1999 BMW Z3 CONVERTIBLE lock

Convertible Tops - 13
TENSION BAR RAISED
At the same time the windows are lowering, the top drive motor is switched on and the ten-
sion bar is raised to a vertical position. The drive lever of the top linkage rotates counter
clockwise to push the tension bar to a raised position.
The control module recognizes the raising of the tension bar by the closed contacts of
micro switch S1 in the motor assembly.
When the tension bar has raised to the full vertical position micro switch S2 closes and the
motor is switched off.
STORAGE COVER OPENED
The top storage cover motor is switched on and turns counter-clockwise. This action
releases the locks of the cover via the bowden cables. The locks are forced out of the
clamps by spring pressure.
The drive linkage continues to push the cover to a raised position. A hall sensor integrat-
ed in the cover motor provides status of the storage lid movement and position to the CVM.
The motor is switched off when it reaches the end of its predetermined travel.
S6 also closes the moment the storage cover is released from its locked position. The sig-
nal is provided the GM to prevent the trunk from opening.

TOP ASSEMBLY LOWERED
The top motor turns clockwise immediately opening S1 & S2. It pulls the top into the stor-
age compartment. The tension bar drive linkage is mechanically released from the top drive
as the motor continues to run. Once the top is completely lowered microswitch S3 closes
signalling the control module to switch the motor off.
STORAGE COVER CLOSED
The storage cover motor is switched on and the drive linkage pulls the cover down. As the
locking clamps grab onto the cover locks, the linkage engages the bowden cables and the
cover is locked closed.
The CVM monitors the storage lid position via the hall effect sensor signal. When the fully
closed position is detected, the top cover motor is switched off.
WINDOW RAISING
If the top switch is held down after the top storage cover is closed, the windows will auto-
matically close. The EM top module signals the ZKE to closed the windows. Once the top
switch is released the window operation is terminated.
Convertible Tops - 14

 






 
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Convertible Tops - 16
RAISING THE TOP
The procedure for raising the top follows the same pattern as lowering.
Press and hold the top switch.
•The windows are automatically lowered.
•The top storage cover opens
•The top is raised out of the storage compartment
•The top storage cover is closed and locked.
•The tension bar is lowered. Micro-switch S1 signals the lowered position of the ten-
sion bar.
FULLY AUTOMATIC TOP- The top lock motor is activated, S8 opens. The motor is
switched off the moment S7 closes. The top is fully raised and locked to the windshield.
SEMI AUTOMATIC TOP - Pull the top over the tension point and lock it to the wind-
shield frame.
The automatic closing of the windows on raising the top is not functional due to lack of
anti trap feature during this function.

Convertible Tops - 17
EM TOP EMERGENCY OPERATION
In the event of electrical failure, the top can be raised manually. The procedure is as fol-
lows:
 Pull the release lever located under the left rear
seat cushion as shown.
 Both motors are disconnected from the gear
drives.
 The top storage cover is unlocked.
NOTE:The top can not be lowered again until electrical power is restored to the system.
This is due to the fact that the top storage cover can not be locked until power is restored.

RE-CONNECTING DRIVE MOTORS
Due to the interlock of the trunk lid an unlocked top storage cover, the following procedure
must be followed to reconnect the top drive motors, to restore electrical operation:
•Lower all the side windows with the central switch
•Unlock the top from the windshield frame, raise it over the tension point and open the
storage cover.
•Lower the top into the storage compartment and close the storage cover.
•Disconnect fuse #7 in the front power distribution box (this will override the forced lock-
ing of the trunk).
•Open the trunk lid and remove the trim cover from the left side of the trunk.
•Reconnect the motors with the gear drives. The actuating rods can be moved slightly
to allow the gear teeth to engage.
•Close trunk lid and reinstall fuse #7.
•The EM top system must now be initialized to restore normal operation.
Convertible Tops - 18

Convertible Tops - 19
EM TOP INITIALIZATION
Initialization of the system is required for the CVM to learn the end limits of the top storage
cover. The CVM counts the pulses from the integrated hall sensor in the cover motor to
determine the cover position.
An initialization run occurs automatically after every eighth operation of the top. This
ensures that the hall sensor counting circuit is not adversely affected by any backlash or
elasticity of the top cover drive mechanism.
The hall sensor counter reading is
stored in a NV RAM, however it is
possible for this data to be incor-
rect or out of sync for the following
conditions:
 Power supply interrupted while
top is in operation
 Electrical failures that require
manual closing of the top.
Follow the procedures on this page
or refer to Group 54 in the Repair
Manual of TIS.
INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE
1. The top must be placed in the storage compartment
 Motors engaged with the drives.
 Top storage cover closed
2. Ignition key switched OFF.
3. Press and hold the top switch in the lowering direction.
4. Switch the ignition on (KL R).
5. After approximately 10 seconds the top storage cover will start to close and lock.
6. At this point release the the top switch. The initialization procedure will continue run-
ning. The procedure is complete approximately 0.5 seconds after the top storage cover
is closed and locked.
NOTE: The initialization procedure can be interrupted by switching the ignition off.

Convertible Tops - 23
E36 CONVERTIBLE TOP ADJUSTMENTS
NOTE: All mechanical adjustments are critical for synchronous top operation.
The following adjustments are possible on E36 convertibles. The Repair Manual section of
TIS provides system component R&R and adjustment procedures.
The following Repair Manual
screens are from Groups 51 & 54.
The individual listings provide all of
the pertinent procedures for effec-
tively repairing a defect and adjust-
ing the components to effectively
maintain the precision operation of
the top mechanisms.
Example:Adjusting left or right
soft top compartment cover lock.
Group 5125.. additionally includes
the following E36 convertible top
specific procedures:
•Configuration of convertible top
cover
•Replace actuating lever
•R&R Bowden Cables
•R&R Top Cover Lock
•R&R Gas Struts for Top Cover

Convertible Tops - 24
Group 54 25.. includes the fol-
lowing:
•Adjusting both top lid locks.
•Adjusting electric motor for
convertible top lid.
•Adjusting both bowden cables
for convertible top lid locks.
Group 54 25.. additionally
includes the following E36 con-
vertible top specific procedures:
•R&R electrical convertible top
lid drive unit
•R&R both convertible top
locks.
•R&R both bowden cables for
convertible top lid locks.