I bought a 1999 323i a couple of days ago, with a top that needs to be replaced And it won't operate. After studying many videos, I have come to this conclusion. The problem with these tops is that all the switches, sensors and fuses must be working, or the complete operation will stop. The tonneau cover sensor in the right latch has to be activated to electrically lock the trunk. Fuse number 7 has to be good in the front fuse box. If your trunk is locked when the top is up or down, you can pull fuse 7 to unlock it. That fuse powers the tonneau cover sensor that locks the trunk when the tonneau is opened. When the tonneau closes It might not be working to release the trunk lock. The bracket for the tonneau cover might need adjustment to trigger that sensor when it's closed. The sensors in the front edge have to tell the computer that the edge is latched. There is a fuse in front of the battery that has to be working. Mine was blown and corroded. When you are manually raising the top, you need to look inside the top to see if the wires have been damaged or cut during operation. From what I am picking up, in order to reset the top, the motors need to be released, the top needs to be lowered and stowed away and then the motors need to be reconnected. Then you press the up button and turn the switch to the second, On position. If you "Know" that anything I have said is wrong or I have left something out, please reply with that information. BMW convertible owners need a comprehensive set of directions to get this problem solved once and for all.

Thanks for the video mate, it’s just helped me fix my roof that hasn’t worked for 6 months 🤙🏽

Fantastic! We now have our roof reset and properly secured. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

This video saved me thousands. THANK YOU

LEGEND! Amazing video! Must watch for all E36 cabrio drivers

Thank you so much for the creation of this video. You’ve helped me get my 325i top working again.

Thank you so much, you've saved my mind from going crazy! Thank you thank you!!!

Thank you so much for this video,helped me fix my girlfriend mom car ,the roof got stuck in the middle and wouldn't close or open folding it back and doing the reset procedure fixed the issue

Thank you for sharing. For sure going to follow you. Cheers from Denmark 🇩🇰

This video was super helpful 👌- thanks for sharing

I just tried this today, man, thank you so much!!!

Most informative vid I've seen on these tops. Gonna try it on my son's car this weekend 🤙

Thanks for this video. Very helpful! Did you ever make the video on the tension straps?

hey man nice video i really appreciate it

Thanks for the video man it would be nice if you could do more fault diagnoses of e36 roof faults

What a beautiful video!

Great video, thanks

Hey Brother I wanna appreciate your Video thank you thank you very much from Germany... we were about to drive to the BMW dealer but after I watch your video the top of my E36 convertible works great

Thank you so much, I got mine fixed. now my cluster some of them work and some not. The fuel gas keeps going left and right. speedometer and prm not working and the heat level.

excellent absolutely excellent thank you

Thank you!

I would appreciate a video on tension straps!

If the windows automatically lower when you press the roof button, will the roof not work if the passenger window doesn't work?

I have a 97' 328i full auto roof and when I tried putting the top down, the front doesn't go up all the way and i can hear a loud noise. I had to close it manually and now the button on for the roof is blinking red. What can I do to fix it?

Do you have qny advice for removing a door window ? I need to replace the tracks inside my passenger door , the window won't go up all the way anymore , i replaced the regulator and the motor is still working , so i bought used tracks , hoping replacing those will solve the issue !

Thanks for the video . My roof top is fully automatic , when i close it last centimeters of it doesn't close (it doesn't connect the front hooks ) can you help . Thanks

Good stuff bro. Iam still having trouble with mine can’t get it back down now just stuck at that almost close spot but when I turn it’s locking the two locks but not going down.

So I’m missing fuse number 7. I replaced it but it fits loose and doesn’t seem to connect?

Hey!! Awesome video!! I wanted to ask if you might have an idea about the issue I’m having. When closing the top, it gets to the point where the tonneau cover opens up and the roof comes out, but then the process just stops. The roof won’t move anymore and the tonneau cover is stuck open. No motor sounds or clicks or clunks or anything and the top switch light starts blinking. Any ideas on what the issue might be?

If that car is just an extra thats going to be scrapped can i buy the interior my e36 needs door panels and the whole back interior

i have a 1999 bmw m3 e36 with a bad top and the car was my late sons car n i am trying to restore it..have you any websites I might find a complete top

Thanks. I've been working on my 323i convertible, but stuck at the moment. Wondering if you or someone can help. I tried resetting the top, but it top clicked and stayed locked in the down position. Disengaged the motors and tried to manually close, but top is stuck where the break is before dropping into the locking mechanism. Notice that the clips to the locking motor are still in locking position. Any Ideas?

Sweet!!

This video helps. Thanks.

Hey quick question, so i have a 1999 e36 vert and my battery seems to be getting drained because of my top. I have a hard top on my car so i really don’t care to use my convertible top anytime soon. The reason why i think the top is draining my battery is because the red light is constantly blinking where the switch is to put the top up and down. My main question is if i remove that fuse in the fuse box and the fuse by the battery should that stop draining my battery ? And stop that red light blinking by the switch ?

Thanks only problem I’m having is the red light is flashing right there on the button and it won’t go up

My button doesn’t do anything to open and close the convertible but the trunk opens only when you pressure the tonic cover so that mean my fuse isn’t blown right? What could be the problem

When you push the button to lower the roof, do the windows go down automatically? If one doesn't go down, would that prevent the roof from working?

When the roof doesn't work and it needs to do this are even the front windows not working?

anyone have a walk through/video of how to sew in elastic to fix the tension straps or how to replace the straps themselves?

My tonneau wouldnt latch closed and it also wouldnt move up or down but the entire full auto top worked. All i did from this video was reset the top (hold the up button, turn key 2 clicks) and now the top does not work at all, the red light on the convertible button started flashing right after doing the reset and now the motors in the trunk just whir when i click either the go up or go down button

Hey, this is for an old BMW. My convertible top wont go down in a 2009. The pc gave error: it believes the car is in motion. Additional info, when partition is not locked, we get dashboard error to this effect. Once corrected, the buttons does nothing but light up red on right side. No sounds, no attempts to start going down, no windows going down etc. Please help! Thank you.

I pulled the back red thing and the back still doesn't wanna come up. Any help?

What if our trunk is stuck in the back i opened with the lever behind the seat

in my case i snapped the hinge for the tonneu , please make sure you disengaged it as getting the hinge out is not fun

Hey! Mine got to release from the windshield and wouldn’t go any further back. Any tips from here?

Большое спасибо тебе и тому кто сделал субтитры

Thank you for this video - my e36 is 1999 and the tensioner straps were completely busted and I had the issue you’re describing. I actually stitched new pieces of elastic tensioner without fully replacing the tensioner straps or even removing the headliner or top; and it fixed the problem- I uploaded a video last week. My question do you know how to get to replacing the struts is the tonneau cover? It goes up but sometime not all the way and the folding top hits it on the way up and down

My roof is not moving i try to do what you do but isn't working 😕😔please😢 help 🙏

So what if the túnel motor dose not want to engage back?

Did the process and i could hear the motors making a loud sound but the top did not come up

Hate to say it but my 95 e36 318i has the handle for the windshield but doesn’t have that red rope under the seat. Has like a door handle in the side panel on rear driver side

I know it’s probably a long shot but I’m hoping someone can help me with this issue. I have replaced the front motor, both fuses, and re connected both rear top motors, even doing the c-clamp trick on the toneau cover. When I go to reset the convertible it sounds as if the car’s door locking mechanism is clicking over and over, and the lights in the footwell dim with each click. I have followed every other step and have progressed from a flashing light on the convertible control to no light now followed by this issue.

Having issues with my fully automatic roof on my RHD 1997 e36 328i convertible I have done the reset procedure by disengaging both motors and putting them both back in while the roof is down. The problems which im facing now is when im pushing the close button on the roof the button does nothing at all, it just flashes constantly What we have checked *Fuse 49 has no power *fuse 7 fuse 35 fuse 42 fuse 43 are fine *The RHS of the Tonneau cover requires alot of pressure to trigger the microswitch meanwhile the boot is openable at all time.

What is the convertible top button is flashing red? Will it still work?

how to fix when e36 cabrio reset procedure don't work? Roof light is blinking, motors attached.

I know im late to the party but i i got it to reset and suck bk down but dosnt do anything after

Hi , my convertible was working and just stop and wont open manual, im getting code impermissible convertible top position

And what if both of my motors aren’t aligning?

who could i take the top folding latch too if i have a problem with it?

Thanks man, I’ll soon be trying to fix mines after it wouldn’t go back up I never dropped it again yet.

We did this and it still doesn't work. The motor sounds like it's engaging but the top doesn't come up. Any suggestions?

What if that hex screw is stripped??

We tried and the button just blinks red nothing happens , all 3 motors work but nothing happens any clue ?

hi guys, excuse me. First i wanna say thank you so much for the video. Bring me peace to heard someone teaching about e36 top. in my country it s a mystery. Second, I m from Brazil, so i m sorry by my english. Third if someone could help me i would stay very greatful and probabily it maybe help anothers bimmers too. In my cabrio 325i (94) germany, all the sistems are working good but when i m reseting the top tonneau cover dont close. Someone would know what sensor is not working ? five stages in the reset top : 1° the tonneau cover opens ( it`s ok ) 2° all the top get out ( ok ) 3° rear windshield get open ( ok ) 4° tonneau cover closes ( it s not working ) 5° rear windshield closes .... Thank you for everything

I know it’s an old video but if anybody could help me asap but whenever I push the button for my top the lid will start vibrating and the motors make a loud clicking noise and it wont stop until I shut the car off

hey man i have a full auto, even when i pull the strap the tonneau will not open it’s locked.

Merci Merci à

My fuses are good. My top won’t come down. I have to manually open the top but my tonneau won’t pull up by hand to tuck top down in. Trunk opens. Please help!! 😀

very helpful. got my top to work don't know y it was manual

Yeah bro you gotta turn the screw,but say that you gotta screw it and not unscrew it as sb would probably do

American