97 328ic convert top stuck - BMW Forum

sabre40 · 01-20-2006, 02:16 AM

My wife's 97 328ic top stopped operating when I went to put it up for the day. It occured when the top lid stowed back down, the top never went to the down position after that (fwd to the latch and the aft section down to the lid). Anyone come across this and found the remedy? Does manually stowing it cause sequencing problems ?

Help!
Pensacola, FL

Furious · 01-20-2006, 01:34 PM

does the motor sound like its working? a few times we have had similar questions... every solution has been different. i really cant help you out on this(not certain), hopefully someone will be able to give you some insite.

sabre40 · 01-21-2006, 10:33 AM

motor works, but the fwd latch motor is not getting power to complete the top down, the top lid is down and things look in sequence, it just stops at that point. I'm hoping it's a switch but I haven't quite figured it out. I manually put the top down, does this ruin the sequencing of the system?

Pensacola, FL

jcy0001 · 01-27-2006, 08:34 AM

hey maybe you have to reset the convertible top

if so here a link i found

but im kindav a newbie so read up some more coz i could be mis understanding the case

heres a link tho on how to do it

http://home.att.net/~ebaines/converti.htm

topless_328 · 01-27-2006, 07:04 PM

Could just be a relay switch that burnt out, causing the next sequence in the top-down procedure to stop. Also, i've heard, if the sensor in the rear tonue cover doesn't read that the rear is sealed, it won't complete the closing of the top.

My suggestion, try and find a convertable top place and have them take a quick look over it.

I had conv. top problems and was forced to go to the stealership and left $400 poorer for some connection that fell off the roof's motor and some tension straps....w/e

good luck

Dirty_Tool · 01-27-2006, 08:50 PM

So by your description it sounds like you have the fully automatic top, not the style where once the top goes forward to close you still have to grab the handle and latch it the rest of the way down.. correct?
The only thing I would recommend doing is grabbing the top and moving it slightly in either direction in case that a microswitch is just hung up or not quite being activated. If it still does not close then you dont want to mess with it much or you will just do more damage.

Keep in mind that the initialization procedure that JCY posted will only work if the convertible top module hasnt stored any faults. If the module has faults it will not allow the initialization to take place.
I would not recommend taing it to a convertible top shop or upholstery shop. I have seen them do terrible work on BMWs. (not necessarily all of them) My recommendation is to take it either to the dealer or a BMW Independent shop who knows those tops well otherwise you are just going to have more problems.
Good Luck,
DT