[curts911s]

I am in the process of troubling shooting my cab top which, up until recently, worked fine.  With thoughts of parting with the car, I converted from manual mode back to electrical mode to show that it was operational with no problems up until a few days ago when there was a grinding noise as the top was about fully open.  It seems that only the passenger side motor could be heard actually working with no sound coming from the driver side followed by no sounds from either side.  A check of the fuse and sure enough, it was blown.  I put the top in manual mode and it is working fine so believe the bows are ok but need to find out why only one side is not working.  Possibly a bad relay? A bad motor?  I found a description of how to locate the relays for the top but have not been able to find any descriptions of how best to access the motors.  Does anyone have any tips on how to remove the cover over the motors?  What is a good source for a relay if it is bad?  What is the best method of syncing the motors once the problem is solved?  Thanks.

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[flash]

it is likely not the motors.  it is likely the synchronisation of them, which is done at the mechanisms on the sides.  those bolts you loosened to put it in manual mode are single use bolts.  you cannot just tighten them back up.  very bad things happen.  you have to replace them, set the mechanisms to the right position, and then torque them down.  i found this out the hard way myself.  pain in the butt.

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[968workaholic]

The pieces on the side are referred to as transmissions. A small electric motor drives a cable, which drives a small gear inside the transmission, which drives a larger gear that the bow bolts to. Sounds like one of your transmissions is not working, causing the system to work harder and blow the fuse. Check those first, with the top in manual mode of course, to see how they are actuating. As bob stated, running with only one or out of time transmissions will cause major damage to the system

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[flash]

if those bolts were re-used, the cause is likely there.  i cannot stress enough that those are single use bolts and cannot be re-torqued.  the transmissions will have to be resynchronised and then the new bolts torqued.  the entire process is a pain in the butt.  i would leave it in manual mode.  

 

it's a lame design to begin with.  bmw abandoned it back in the 70s.  the fact that you have to unlatch it manually, stop halfway so you can put a towel down on the plastic window to prevent it from scratching itself, and then put that bloody boot cover on it, is just about the dumbest thing i have ever seen.  it takes 3 minutes, if you're really good and fast about it.  much easier to leave it in manual mode.  at lease that way you don't have to worry about breaking a no longer available bow or frame piece.

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[curts911s]

Thanks for the input.  I didn't realize that you couldn't use the same bolts again to go from manual to power mode.  I will most likely leave the top as is in the manual mode and reduce my asking price some.  Seems it would be a benefit rather then risk breaking the bows.

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[flash]

i put mine back in power mode, in preparation for sale of the car.  the day it sold, the new owner put it right back into manual mode.

 

it would be the rare individual that would prefer power mode on this top.  it doesn't work well, is painfully slow, and risks a very expensive failure.  you are really doing the buyer a favour by leaving it in manual mode.

 

p.s. - there are a few single use items in the car.  the bolts holding down the seats are single use, for obvious safety reasons.  the nuts on the exhaust, and the bolts holding down the clutch pressure plate are single use too.

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[Kaj Hallstrom]

I really don't think a reduction in price, because of the manual mode, is necessary. Just make sure you explain why and tell the buyer that 90% of the operation is manual in the first place.

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[94SilverCab]

Just my $0.02,

 

The first standard for any sale is that every button, switch,light, system, etc. functions fully and properly as it was manufactured. second is condition, wear, maintenance, etc.

 

Modifications? What are they, who did them, are they pleasing to you?

 

A manual roof would be a non-starter for me if I were looking at a 968 for sale.

 

Once again, just my $0.02,

 

Jay

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[Kaj Hallstrom]

Totally disagree Jay. If the history of the problems on the convertible top is explained it should not change the the price. You heard what Flash said earlier.

However if the buyer insist on it working and agree on your price I would fix it or give a small credit.

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[flash]

i would normally agree with jay as to everything being in working order being a non-starter requirement.  i generally insist on that, which is why i put my top back in power mode in preparation for sale, regardless of what i knew about it, the likelihood of failure, and the royal pain it was to do.  i understand that some buyers just want everything "working".

 

however, the tops on these cars were NEVER really in working order.  it was a crappy design from the get-go.  this is a well documented problem.   with parts no longer available, this is a modification that should be done to all of these cars.  putting it in manual mode is really no different than putting on modern tires, or a better oil with zddp, as opposed to the ones from the factory.

 

having said all of that, yes i realise that i left the top on the white car in power mode.  that was only due to the fact that the guy driving the car most of the time was 93 years old, and him snapping his back trying to operate it in manual mode was way worse than buying an entire car to replace the broken top frame.

 

to each his own, but if i bought one of these again, the top would go right into manual mode, before i even left the seller's location.

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[daly]

So it looks like it times to go manual mode on my top and the question I have is I see mentioned a couple of times that the bolts are single use. I am thinking that you only have to be concerned with sourcing more bolts if you plan on going back to power mode, correct?

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[MCL968]

I believe so, the other issue is the washer that rattles because the mechanism is "loose". I put a couple of cloth strips around mine because I really hate rattles.

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[daly]

Thanks, the noise would have driven me crazy.

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[Roboman]

Hi Troops, just checking, I have the 944S2 manuals and hence the adjustment/synchro process information for the soft top ..... is that information identical for the 968?  Thanks, 

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[Waylander]

Yes Robert it is

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[Roboman]

Thanks Waylander, the top has always worked fine so I had no inclination to go manual, but in 2022 my 968 just stayed in the garage, hence when I first got it out the roof wouldn't budge.  I decided to slacken off the retaining nuts so I could go manual but then found the motors were driving again .... but now out of synch  :whine:    Anyway, I'll get to it now I know I've got the details.  Cheers

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