1st Gen R52 Cooper Convertible Most liked posts in thread: The knee lever

LOL... when I saw the thread title, I thought it was a new technique for the track... wedging your knee against the downtube and lower dash to get more grip from the stock seats...

 

hmmmm..."knee lever". Top won't go down so you kneed the frame [thus creating the 'knee lever'] to "help" it along? Poor lil 'vert...you should be boiled in its synthetic oil....:lol::devil:

 

Where is this "knee lever" located? What condition is your top in? I could think of better things to spend $3500 on (if I had it) but I like to tinker so.

 

I don't know about the MINI top. But I completely redid the top on my VW. Replaced the cables, cleaned and painted the frame, replaced the padding, replaced the top, replaced the molding.

It was a bit of work but nothing more was needed than a good set of hand tools and gloves so they get pinched instead of you.

It took a long weekend.

 

What is the Knee Lever?

Is it in this image?




Convertible Top Parts can be seen here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=RH33&mospid=48019&hg=54&fg=10

 

Regardless of the actual part if you are spending that much time on this job, either paying someone or DIY, maybe a new top should be factored in? Of course if the shop does it they'll just add the 6 hours on top of the already quoted job. Seems to me that a 14 hour job to fix whatever is wrong should allow the installation of the top as a free ride, just the adder for the top itself.

And BTW, what is the original problem that brought this diagnosis in the first place?

 

And I assume the new top price includes the repaired part? No gotchas after you agree to one thing and they tell you you still need the other?