So I went to the stealership to get this creeking noise on the convertible top checked out. While the tech was test driving he was checking the frame and according to him the head of the allen bolt just fell off. So I was upset when they told me that and even more upset when they told me it was going to probably cost me over $600 to fix it. Luckily they got back at me and told me that it was still under warranty.
What got me upset today is that they said that the company that is going to fix the top was going to take it for about 3 days. My service advisor told me that they have to take the whole top out in order to drill out that bolt.
Anyways I asked the advisor if I could drive it to the place (somewhere in orange county, ca) But he say no, that it has to leave from the dealer and that they will pick it up and DRIVE it over there!!!! I was like hell no, nobody's driving my car that far. This got me upset, he said to come by on monday and "we'll" figure something out.
I got AAA so for sure I'm not going to let someone just drive my car, I'll just get it towed.
So enough of the rant, is taking out the top "necessary" to get a bolt out? and 3 days!!!??

 

Which bolt? Pics? I'd be weary of the dealership. There is no reason why they can't do a top repair. I've done several @ the dealer I work at.

 

sounds about right for the time. and yes tou have to take it all apart to fix it like that. The loose allen screw was most likely causeing the rattle and the tech touched it to try and find it and it must have fell out or something.

dosent sound un-commen

just go up there and have the senior tech drive it over there or someone you can trust (i.e the old guy/gal)

good luck.

 

My top was replaced, took them more than a week to get the car back.

 

i have replaced an S2K top in half a day tops. its no big deal. so if you can get a picture or where the bolt it i can easily tell you how long it should take (even for an unexperienced upholster, which im not). These tops only take an hour max to get off and taping out a bolt will take a few minuets. Depending on the upholstery shop they are taking it to, if they are backed up or have lots of business at the current time, that couldl be why, but they should only have it for a day tops in my oppinion from what it sounds. Drive it down to NM and i will fix it no problem

 

Being who I am and how I think - I'd record the mileage and then check it to see how many miles the car was driven. I do not like the dealership to drive my car for any reason. Maybe you could ride as the passenger and then have someone pick you up.

 

hmmm 3 days??? they replaced my top in one day...and taking a screw/bolt out shouldnt take 2 days....or even 2.5 days....

 

my top creaks all the time when the temperature changes...i usually wait until springtime when it doesn't go below 50 anymore and lubricate all of the joints in the top, and the creaking goes away. if i get a random cold day, it'll creak again, so i attribute it to the expanding and shrinking of the parts.

 

I'll try to snaps some pics by tonight, but it's one of the bolts near your head. The dealer said it might have been tampered with before I bought the car because they saw marks on it and might have been over tighten. At least I don't have any creeks right now.
I guess that dealer doesn't do their own work on convertible tops so they send it out to an outside company.
I'm going to ask them to use my AAA towing, I don't see why they can't use it. I expect no more than 2 miles extra on my odometer while their fit/fix the top.

 

Depends on the dealership. Mine has a very good service department but they don't work in the convertible tops for the S. They usually bring in a company to do the work.

Still, even a full top replacement should only take 1 day.