(E36) M3 Cab questions
Discussion
The E36 M3 has rear headrests that fire up in the event of a roll. It will knacker the soft-top (googling will show you images of where this has happened) but to be honest if I am anywhere near rolling I'd rather that happen than my head get turned into a big bit of corn beef! 
I can't tell you about whether it would happen with the hard top on. I've just got one and its quite sturdy but I'd prefer if they did come up!
I can't tell you about whether it would happen with the hard top on. I've just got one and its quite sturdy but I'd prefer if they did come up!
Gazboy said:
I suspected it would be laquer. Pete has the same thing around his valvecaps on the blue car. I'm assuming these wheels are diamond cut too.
The way the diamond cut wheels are refurb'd involves sticking them on a lathe and skimming a small amount off them. Because of this, it can only be done a few times, otherwise the wheels lose their strength. Mine are being done now for the last time, so worth checking whether they've been done before.Yes the E36 has roll over protection...the retaction tool should be in the supplied tool kit(if your lucky)
The roll over fires up from the headrests, it will fire with hardtop on but wont do anything.
If it fires with softtop up it generally only needs a rear screen which is replacable...although sometimes if the fabric is old it does tear.
Tears are repairable but it really depends where as you need to get underneath to sow and seal. It is very difficult if the tear is close or over one of the tension bars and generally ends up being a new fabric.
If you went new fabric at anytime its worth also doing the frame tension straps as these stretch and cause roof top jam...to replace its fabric off.
The roll over fires up from the headrests, it will fire with hardtop on but wont do anything.
If it fires with softtop up it generally only needs a rear screen which is replacable...although sometimes if the fabric is old it does tear.
Tears are repairable but it really depends where as you need to get underneath to sow and seal. It is very difficult if the tear is close or over one of the tension bars and generally ends up being a new fabric.
If you went new fabric at anytime its worth also doing the frame tension straps as these stretch and cause roof top jam...to replace its fabric off.
Gazboy said:
Do you think a forward facing baby seat would fit in the back (I know it fits in the coupe) and would these headrests hit the seat in an accident or are they behind the rear seats?
The seats are nearly full size so it should be ok. The protection bits are behind the rear headrests. I got 3 6ft mates all the way to the coast in it so the back seats are fine. I'm not sure about attachment compatibility for a babyseat having probably last seen one when I was in it if you know what I mean! dan101smith said:
Gazboy said:
I suspected it would be laquer. Pete has the same thing around his valvecaps on the blue car. I'm assuming these wheels are diamond cut too.
The way the diamond cut wheels are refurb'd involves sticking them on a lathe and skimming a small amount off them. Because of this, it can only be done a few times, otherwise the wheels lose their strength. Mine are being done now for the last time, so worth checking whether they've been done before.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff