e46 m3 convertible with hard top + roof box!??!

[theog87]

Evening all

Your probably going to think I'm bat **** crazy but, I know you can get a hard top cover for the e46 m3 convertible. I haven't seen this in person, but I believe the hard top clamps down over the soft top.

The question is... I know you can get those suction things which allow you to carry bikes / luggage e.g. 4 suction pads which then link to rack / roof box.... Given this is the case, do you think you could add suction pads to the top of the 'hard top cover' and that would be sufficient to support some goods up top (clothes for euro trip).

If not, do you think there is a credible garage which could 'pimp my hood' to lock it down fully / securely?

I haven't seen the hood in person you see, so don't know how possible it is. I'm guessing it's a no no, bu open for other ideas if anyone has any.

If not, then I still could add one to the metal boot at the back (no problem) but if I can use the whole roof then that's even better.

Thoughts welcome.

Best,

T

[SouthHamsGaz]

I can't answer your question, but exactly how much stuff are you planning on needing for your trip?

My partner and I did 2 weeks and 3000 miles round Europe last summer in my E85 Z4. Managed fine and that doesn't even have a back seat to chuck stuff on, or will there be more than 2 going on this trip?

[theog87]

SouthHamsGaz said:

I can't answer your question, but exactly how much stuff are you planning on needing for your trip?

My partner and I did 2 weeks and 3000 miles round Europe last summer in my E85 Z4. Managed fine and that doesn't even have a back seat to chuck stuff on, or will there be more than 2 going on this trip?

Sorry should have said.

My wife, my 6 months son and myself. So needs a stoller baby thing in the back with a few 'bags' then I guess cloths on the top ... or i guess lighter things on the top, then cloths on the back (on top of the back metal boot), therefore 2 suction based roof 'rigs'.

FYI i used to own an e85... surprising amount of space. Fantastic car.

I guess you could say a 20kg or 40kg on the top!? But as said, i suppose i could put the heavy stuff on the back metal bit then bigger lighter stuff on top e.g. stroller.

[SouthHamsGaz]

Ah, a six month old, well that means you have about 400% more to pack than we did

[theog87]

SouthHamsGaz said:

Ah, a six month old, well that means you have about 400% more to pack than we did

Short answer = yes

BUT.... she normally sits in the back, so it means i have the whole front seat for 'stuff'.... hmmm... maybe that's the answer = put stuff in the front.

[pjv997]

I did a few ski trips when packing space in the car was at a premium and we used some vacuum storage bags - which effectively more than doubled the storage space.

Not something to use for smart clothes and if you bring everything home with you, you’ll need access to a vacuum cleaner wherever you are staying on your trip.

Worked great for us and a very inexpensive solution - so I’d certainly recommend as something to consider.

[theog87]

pjv997 said:

I did a few ski trips when packing space in the car was at a premium and we used some vacuum storage bags - which effectively more than doubled the storage space.

Not something to use for smart clothes and if you bring everything home with you, you’ll need access to a vacuum cleaner wherever you are staying on your trip.

Worked great for us and a very inexpensive solution - so I’d certainly recommend as something to consider.

That is quite genius actually. There might even be a powerful small one which runs off sig lighter!?

[Total loss]

theog87 said:

Evening all

Your probably going to think I'm bat **** crazy but, I know you can get a hard top cover for the e46 m3 convertible. I haven't seen this in person, but I believe the hard top clamps down over the soft top.
.............................

Do you mean the optional 'hardtop', it is not a cover, it is a complete roof section that is fitted with the soft top fully down and as you say, clamps down


And fitted on a convertible, and with roof bars which would take a roof box

[theog87]

Total loss said:

theog87 said:

Evening all

Your probably going to think I'm bat **** crazy but, I know you can get a hard top cover for the e46 m3 convertible. I haven't seen this in person, but I believe the hard top clamps down over the soft top.
.............................

Do you mean the optional 'hardtop', it is not a cover, it is a complete roof section that is fitted with the soft top fully down and as you say, clamps down


And fitted on a convertible, and with roof bars which would take a roof box

Ah wow this is literally perfect! Best of both worlds!

How much could the hardtop take?

Im guessing your using suction pads there?

I'm assuming you can buy a hardtop cover and attach to an m3 which didn't have one in the first place?

[Longnose]

There's official BMW roof bars for the E46 hardtop - even comes with its own handbook. I got mine on Ebay.

[theog87]

Longnose said:

There's official BMW roof bars for the E46 hardtop - even comes with its own handbook. I got mine on Ebay.

My god. They really did think of everything for this car didn't they.

[Longnose]

To answer your question, the hardtop roof bars handbook says 75Kg max permitted roof load. It says the roof bars are 4.3Kg so I guess this means just over 70Kg total to include the weight of the roof box.

[theog87]

Longnose said:

To answer your question, the hardtop roof bars handbook says 75Kg max permitted roof load. It says the roof bars are 4.3Kg so I guess this means just over 70Kg total to include the weight of the roof box.

That should be more than enough!

You could do some serious euro trips with that much space, providing the accommodation has space for the gear once there.

[Total loss]

theog87 said:

Longnose said:

There's official BMW roof bars for the E46 hardtop - even comes with its own handbook. I got mine on Ebay.

My god. They really did think of everything for this car didn't they.

Put your VIN into the search function on Real OEM & you will see what was available for your car
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/select

Have you got a print out of your car spec. re. options as ordered by the original owner? your local main dealer can supply one or it can be looked up online. This will show if your car was prepared for a hardtop/supplied with one even though you haven't got one now.

[theog87]

Total loss said:

theog87 said:

Longnose said:

There's official BMW roof bars for the E46 hardtop - even comes with its own handbook. I got mine on Ebay.

My god. They really did think of everything for this car didn't they.

Put your VIN into the search function on Real OEM & you will see what was available for your car
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/select

Have you got a print out of your car spec. re. options as ordered by the original owner? your local main dealer can supply one or it can be looked up online. This will show if your car was prepared for a hardtop/supplied with one even though you haven't got one now.

Ahh I see

I don't have an e46 yet so don't know VIN yet.

Thanks for the heads up though as I assume that means not all can take the hardtop with rack?

[Total loss]

theog87 said:

Ahh I see

I don't have an e46 yet so don't know VIN yet.

Thanks for the heads up though as I assume that means not all can take the hardtop with rack?

I don't know, for some markets, e.g. the UK, some optional equipment was standard, so it might be that all UK E46 convertibles came ready for a hardtop.
BMW seem to supply retrofit kits like the hardtop kit, so even if not ready to take a hard top, it doesn't look like much to make it so.
https://bmweba.com/eba-01-29-0-009-975/amp/

[Total loss]

My cars options as fitted at the factory, all decoded from the VIN
You could look this up on any BMW you might be interested in. https://decoder.bvzine.com/

see option S380A

L812A 
National version England / Ireland
S1CAA 
Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S210A 
Dynamic stability control
S226A 
Sports suspension settings
S249A 
Multifunction f steering wheel
S251A 
Runflat indicator
S302A 
Alarm system
S338A 
M Sports package II

S380A 
Hardtop-preparation

S387A 
Wind deflector
S388A 
Softtop, black
S399A 
Softtop, electromech. all-autom.
S428A 
Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A 
Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A 
Smoker package
S459A 
Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S473A 
Armrest front
S481A 
Sports seat
S502A 
Headlight cleaning system
S508A 
Park Distance Control (PDC)
S520A 
Fog lights
S521A 
Rain sensor
S522A 
Xenon Light
S524A 
Headlight control
S534A 
Automatic air conditioning
S550A 
On-board computer
S644A 
Preparation f mobile phone w Bluetooth
S650A 
Radio BMW Reverse
S661A 
Radio BMW Business (C43)
S672A 
CD changer for 6 CDs
S674A 
Hi-Fi System Harman Kardon
S710A 
M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S716A 
Aerodynamics package
S760A 
High gloss shadow line
S772A 
Luxus equipment
S785A 
White direction indicator lights
S787A 
BMW alloy wheel, M double spoke 135
S832A 
Battery in luggage compartment
S850A 
Dummy-SALAPA
S853A 
Language version English
S863A 
Retailer Directory Europe
S877A 
Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A 
On-board vehicle literature English
S8SMA 
Car ident. number visible from outside
S8SPA 
Control unit CO2

[theog87]

Wow thanks guys, this is really interesting!

These details really turn a great car into something epic. I know this kind of thing will never appear on top gear or the likes of, but from a 'livable sports car' point of view, this turns was is normally thought as a 'spaceless convertible' into something which has the potential to do some serious trips.

I don't suppose any of you guys live near kent by any chance? I would love to see one in action!

I'm still looking what prices I can get for my M135i, then once I get some solid ideas I will be looking to buy an e46 m3 convertible manual. So really trying to get up to scratch with info etc.

[Total loss]

theog87 said:

Wow thanks guys, this is really interesting!

These details really turn a great car into something epic. I know this kind of thing will never appear on top gear or the likes of, but from a 'livable sports car' point of view, this turns was is normally thought as a 'spaceless convertible' into something which has the potential to do some serious trips.

I don't suppose any of you guys live near kent by any chance? I would love to see one in action!

I'm still looking what prices I can get for my M135i, then once I get some solid ideas I will be looking to buy an e46 m3 convertible manual. So really trying to get up to scratch with info etc.

Get yourself on M3 Cutters, its the UK M3 forum, many very knowledgable guys on there, maybe members near you who can show you around one.
https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/

[theog87]

Total loss said:

Get yourself on M3 Cutters, its the UK M3 forum, many very knowledgable guys on there, maybe members near you who can show you around one.
https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/

Very interesting you have said that, as I was about to do so, as I was finding it hard to find M3 e46 specific forums for the UK.

I thought at first it was just for used parts, but then saw it has all kinds of stuff going on.

Will join up later tonight and have a poke around!