Hi All,
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Asked to take some photos when retrofitting the ski bag, so here you go…….
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This is all at your own risk obviously
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My car is a 2001 Facelift UK RHD Car, with the solid rear seats.
The BMW instructions are in THIS thread.
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I did not find this procedure as easy as some other people seem to have found it, a few members have reported times around 45mins to fit the kit, I took 3.5hr’s, I’m not sure what we did differently.
<o></o>
The measuring up was far the most difficult part to do accurately, due to the sound deadening material and the not flat bulkhead section.
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Step One
Order the ski bag retrofit kit, part number 72609405802. This includes the ski hatch and the securing bolt. It was £175 delivered from bmminiparts.com
![Image]()
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Here is the ski hatch
![Image]()
![Image]()
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Now I intend to use the ski hatch to aid me in moving my model helicopters, these are quite long and have delicate tail sections, as such I didn’t want the bag snarling up on the edges of the helicopter potentially damaging it. So I decided to detach the bag from the hatch. This is easily done, just put off the secure shroud with medium force, remove the bag, and refit the shroud.
![Image]()
![Image]()
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Now over to the car, here’s what we start with
![Image]()
![Image]()
<o></o>
Start by removing the rear bench seat, this lifts up vertically at the front separating from clips and the ‘unhooks’ from under the rear bench. Take note as to the arrangement of the seat belts and carefully pull them out of the holes in the seat.
![Image]()
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Remove the two bolts, one near each door to release the rear seat, also remove the head rests. Remove the rear seat by lifting it up out of the clips on the bulkhead and out of the car.
![Image]()
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Here is the ski hatch area.
![Image]()
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Cut out the sound deadening along the perforations, it helps to have a really sharp knife
![Image]()
<o></o>
Move into the boot now, and remove the trim panels, I ended up removing all the trim panels in the boot due to ones overlapping the other and I didn’t want to damage any of them.
![Image]()
<o></o>
Now the difficult bit, from inside the car, lift the sound deadening and try and locate the 6 locating marks on the bulkhead as described in the BMW manual. I struggled with this, and ended up removing the centre headrest support, and the trim clips along the top edge to give more clearance to pull the sound deadening back.
Using masking tape or some other means, now mark out the cut out as per the instruction from BMW, using the punch marks are locators.
![Image]()
![Image]()
<o></o>
Drill out the corners etc as described in the BMW guide, and then cut out the hatch, I used a jigsaw with a fine metal blade, cutting was very easy, take your time to keep the lines straight.
![Image]()
<o></o>
Now test fit your hatch and make adjustments as required, mine required very little
![Image]()
![Image]()
<o></o>
Clean up the edges and deburr, I used a grinding stone in a Dremel tool with a flexible shaft, once all the edges are clean and smooth, paint them to prevent corrosion, I used Hammerite and left the car overnight to dry properly. Whilst your waiting, cut the rear trim panel as described in the BMW instructions, I found it best to cut the padding away with a sharp knife, then cut the fibreboard with the jigsaw. Now’s also the time to remove all the swarf from the car, a magnet helps for the hard to reach areas.
<o></o>
Then cut away the covering pad and install the securing bolt, reinstall the boot trim pieces, and refit the seats, job done.
![Image]()
![Image]()
<o></o>
Hope that helps
<o></o>
Matt
<o></o>
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
<o
></o>This is all at your own risk obviously
<o
></o>My car is a 2001 Facelift UK RHD Car, with the solid rear seats.
The BMW instructions are in THIS thread.
<o
></o>I did not find this procedure as easy as some other people seem to have found it, a few members have reported times around 45mins to fit the kit, I took 3.5hr’s, I’m not sure what we did differently.
<o
></o>The measuring up was far the most difficult part to do accurately, due to the sound deadening material and the not flat bulkhead section.
<o
></o>Step One
Order the ski bag retrofit kit, part number 72609405802. This includes the ski hatch and the securing bolt. It was £175 delivered from bmminiparts.com
<o
></o>Here is the ski hatch
<o
></o>Now I intend to use the ski hatch to aid me in moving my model helicopters, these are quite long and have delicate tail sections, as such I didn’t want the bag snarling up on the edges of the helicopter potentially damaging it. So I decided to detach the bag from the hatch. This is easily done, just put off the secure shroud with medium force, remove the bag, and refit the shroud.
<o
></o>Now over to the car, here’s what we start with
<o
></o>Start by removing the rear bench seat, this lifts up vertically at the front separating from clips and the ‘unhooks’ from under the rear bench. Take note as to the arrangement of the seat belts and carefully pull them out of the holes in the seat.
<o
></o>Remove the two bolts, one near each door to release the rear seat, also remove the head rests. Remove the rear seat by lifting it up out of the clips on the bulkhead and out of the car.
<o
></o>Here is the ski hatch area.
<o
></o>Cut out the sound deadening along the perforations, it helps to have a really sharp knife
<o
></o>Move into the boot now, and remove the trim panels, I ended up removing all the trim panels in the boot due to ones overlapping the other and I didn’t want to damage any of them.
<o
></o>Now the difficult bit, from inside the car, lift the sound deadening and try and locate the 6 locating marks on the bulkhead as described in the BMW manual. I struggled with this, and ended up removing the centre headrest support, and the trim clips along the top edge to give more clearance to pull the sound deadening back.
Using masking tape or some other means, now mark out the cut out as per the instruction from BMW, using the punch marks are locators.
<o
></o>Drill out the corners etc as described in the BMW guide, and then cut out the hatch, I used a jigsaw with a fine metal blade, cutting was very easy, take your time to keep the lines straight.
<o
></o>Now test fit your hatch and make adjustments as required, mine required very little
<o
></o>Clean up the edges and deburr, I used a grinding stone in a Dremel tool with a flexible shaft, once all the edges are clean and smooth, paint them to prevent corrosion, I used Hammerite and left the car overnight to dry properly. Whilst your waiting, cut the rear trim panel as described in the BMW instructions, I found it best to cut the padding away with a sharp knife, then cut the fibreboard with the jigsaw. Now’s also the time to remove all the swarf from the car, a magnet helps for the hard to reach areas.
<o
></o>Then cut away the covering pad and install the securing bolt, reinstall the boot trim pieces, and refit the seats, job done.
<o
></o>Hope that helps
<o
></o>Matt
<o
></o>
