Convertible top strut

[E36maindriver]

Hi all,
I have run into a part no one seems to mention but exists on the convertible. On the driver's side exists a strut that seems to be to assist in one handing the convertible top, mine is broken, and I'm trying to figure out what kind of effort it would take to remove the lower half of the strut.

for reference this is BMW pn: 54318407233

 

[John_B]

Getting to the lower strut mount is certainly do-able, but unless anyone knows of any hacks, you're going to have to remove the seats, roll-hoops, rear storage box and turrets first, only then will you be able to remove the curved trim piece that follows the curve of the door opening and gives you access to the bottom of the strut. You may also need to remove the centre console so that you can lift out the rear half of the carpet, I don't recall from memory whether there is enough access without removing the carpet.

Through various reasons, I have stripped and rebuilt the rear half of the interior probably about 15 times in the last couple of years and could do it in a couple of hours with my eyes closed. However if it's going to be your first time, go slow and work methodically. Many clips are brittle and easy to break! The workshop installation guide for roll hoops (attached) has a really good tear-down guide, although since you already have hoops, I'd suggest working through it backwards if that makes sense.

 

[E36maindriver]

Getting to the lower strut mount is certainly do-able, but unless anyone knows of any hacks, you're going to have to remove the seats, roll-hoops, rear storage box and turrets first, only then will you be able to remove the curved trim piece that follows the curve of the door opening and gives you access to the bottom of the strut. You may also need to remove the centre console so that you can lift out the rear half of the carpet, I don't recall from memory whether there is enough access without removing the carpet.

Through various reasons, I have stripped and rebuilt the rear half of the interior probably about 15 times in the last couple of years and could do it in a couple of hours with my eyes closed. However if it's going to be your first time, go slow and work methodically. Many clips are brittle and easy to break! The workshop installation guide for roll hoops (attached) has a really good tear-down guide, although since you already have hoops, I'd suggest working through it backwards if that makes sense.

I can see why very few even talk about it. Thats a very invasive task for such a small thing and at this point just keeping the hinges lubed seems to work well for now. Perhaps a project when I'm actually removing that

 

[John_B]

It's just a damper to stop the roof from crashing down in an uncontrolled manner. As long as you don't drop it from height when lowering it, I don't think you're missing anything.