Shop just replaced the top on my MY2000 with a nice Robbins glass-window version. I have read here that it would be wise to remove the tonneau cover nipples to prevent snags and possibly broken glass...

The nipples don't unscrew, apparently . Before resorting to wire-cutters?, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

They unscrew from the inside. Just pull the panel out and reach behind them. There is a nut on the back.

 

Appreciate your help. Not sure which panel to pull out. The guy at the top shop advised me to remove the panel on the front side, behind the seat --- the one with two covered screws under the mysterious hooks. However, these do not unscrew readily. Having loosened them up a bit, I'm not sure that unscrewing them completely is going to free up the panel --- before I go any further, I'd be grateful for clarification.

 

The easiest way that I can think of to remove them, and I assume that you still have your rear tray in. Get two people, remove the covers in the trunk, the one for your spare and the other to gain access. Have one person in the cockpit of the car with a ratchet and you with a wrench to tackle the nut on the backside of the panel. Hopefully you have long arms and can reach it.

 

Thank you. I was able to remove them as you suggested. Long arms not needed; but longer fingers and a double-jointed wrist would have helped.

For anyone else who chooses to tackle this job working solo, it can be done with a small vise grip and a 10mm wrench.

For the mechanically challenged, like me, here is the drill:

I took off only the inboard nipples since the outboard ones have plenty of clearance.

Working in the cabin, loosen the nipples a bit if you can; this makes them easier to identify when you're in the trunk. I left the top up for better access. Clamp the vise grip on the nipple and crank it around so that as you loosen the backing nut, the vise grip will not rotate.

Now to the trunk. Remove the panel and the spare tire, and climb in with your 10mm wrench. Reach up into the space behind the seats and feel around til you find the nut --- the vise grip will thump when you've got the right one. Unscrew.

Exit the trunk, switch the vise grip over to the other nipple. In the trunk, peel back the covering piece on the left side and climb back in. Access to this nut is very difficult: when you've got a metal lip pressing painfully into your contorted left wrist and your elbow is resting on the rubber bellows shielding the fuel lines, you're very close.

The upside to this is now my new top retracts an inch or so farther than before, and of course no longer binds on those nipples.

 

As always happy to help!! Glad to hear it worked out for you!

 

Hi People,

Trying to remove the 2 center tonneu cover nipples in my S2K, because i did a glass upgrade soft top.

1 of them i managed to unscrew from the trunk side. It was almost by touch. It came out easilly.

The 2nd cover nipple/snap doens't wanna come out from the trunk side. I think that's because the backing nut is too tight.
Does anyone know how to reach the backing nut (from the cockpit side) ? I hope i don't have to remove the roll hoop...

I've tried to remove the back trim (the one with the 2 hooks), but after it's removed i don't have clearence to the backing nut (it's located higher).

Anyone can help ?

Thanks