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    BMW E36 Resetting Convertible Roof Instructions

    Uploaded by

    Bogdan Zepan
    The document provides instructions for resetting an E36 BMW convertible top after using the emergency release handle located under the rear seat. The summary is: [1] Manually close the top and storage compartment lid. [2] Remove the trunk liner on the left side to access the two electric motors that power the top and lid. [3] Push the motors back into their original positions so the gears re-engage with the transmission mechanisms. [4] With the ignition in accessory mode, hold the top switch in the close position for 12 seconds to reset the motors and resynchronize the top operation.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    BMW E36 Resetting Convertible Roof Instructions

    Uploaded by

    Bogdan Zepan
    582 views2 pages
    The document provides instructions for resetting an E36 BMW convertible top after using the emergency release handle located under the rear seat. The summary is: [1] Manually close the top and storage compartment lid. [2] Remove the trunk liner on the left side to access the two electric motors that power the top and lid. [3] Push the motors back into their original positions so the gears re-engage with the transmission mechanisms. [4] With the ignition in accessory mode, hold the top switch in the close position for 12 seconds to reset the motors and resynchronize the top operation.

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    BMW-E36-Resetting-Convertible-Roof-Instructions

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    The document provides instructions for resetting an E36 BMW convertible top after using the emergency release handle located under the rear seat. The summary is: [1] Manually close the top and storage compartment lid. [2] Remove the trunk liner on the left side to access the two electric motors that power the top and lid. [3] Push the motors back into their original positions so the gears re-engage with the transmission mechanisms. [4] With the ignition in accessory mode, hold the top switch in the close position for 12 seconds to reset the motors and resynchronize the top operation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    582 views2 pages

    BMW E36 Resetting Convertible Roof Instructions

    Uploaded by

    Bogdan Zepan
    The document provides instructions for resetting an E36 BMW convertible top after using the emergency release handle located under the rear seat. The summary is: [1] Manually close the top and storage compartment lid. [2] Remove the trunk liner on the left side to access the two electric motors that power the top and lid. [3] Push the motors back into their original positions so the gears re-engage with the transmission mechanisms. [4] With the ignition in accessory mode, hold the top switch in the close position for 12 seconds to reset the motors and resynchronize the top operation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Resetting the Convertible Top

    This is the procedure to reset the E36 convertible top in case you have used the emergency
    release handle that’s located under the rear seat*. This works on the author’s ’97 which had
    the fully automatic top. It may also work on other E36 models and years. The owner’s
    manual says to take the car to a Dealer for service but why do that when the procedure is so
    simple [APPARENTLY!!]

    The owner’s manual describe the method for closing the top manually, presumably in case
    you have a dead battery with the top down and it starts to rain! The top mechanism is
    driven by two electric motors that are located in the trunk/boot – one for the lid of the
    storage bin/compartment and for the top itself. Closing the top manually requires releasing
    the two motors from their transmission drives [using the afore-mentioned lever*, which,
    through a cable release mechanism, causes the motors to pop away from their drives],
    pulling the top out of its storage bin/compartment and then using an Allen wrench/Allen
    key [from the tool kit in the boot] to fully close and lock the top to the windshield. The
    Allen wrench/key gets inserted into a socket that is hidden behind a plastic cover at the
    leading edge of the top, and then you turn it many, many times to stimulate the action of
    the electric motor. NOTE: there are interlocks between the storage bin/compartment lid
    and the trunk that prevent you from opening both at the same time.

    Once the two motors have been disengaged, the top can only be operated manually – the
    LED in the control switch blinks, and the owners manual says you have to take the car to
    the Dealer to reset the correct operation of the top. The reason is that the two electric
    motors have to be re-engaged with their drive mechanisms and also re-synchronized with
    each other [you wouldn’t want the top to crash into the lid of the storage bin].

    Never fear, there is a fairly easy way to reset all of this yourself! The following is courtesy of
    Brett Anderson, who came to the author’s rescue on this topic. He was having a new
    subwoofer and amplifier installed in his car, and the installer had the rear seat out when he
    decided to pull on the release handle to see what could happen [it has a red tag on it that
    just seemed to scream ‘pull me’ -- who could resist?]

    First, manually open the top, placing it back into its storage compartment, and then close
    the lid of the compartment as far as it will go. You may need to push down the lid so that it
    closes far enough to allow you to open the trunk/boot [there’s a safety interlock that
    prevents the trunk/boot from being opened if the lid is open at the same time]. Working
    inside the trunk/boot, remove the carpet liner from the left side of the trunk. There are two
    plastic clips that hold the liner in place – you can pry them out with a screwdriver. Behind
    the liner are the two motors that work the mechanism -- one drives the top and the other is
    for the lid. Each motor is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot mechanism. The gears on the
    motors normally engage the gears for their respective transmission mechanisms, but when
    the lever is pulled the motors pop away and disengage.
    So you have to push the motors back into their original positions so that the gears re-
    engage. When you do this the spring-loaded catch mechanism will firmly latch into place.
    Be sure that the motor is firmly seated into the drive, and not just partially
    engaged.

    Once both motors are re-engaged, get into the car, and with the ignition key in the ‘off’
    position press and hold the top control switch in the up [for closing] position.. Continuing
    to hold this switch, turn the key to the ‘accessory position’ [second position ie without
    starting the car] and hold it there. After about 12 seconds the lid will be sucked down into
    the locked position and then, after a few more seconds, the top will start its normal closing
    procedure. The motors are now re-synched, and should be all set. Work the system a few
    times to ensure that both motors are properly engaged and all is well.

    GOOD LUCK!!

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