Need help in resetting convertable top for 328I

[mjentor]

Help,

We were putting seat covers on our 1996 328I convertable top and my husband pulled on the lever beneath the backseat that released our soft top! How do we reset it so that we can push the switch to close and open the top automatically rather than by hand now? We had to manually pull the top down and lock it to hold it in place. We could not hear the motor run after he did it by accident.

[darkhorse737]

if you have the owner's manual, it should cover that topic ;-)

If not, am sure someone here will walk you through :-)

[mjentor]

Yes, we have a manual that explains in case of an emergency how to pull it, but does not state how to reset it once it has been pulled on your own.

[darkhorse737]

I chanced on this post on the bimmerfest pages. I hope it helps...

Pulling the emergency red handle is to allow you to close the top not open it. Now you will need to resych the entire top starting with disengaging the motors in the left rear side of the trunk. You will need to remove the cover to see the motors and gears. Pulling the red handle should have disengaged both motor drives and unlocked the boot. Since you did the opposite I would suggest closing the softtop and once closed (do you have a fully top which does not have the handle in the middle of the top that attaches to the windshield?) then reconnect the motors assuming you can get into the trunk to do so. The actuating rods can be moved slightly to get the teeth to align if need be. See if you can open the top normally.

If this fails to work and by the way the top does a resync every 8th opening and closing, then you will need to get the top into the boot which means if the motors don't engage you will need to pull the red handle and get the boot up, motors must be disengaged, fuse #7 must be pulled to over ride the locking of the trunk so you can get to the motors to reingage them, close the trunk and reinstall fuse #7. Boot must be down and hopefully locked or at least the microswitch on the passenger side making correct contact. Ignition switch off, press and hold the convertible top switch to the down (open) position, turn the ignition switch to the open position and wait 10 secs with swich still in the same position. This should completely close and lock the boot down. Release the switch after one more second and hopefully the top will open normally.

[peterSerbanica]

Bimmerfest.com has a youtube video on this to resync this top

[mjentor]

Peter
Thank you so much for this info.I went to this website but is dificult to locate this video. Can you please let me know how I can get in to show me this video for resync the soft top for my BMW 328I convertible 1996. Appreciated.

Thanks

[peterSerbanica]

www.geocities.comebaines/converti.htm

[peterSerbanica]

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. search window type in millertimebmw for top sync video