Convertible top hydraulic pump

[Marvin]

@FRANKI the Bentley Service Manual calls for a BMW part number that references a hollow bolt assembly. Thanks for the heads up that I might be using incorrect fluid. The hydraulic fluid was Pentsoin chf.
The top worked until all the fluid leaked out at the hydraulic hose to cylinder piston connections. Didn't want to use Dot4 brake or transmission fluid. BMW provides very little information on the proper fluid to use.
Left hand drive Z and I tore my right rotator cuff hitting a golf ball to hard. Thought it might be worth fixing. Just use both arms and grit a little bit. From what I can find its a bear to get the cylinder piston removed. Marvin

 

[FRANKIE]

@FRANKI the Bentley Service Manual calls for a BMW part number that references a hollow bolt assembly. Thanks for the heads up that I might be using incorrect fluid. The hydraulic fluid was Pentsoin chf.
The top worked until all the fluid leaked out at the hydraulic hose to cylinder piston connections. Didn't want to use Dot4 brake or transmission fluid. BMW provides very little information on the proper fluid to use.
Left hand drive Z and I tore my right rotator cuff hitting a golf ball to hard. Thought it might be worth fixing. Just use both arms and grit a little bit. From what I can find its a bear to get the cylinder piston removed. Marvin

I have a '96 Z3 but the top is manual. I also have a 2000 Z3 ///M with a hydraulic top but I haven't put the car on the road as I need to replace the rear diff bushing first. I bought it in California and @miller1098 and I drove it back to New Jersey. On the way, we got a flat on the driver's side rear. We had taken a quick look at the tires and they looked OK but we should have looked better as the inside of the tire was worn almost to the steel belt and blew out on the trip. When replacing the tire, I thought I'd better look at the inside of the right tire just in case. The outside part had looked good but when I looked at the inside half of the tread, it was completely worn. Here is a picture of them just before the road service from the tire company took them to replace:

We already knew that the rear diff bushing was bad and we thought that its condition had an impact on the way the rear tires were contacting the road. A day earlier, we had been doing 120 mph in Arizona. We were very lucky.
I just had a MRI done on my left shoulder because I have pain with certain movements. Maybe the same problem as you. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow to see if I need an operation. I hope you'll be able to fix your top without too much trouble or expense. Frankie

 

[miller1098]

I have a '96 Z3 but the top is manual. I also have a 2000 Z3 ///M with a hydraulic top but I haven't put the car on the road as I need to replace the rear diff bushing first. I bought it in California and @miller1098 and I drove it back to New Jersey. On the way, we got a flat on the driver's side rear. We had taken a quick look at the tires and they looked OK but we should have looked better as the inside of the tire was worn almost to the steel belt and blew out on the trip. When replacing the tire, I thought I'd better look at the inside of the right tire just in case. The outside part had looked good but when I looked at the inside half of the tread, it was completely worn. Here is a picture of them just before the road service from the tire company took them to replace:

We already knew that the rear diff bushing was bad and we thought that its condition had an impact on the way the rear tires were contacting the road. A day earlier, we had been doing 120 mph in Arizona. We were very lucky.
I just had a MRI done on my left shoulder because I have pain with certain movements. Maybe the same problem as you. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow to see if I need an operation. I hope you'll be able to fix your top without too much trouble or expense. Frankie

Haven't you fixed that bush yet ...... It's almost our anniversary and she's sitting there lonely with her diff bush all lose and worn,it's almost making me cry.its a 15 min job in a shop .but make sure there's no salt on the road .and don't go to near other cars,and park in the empty part of the lot ,don't go in rush hour,don't let your wife drive her in fact leave it where it is and wait till I come back and I'll take it

 

[FRANKIE]

Haven't you fixed that bush yet ...... It's almost our anniversary and she's sitting there lonely with her diff bush all lose and worn,it's almost making me cry.its a 15 min job in a shop .but make sure there's no salt on the road .and don't go to near other cars,and park in the empty part of the lot ,don't go in rush hour,don't let your wife drive her in fact leave it where it is and wait till I come back and I'll take it

Yes, Father............... Frankie

 

[oldcarman]

He's keeping the milage down @miller1098 much like Mark but he needs to build a garage to take pics in and where he can roll around on it nude!! JIM

 

[hard top]

^ FFS, you are a bigger nob than Bad ///Boy, take your meds mate......

 

[Low Rider]

I have a '96 Z3 but the top is manual. I also have a 2000 Z3 ///M with a hydraulic top but I haven't put the car on the road as I need to replace the rear diff bushing first. I bought it in California and @miller1098 and I drove it back to New Jersey. On the way, we got a flat on the driver's side rear. We had taken a quick look at the tires and they looked OK but we should have looked better as the inside of the tire was worn almost to the steel belt and blew out on the trip. When replacing the tire, I thought I'd better look at the inside of the right tire just in case. The outside part had looked good but when I looked at the inside half of the tread, it was completely worn. Here is a picture of them just before the road service from the tire company took them to replace:

We already knew that the rear diff bushing was bad and we thought that its condition had an impact on the way the rear tires were contacting the road. A day earlier, we had been doing 120 mph in Arizona. We were very lucky.
I just had a MRI done on my left shoulder because I have pain with certain movements. Maybe the same problem as you. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow to see if I need an operation. I hope you'll be able to fix your top without too much trouble or expense. Frankie

Frankie those tyres are frightening

 

[Richard Houghton]

Hello, I have the hydraulic fluid to top up the reservoir but still not sure where it actually goes? Which bit of the reservoir do I gain entry to add it? 1999 bmw z3 2.8

 

[tigerdog]

Sorry to ressurect an old thread, but did you ever figure out where to fill the fluid? Is it the screw-plug noted in the first photo?

 

[Rudyrov]

I once had to rebuild a hydraulic piston for my top in a Mercedes but I don't know if you can do this for a BMW. However.....
http://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/en/51-rebuild-upgrade-service-for-96-02-bmw-e36-z3-top-cylinder

Thanks for the information, looks like I will be sending in my cylinder in for a rebuild very soon!
Cheers.