Body - Soft Top Main Bearing Design Change

SI B54 13 07
November 2007

Special Roofs
Technical Service

SUBJECT
Soft Top Main Bearing Design Change

MODEL
E85 (Z4 Roadster) produced up to 12/2002

SITUATION
A running production change occurred on the soft top frame in 12/2002 to increase the diameter of the attachment point between the main bearing and the rear bow link that it secures to. Only the later production main bearings (from 1/2003) are available as spare parts. Therefore, any time a main bearing is replaced on an affected vehicle, the rear bow link and associated fastener must also be changed.

CAUSE
Running production change for quality improvement.

CORRECTION
Replace the rear bow link in addition to the affected main bearing.

PROCEDURE

1. Replace the necessary main bearing with the updated part per repair instruction RA 54 34 012.

2. While the soft top is still out of the car, the rear bow link needs to be replaced.

3. Extend the soft top frame as necessary to access the fasteners for the bow link. It is not necessary to remove the soft top cover





4. Remove the 3 upper link bolts (1) which will be reused when installing the new bow link. These fasteners are located at the opposite end of the link from the main bearing (2).





5. Remove the lower fastener (1) adjacent to the main bearing (2). The main bearing which was replaced should not yet be secured to the rear bow link (3) as the link is going to be replaced.

6. Install the new rear bow link. A new, larger 1 0mm bolt must be used to secure the main bearing to the new link. The remaining 4 fasteners may be reused.

7. If both main bearings were replaced, steps 4-6 should be repeated for the opposite side.

8. Re-install the soft top and verify proper operation.





PARTS INFORMATION

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Please refer to the latest KSD for all applicable labor operations and allowances.

If the appropriate labor operation is not contained in KSD, then a work time labor operation should be used.

Defect Code: 54 34 25 13 00





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