manually letting a fully automatic converrible top down and up???

[dennisspeaks]

I have a 97 328ic and the top stopped working. I can't geven get BMW to call me back, everytiem I call they say they are busy, don't know if I want to even bother with their unprofessionalism.

My question is this. The roof is now closed. I hear there is a way to manually close it in the case of emerbencies and the top is down. anyone have any pics or can point me to where and how to do this? We are going to be having beautiful weather this weekend and I want to enjoy until I can get this problem solved. Thanks

Dennis

[Bimmer_Angel]

Yes there is a way to close manually in case of emergeny. Under the back seat there is a red lever which you pull. This dislodges the motors allowing you to manually work the roof.

BE WARNED THOUGH doing this causes a lot of problems after with the resetting of the gears/clutches. There are numerous posts on how to do this IF it goes to plan!!

I ended taking my bimmer to the Stealer to reset the motors - it only cost 40 GBP.

Hope this helps

Good Luck:thumbup:

[Bimmer_Angel]

Have a look at this recent thread

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203898

[ChipB]

The procedure for working the top manually is in the owner's manual. The procedure for resynchronizing the motors after you've done the manual open/close is not - hence all the discussion about how to reconnect gears & motors. It's not that difficult - I've done it 3 or 4 times - but it can take a while to figure out that first time. The procedure that works on my '97 328iC is here:

http://www.geocities.com/ebaines/converti.htm

[dennisspeaks]

thanks for your replies, I know how to resinc the motors, it's a piece of cake. I did read the manual on how to put the top up in case of emergency. The question I have is since I have a fully automatic top, If I use the allen tool to take the top down instead of put it up since the top is sucked down and locked in, if I do it manually I don't see how the top will be locked in the trunk.

While is is in the down position already that is one thing, but to do the reverse to get it down???

Thanks

[dennisspeaks]

i can't believe with all the brilliant bmw enthusiastics on this site, nobody knows a strategy to let the convertible top down when the switch isn't working, i know it disengages from the bow, the questions is getting it to seat in the rear, is it possible?

Thanks.

Dennis

[leemanuel]

Hi gays and gals - i've got a pretty good file on the soft top if anyone wants it??

so far ive replaced the tension straps and the tension straps on the side 9with lots of help from Angel!!!)

Lee

[dennisspeaks]

I figured out today that once the convertible top is locked after emergency reset, you cannot reverse the process to let the top down to enjoy the fun in the sun. I tried but it only disconnects from windshield but the top will not go back into the trunk.

I finally got through to the local stealer and I don't say that lightly, they want $98.00 per hour to diagnose and say they need the car for at least a day, sounds like a rip off. Adittionally in the manuals I have it says the 97 and newer beemer with fully automatic tops are diagnosable with the DIS Tester or MoDIC.

The stealer tells me that this is not true and to just drop the car off and leave it with them... I don't think so. Any body with the understanding of the DIS Tester or MoDIC? I would rather buy all the switches before I go that route and at least have the extra switches and microswitches for what is not the problem, push comes to shove I could sell them on ebay and recoup most of my money back.

Any thoughts are welcome.