn't normal/acceptable if it's coming from the top. Have you been able to locate which quadrant it's coming from?

I defer to Kat, whose infinite and intimate knowledge of the top seems unending, but it sounds to me like a joint has too much play or there's a deteriorated seal at a pin/lock.

G

The main one is from mid section on passenger and some from driver side as well, been to two dealers and they could not fix the problem, BMW send out an field engineer and they said there is nothing wrong with it.

BMW's reluctance to do the mod to correct the spacing around the latch just baffles me. I am not sure why they insist it doesn't need to be done when the sound as best as I can hear it sounds exactly like too much space causing the clunk.
I too would br frustrated given the effort put forth to correct this...