Seasonal Problem!

[nickg]

For those of you who didn't realise, Sunday was officially the first day of Spring, due to the fact that I took the hard top off the SL - I can never resist at the first sign of mildish weather.

However, when I raised the soft top for the first time, the rear lugs didn't hook in to the latches at the back and I had to get my old man (who helped me take off the hard top) to push down on the back of the hood gently whilst I held the switch in the car. This worked and the soft top is now safely up.
However, I'm now a bit scared to lower it for fear of it not going back up again properly.

Anyone else had this problem and know of common cause? I had no problems at all with the hood last year.
A couple of possibles - the car was on a (slight incline) facing down a slope, and, it was a bit chilly out and so maybe the mechanism just needs time to "warm up" a bit.......
Otherwise, any suggestions?

 

[Flash]

Personally, if it was me I would at least once a month remove the hardtop and operate the soft top… otherwise if not operated then the mechanism is bound to lock up/seize up (i.e. just like hand brake will seize if applied to car standing still for a long period).

Some other fellow 129 owners on here will probably be able to assist you with your problem otherwise pop down to a hood specialist .

BMW Dealer even told us to make sure that we every now and again regularly operate the soft top on our 645I Cab.

Good luck with getting it sorted.

Flash

 

[peterchurch]

For those of you who didn't realise, Sunday was officially the first day of Spring, due to the fact that I took the hard top off the SL - I can never resist at the first sign of mildish weather.

However, when I raised the soft top for the first time, the rear lugs didn't hook in to the latches at the back and I had to get my old man (who helped me take off the hard top) to push down on the back of the hood gently whilst I held the switch in the car. This worked and the soft top is now safely up.
However, I'm now a bit scared to lower it for fear of it not going back up again properly.

Anyone else had this problem and know of common cause? I had no problems at all with the hood last year.
A couple of possibles - the car was on a (slight incline) facing down a slope, and, it was a bit chilly out and so maybe the mechanism just needs time to "warm up" a bit.......
Otherwise, any suggestions?

Don't worry

mine did the same thing I just put the softop down again and retried worked fine after that I doubt that the top will grind to a halt over the winter period, as I am the first owner to use the soft top on my car ever... The other onwers lived in flats with no where to store the roof

 

[KLP 92]

Low battery gives similar symptoms.......
Mine did the same after the hard top was on first time but next time it worked fine.

 

[nickg]

I'll try it again on Saturday, with my fingers crossed. I am expecting it to work fine - never had a problem before.