Rebody Door locks on Rebody

Hey Guys, it's with a heavy heart that I give you the sad news that Mike Dickinson (ruan) has sadly passed away.

I got a message from him on 19th May saying that he'd been diagnosed with cancer and had put his Tribute 507 build on hold while undergoing treatment.

I'd messaged a few times asking how he/treatment was going. Received a message from his wife today saying that he passed away in Thames Valley Hospice 2 weeks ago.

Such a lovely guy. He lived a few minutes away from me in Bracknell. Always smiling and an all round great guy. Really enjoyed being in his company.

If it wasn't for Mike, I'd still be trying to get dogs chrome water bowls to work as side vents.

I know he interacted with you guys (particularly Duncodin and Piran....as you're both 507 owners). Just thought you should know.

He leaves behind his wife Caroline and 2 sons.

Rest in peace Mike 🙏
 
10stb said:
Hey Guys, it's with a heavy heart that I give you the sad news that Mike Dickinson (ruan) has sadly passed away.

I got a message from him on 19th May saying that he'd been diagnosed with cancer and had put his Tribute 507 build on hold while undergoing treatment.

I'd messaged a few times asking how he/treatment was going. Received a message from his wife today saying that he passed away in Thames Valley Hospice 2 weeks ago.

Such a lovely guy. He lived a few minutes away from me in Bracknell. Always smiling and an all round great guy. Really enjoyed being in his company.

If it wasn't for Mike, I'd still be trying to get dogs chrome water bowls to work as side vents.

I know he interacted with you guys (particularly Duncodin and Piran....as you're both 507 owners). Just thought you should know.

He leaves behind his wife Caroline and 2 sons.

Rest in peace Mike 🙏
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Very shocking and sad news. I know he was very keen to do his tribute build, so sadly this will no longer happen.

Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Mike, @ruan
 
I visited Mike a couple of months ago and he had some amazing ideas bubbling away for his car that will sadly not now occur,
A great loss to his family and our community,
He will be missed.
RIP Mike
 
Gobsmacked!!

I’ve just learned that Mike (ruan) has passed away. We never met, but we exchanged a few messages about our 507 builds. Like many of you, I’ve followed his progress with interest — he brought real enthusiasm to the project. A couple of his ideas will no doubt influence my own build and I'll always think of him when I look at those details.

It's a shock when someone from our community is suddenly no longer with us. His posts and ideas will remain part of the fabric here, and I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that. RIP Mike.

Thoughts are with those who knew him better.
 
Pond said:
Very shocking and sad news. I know he was very keen to do his tribute build, so sadly this will no longer happen.

Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Mike, @ruan
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I'll do my best to make sure that the car is built
Duncodin said:
Gobsmacked!!

I’ve just learned that Mike (ruan) has passed away. We never met, but we exchanged a few messages about our 507 builds. Like many of you, I’ve followed his progress with interest — he brought real enthusiasm to the project. A couple of his ideas will no doubt influence my own build and I'll always think of him when I look at those details.

It's a shock when someone from our community is suddenly no longer with us. His posts and ideas will remain part of the fabric here, and I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that. RIP Mike.

Thoughts are with those who knew him better.
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I know he liked a lot of the mods that you'd done. I'm going to do my best to help the family realise Mikes dream and get the car finished for them. He particularly liked your idea of the lower front wing with the side vent being fixed. Mine lifts with the clamshell so at a later date I may pick your brains on that. I think for now it's time to reflect and be grateful for knowing him. I'll pass everyone's kind words onto the family.
 
I about to testfit the grassbank handles.I would like to get the handels lower than usually on 250swb:s.
This would probably mean that I would not utilise the z3 door handle mechanism.
Any tips from how I would get the door open,even. If the handle would be so low?
Thanks!
 

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AndersFIN said:
I about to testfit the grassbank handles.I would like to get the handels lower than usually on 250swb:s.
This would probably mean that I would not utilise the z3 door handle mechanism.
Any tips from how I would get the door open,even. If the handle would be so low?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Grassbank make handles for the bmw507 which are positioned lower, have you tried those?
 
AndersFIN said:
I about to testfit the grassbank handles.I would like to get the handels lower than usually on 250swb:s.
This would probably mean that I would not utilise the z3 door handle mechanism.
Any tips from how I would get the door open,even. If the handle would be so low?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
When you say "I would not utilise the Z3 door handle mechanism", what do you mean?
The Grassbank handles come with die-cast cable 'guides' and cables to attach both ends. Grassbank also supply a 'template' giving dimensions to fix the handles to the doors. This is so the cables sit in the 'guides' as well as possible to reduce rubbing of the cables on the inside of the guides. I mounted my handles at the correct height but moved them further away from the rear edges of the doors (as the Grassbank measurements looked too far back IMO). If you don't use the cables operating system, you will have to come up with a DIY option, potentially using rods.

I would recommend keeping the handles near to where the Grassbank template shows. The last thing you want is for the doors to be unreliable, or not open at all.

Remember.....by using a 'push' button to operate the latch, it is completely the wrong way than it was designed for. The Z3 uses rods and you 'pull' the door handle. So by 'pushing' you want it to be as easy as possible, as it is much harder than 'pulling'. Mine are quite stiff and require a big 'push on the buttons (especially the passenger door), despite me greasing everything internally and adjusting the latch as much as possible.
 
Yes I meant that I got the Grassbank handles including the wires.
I also tested with their template and I think the handles would be pointing a towards the sky in that case.

I was thinking more of if anyone has done this kind of custom solution with rods or utilising electrical shut off solendoid?
 
AndersFIN said:
Yes I meant that I got the Grassbank handles including the wires.
I also tested with their template and I think the handles would be pointing a towards the sky in that case.

I was thinking more of if anyone has done this kind of custom solution with rods or utilising electrical shut off solendoid?
Click to expand...

I did it with electrical actuator. See this page 5 on my build thread

https://zroadster.org/threads/oh-no-not-another-tribute-507-rebody-oh-yes-it-is.66257/page-5
 
Duncodin, this was exactly what I was looking for! Those solenoids that you are using are strong enough and have they been working without issues?
? I was thinking of pulling an additional wire to the front fender just in case of a dead battery..
 
AndersFIN said:
Duncodin, this was exactly what I was looking for! Those solenoids that you are using are strong enough and have they been working without issues?
? I was thinking of pulling an additional wire to the front fender just in case of a dead battery..
Click to expand...
Yes. They worked without issue. Well strong enough and once the button is released the return spring in the lock mechanism returns to the start position so no deadlock. I used power from the yellow radio wire (permanent live) for one side and the wire from under cigarette lighter for the other side so that both sides are not on the same fuse. The wires are fed through the grommet at the front of the door. Used a relay inside the door so all the current isn't going through the button. Only downside is that there is a loud metalic "Thunk" when the actuator is engaged which doesn't sound nice.
 
But after all that I have fitted a grassbank handle to my driver's door. My old electric system worked fine but wanted to test grassbank's.

I liked my electric solution because it's genuine BMW 507/700 handles. But Grassbank's really are good. Lever pulls out further than I'd like but I have decided to go with grassbank's and remove.my electric stuff. I just feel there's less to go wrong.
 
Thanks for your inputs,much appreciated.
I decided to go for following push button:
https://www.bluebottlemarine.com/pr...bDsfFcNj5lQpMBOfXN1f7jY1A5Ypnonpgovj8VGpiqpyV

and this for solenoid

https://www.ampire.de/Car-Alarm-GPS...op=ampire_en&a=article&ProdNr=ZVM100P&p=58798

I have read some reviews that these solenoids would be more quiet but I have to test and see.

The idea is to laminate a plate on the door card under the handle which holds this push button in vertical position. It then operates from the grassbank push button directly.

Thanks for the tip on the power supply.
Let’s see how it goes. I am happy that by this I will get the handles positioned where I want them (lower) 😃
 
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