E30 convertible seals

[Sam Cogley]

I'm currently shopping around for a replacement front seal for my '92 318iC's top.  Pelican has one listed, but unlike most of their seals which are "Genuine BMW," the front seal is made by Metzeler.  While I've seen good reviews of Metzeler's other rubber parts, I haven't found anything about their weatherstrip.  Is it of good quality, equivalent or better to the original?  Right now I have a bit of water getting under the front seal between the alignment pin and the passenger window.

Also, my car doesn't have anything in the gap between the top cover and the body.  If you look at the gap in the chrome moldings on each side, you can see down into the well for the top hinge.  It looks like a bad spot for water intrusion, but I can't find anything on realoem that appears to be a seal for that gap.  Any help is greatly appreciated. :cool:

(I've been posting this around the E30-heavy forums, hoping to run across someone who knows these Cabrio models.  I love it, but I haven't had it long and I'd like to keep it rust-free.  We've been having some crazy weather lately, so getting this done quickly would be a bonus.)

[tony92ic]

FWIW I've got some kind of replacement seal on my top and have had no leak issue. I can't say what brand the seal is, but I doubt its OEM. However I've driven my car in a heavy, wipers on high rain with the top down and didn't get wet so I'm not sure this seal is in a big problem area.

Are you sure the top is latching down correctly? If the top weren't aligning correctly I'd imagine you'd catch some water.

As for the boot lid there is a seal that goes around it.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BA73&mospid=47325&btnr=41_0798&hg=41&fg=55

Part number 2    SEALING  1   51712230857 $87.89

Hope that helps.

[Cobra Jet]

Also, my car doesn't have anything in the gap between the top cover and the body.  If you look at the gap in the chrome moldings on each side, you can see down into the well for the top hinge.  It looks like a bad spot for water intrusion, but I can't find anything on realoem that appears to be a seal for that gap.  Any help is greatly appreciated. :cool:

Funny you should mention that "gap" area, as I was just looking at mine the other day (on both sides of the car).  You're speaking about where the chrome on the top lid meets the chrome on the rear 1/4 under the rear window, right?  

I too thought that there should be (or might have been) a type of seal or piece that would close the gap on each side, but I don't see anything on realoem either.  I also don't see any missing pieces on my cabrio, so I'm not sure if there was ever anything there in that specific area.  To me, it does look like there should be something there to prevent any water intrusion, but it's rained really hard in my area a few times in the past month and the top well has remained dry (as well as my rear interior).

As for the front seal on the convertible top, which seal (or seals) are you referring to?  Can you take a pic?

When in your back seat, or looking from the front to the rear, on each side above the rear interior panels where the bottom of the top meets the body, do you have a gap on each side as well?  It would look like water would be able to come inside the interior, but it does not happen.  I guess this is just how the top is seated onto the body...

There's not too many convertible specific threads or "forums" within the E30 sites, so I feel your pain in trying to find out more specific information when needing to research specific convertible info...

[Poor_Man's_M3]

if i understand what you're saying, the 'gap' you're talking about is one of the mounting points for the optional hardtop ... when the hardtop is not in use, there is a kinda oblong black filler piece that plugs into the 'gap' ... my cousin's '92 cabrio has them ... check out #22 in the following link

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326&btnr=54_0164&hg=54&fg=15

[Sam Cogley]

if i understand what you're saying, the 'gap' you're talking about is one of the mounting points for the optional hardtop ... when the hardtop is not in use, there is a kinda oblong black filler piece that plugs into the 'gap' ... my cousin's '92 cabrio has them ... check out #22 in the following link

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326&btnr=54_0164&hg=54&fg=15

I have those caps still in place.  This would be directly behind them, before the deck lid.  It might be normal, but it looks odd.

[Sam Cogley]

After looking at a few pictures, I'm pretty sure now that the gap is normal.  It still looks weird and like a place where water/debris could intrude.

tony92ic, It's latching down correctly, though it does feel as if the passenger latch could be a bit tighter - but nothing looks at all loose and the alignment pins are in place.

Cobra Jet, the seal in question is the big one that goes all the way across the front and over the door windows until it meets up with the rear seal about 2/3 of the way back on the windows.

A few other Cabrio top questions posted here, mostly pertaining to the slight problem I have with the top not being "tucked" correctly at the front corners: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=113401

[tony92ic]

I see what you mean about that gap. I never thought much about it. I'll have to watch and see if i get water there. I've never noticed the top well getting wet.

As for the front my latches are pretty tight. I'd check the passenger latch screws to make sure it hasn't loosened up and look at the two seals for visible damage.

- Tony