using an E24 tool tray

[thehackmechanic]

I searched on this but couldn't find any specific information, so I spent $20 and bought an E24 tool tray (part # 71111117105) on eBay.

As you can see from the pics, the tray is of a very similar size to the E9 tray, and the holes at the back end for the "hinge" line up exactly with the holes in the trunk lid, but the shape is different enough that the contours of the under-lid trim pieces don't completely surround it.

In addition, because the tray is a bottom-only, there isn't a nut to receive the big plastic threaded bolt (on the clamshell tool tray, that nut is in the upper half of the tray).

I can't be the first person to have tried this, right?

 

[bert35csi]

I too have considered doing this for quite a while, but never gotten around to actually doing it. The E24 tool box is a lot more durable and not prone to cracking as the super brittle e9 units. My original 24 years old M6 too box has not shown any sign of damage and probably never will. Wonder what type of plastic was used in manufacturing the E24 units.

In order to mount the E24 single clam shell unit into the E9 trunk lid, one has to mount the small square plastic nut to receive the too box fastening wing bolt. Also, a small piece of metal with a narrow 4-5" long slot (to receive tool box holding strap) needs to be fabricated and attached to the trunk lid. Have not done any serious tinkering in doing this, but probably should not be too difficult.

As one of the above picture shows, the E24 box does not completely cover the 2 elephant skin trimmed panels. One solution is to fabricate 2 new bigger panels and just leave it as is with the slight gaps showing.

 

[rsporsche]

i remember a while back, execmalibu posted some pix of his toolboxes. one was a very similar shaped box to the e3 / e9 box ... but different. i then looked on real oem, and saw that there was an available box - 71111115329 ... which is the same one for e24, e12, e21, e23, e28 and e9. there is no part # listing for the receiver or the strap.

 

[HB Chris]

The '74 and on e9 box might be different from the later boxes but only one part is sold by BMW that is "close enough" in their minds. The 74 trunk lid would have the proper mounts though.

 

[thehackmechanic]

Tools versus Tray

@rsporsche-->I believe 71111115329 is the part number for the bag'o'tools, not the tray.

@hb_chris-->I've looked on realoem and Maximilian / Mobile Tradition at parts for both early and late E9s, and I don't see a listing for a part number of either the early or late tray for the E9, so I can't tell how they differ. I've searched through this forum for over an hour looking for a photo of the late E9 tray and have not turned one up. The one promising pic I found turned out to be of an E24 tray, not an E9 tray. It was pictured because the seller was selling the tools in it.

 

[HB Chris]

The early box is NLA and it used to show 'a' box and if you bought it it was the later e9 box which surprised many unaware buyers. The diagram shows the later box but you're right, no part number listed. Maybe on backorder?

 

[rsporsche]

good point Rob ... i guess i jumped to conclusions or didn't look that closely on real oem. sorry for the confusion.

 

[Honolulu]

I 'spose someone could actually contact someone who would know ... maybe Carl Nelson?

naaah. all this conjecture is more fun.

 

[waynesie]

My tool kit just disintegrated. I guess I slammed the truck lid to hard.

I have all of the pieces, so I could glue it back together and add some fiberglass to reinforce it, but not sure it will hold the weight of itself, or any tools in it.

I have a e24 tool kit from a '80 euro 635 (as well as the rest of the car), so I would love to know if it might work.

Wayne

 

[blumax]

Tool Box hints--experience has shown that--

If you still have the original type toolbox--that with tools in place within the box it will eventually fail either by outright breakage, or the plastic screw will tear out its threads or similar, as the box will not handle the constant weight within of a full inventory of tools. Remove the tools and store them in a tool roll--CoupeKing has some nice ones--only put them in their place when showing off your jewel--it will prove to be a good step toward preservation.