Can anyone help (car soft top problem) ?

[dougal]

Here is an old piccy of the car. I've since changed the wheels to the factory originals.... and gave it a little ding in front which I really should get repaired.

 

[Beavis]

The E39 is my favorite 5 series. Not too keen on the newer E60 (?) models etc. modern yet with that classic look.

Yeah entry levels are all boring 4 cylinder or even worse, diesel

In Finland, we've always had a 4-cyl entry lever Fiver for taxation reasons. The E28 had a 518i and the same applies for the E34 too. The E39 was probably the only one that didn't have 4-cyl engines.

Over here we've had the 518i too, but they were not too popular, which makes sense with 110 Bhp. They didn't make the same mistake with the E39 though.

Here is an old piccy of the car. I've since changed the wheels to the factory originals.... and gave it a little ding in front which I really should get repaired.

Nice ride, the rims are quite up my alley too, what was wrong with them?
I had the 16" factory originals with Pirelli P7 tyres, but was never really satisfied with the handling, until my garagist made me a schweet offer of 17" original rims with Michelin tyres.
I'll tell you one thing, it made not a bit of difference, but a world of difference, needless to say that Pirelli can go and....

And hey, what's factory original, few years ago I had to replace my crankshaft sensor, at the stealer it was € 90,- and at Schmiedmann it was € 42,- and it's exactly the same part!
Replacing it is another story though, that was the mother of all pains in the asses, I can assure you!

BTW, I never knew you ride on the wrong side of the road over there.

Good to hear that you've solved the problem, but I would still have a closer look at the chassis.