EDIT <fixing typo in the thread title>: Removing convertible top and frame as one piece

I've tried to decipher this from the other threads, linked videos, and the manual information shared by ECS Tuning - thanks for all that!

My daughter and I went to our local junkyard again yesterday to try and get the top off of the R52 they have there. We did get the doors (in the matching Hot Orange Metallic to her R52S) and I had scrounged the fenders and trunklid previously, but try as we might, we could not get the top assembly off (frame/canvas/hydraulics).






This is how far we got:

• Removed the sunroof motor, released the front catches and slid the sunroof open
• Opened the check-valve on the hydraulic system, released the middle roof catches and folded the roof down
• Released the rear top latches (in the trunk)
• Removed the rear seat bottom cushion and the rear seat backs
• Removed the rear interior panels
• Removed the 2 nuts and 1 bolt from each side that secures the front of the top mechanism/frame (these are just inside of the rear quarter window)
• Removed the 3 bolts from each side at the back of the top mechanism/frame (the best access to these was going straight through the removed taillight openings)

• Removed the 3 bolts that hold down the hydraulic pump for the top
• Disconnected and unclipped the wiring to the top controller
• Tried to lift out the top, but no-go. Eventually, the top tore in our attempts (the vehicle had been outside for a long time, and the cloth was sun-bleached and weak)

What did I miss? It seems like there is something still holding the fabric to the rear quarter panels, likely to something related to insure proper drainage.

I really don't want to leave that convertible top frame to go with the rest of the car to the great junkyard in the sky. The frame and motors are in great shape, so they could help someone else out, or we'll hang on to it in the shop garage attic in case we need parts from it in the future.

 

Quick update (I'll try and add some more photos to help explain) - but, I did get the top off and now have it as a spare! Unfortunately, as mentioned, the cloth top tore in the process - but the glass and frame, etc. are all in great shape. The step I missed was to remove a screw and clip on each side towards the base of the top - as I said, I'll get some pictures of those in my daughter's R52S and then post it all here to make it clear.

 

Thats great you got it, sucks it tore, only thing i can think of is to take it to a shop that can re-stitch it in spots.

 

OK, so now that I was able to successfully get the top assembly off of that R52, let me document how I would attack this in the future:

• Remove the rear hinge screw and clip from the rear side of the top on each side of the car (these are behind a piece of appearance trim/cloth - access would be easier if that is removed, but I don't have those instructions here)

• Removed the sunroof motor, released the front catches and slid the sunroof open (this is covered in other videos in other threads)
• Opened the check-valve on the hydraulic system, released the middle roof catches and folded the roof down (this is covered in other videos in other threads)
• Released the rear top latches (in the trunk)
• Removed the rear seat bottom cushion and the rear seat backs
• Removed the rear interior panels and covers to expose the front mounting locations for the top
• Removed the 2 nuts and 1 bolt from each side that secures the front of the top mechanism/frame (these are just inside of the rear quarter window)

This is installed between the inner and outer body panels. This view is of the "out" facing side.


This is installed between the inner and outer body panels. This view is of the "in" facing side.

• Disconnected and unclipped the wiring to the top controller (white box, this is on the inside of the body, on the US-driver/left side)
• Removed the 3 bolts that hold down the hydraulic pump for the top and disconnected wiring to the pump.
• Unclip the hydraulic hoses from around the trunk area (need to remove the interior trim from the back and sides of the trunk area)
• Now you should be able to remove the top/frame assembly from the body. A second person helps a bunch with this.

It is not necessary to remove the 3 bolts from the rear mount at each side at the back of the top mechanism/frame (the best access to these was going straight through the removed taillight openings), as the pivot screws that are removed in the first step above attach the top to these mounts. But, if you're pulling the top from a parts car, these might be good to get as they are unique to the convertible.


Also, there is a mounting plate for the front mounts that attach to the body with a single Torx screw that are unique and could be salvaged, too. I decided to get the rear windows, motors and regulators from the donor I found, as well as the trunk seal and side window body trim. If it was unique to the convertible, I tried to grab it.

 

Also stumbled across this today, while looking for a guide on removing the cowl (yeah, I'm going to try and get that from the junkyard R52, too). This is a nice all-in-one guide to the top:
http://wtxmc.org/MiniCooperDocs/CONV...P%20REPAIR.pdf

 

I was at a junkyard here in MD today, and thought about trying to take the whole convertible roof, but then realized I had no idea how to go beyond removing the motor and cables. Thanks for posting this, I'm going to try to brush up on it