2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE Owners Manual

Soft top system (cabrio only)
112
>> Controls. The soft top system of the smart cabrio
consists of a:
• Retractable soft top
• Rear soft top
• Side rails
You can remove the side rails over the doors
when you open the retractable soft top and
open the rear soft top.
i
Opening the rear soft top is possible after
the retractable soft top has been opened
completely (

page 115).
Notes on the soft top system!
When transporting long objects inside the
vehicle, make sure that they do not press
against the retractable soft top when it is
closed.
When carrying objects that protrude from the
rear of the vehicle, make sure that they are
not resting on the retaining clips.
When loading, make sure that no sharp objects
come into contact with the soft top or the rear
window.
Do not place any evenly distributed loads with
a weight of more than 165 lbs (75 kg) on the
rear soft top when folded down.
Make sure that the high mounted brake lamp is
not concealed.
!
Do not block the soft top system's locking
apertures.
Only place the side rails in the designated
storage space of the tailgate.
!
Do not sit on the folded
down rear soft
top.
Do not fold down the rear soft top at temper

atures below 14°F (
10°C).
Do not place any pointed, sharp
edged, hot
(above 176°F (80°C)), incandescent or burn

ing objects on the soft top's lining.
Do not apply wax to the soft top fabric and
select only wax
free washing programs when
using an automatic car wash.
Only drive with the retaining clips closed, as
exhaust fumes could otherwise reach the
vehicle’s interior.
!
Please keep in mind that weather condi

tions can sometimes change rapidly. Make
sure to close the retractable soft top and the
rear soft top when leaving the vehicle. If water
enters the vehicle interior, vehicle electron

ics could be damaged which is not covered by
the smart Limited Warranty.

Soft top system (cabrio only)
>> Controls.
113 Opening and closing the retract

able soft top
You can open and close the retractable soft
top when the vehicle is either stationary or in
motion.
!
To avoid damaging the seals, do not trans

port any objects with sharp edges which can
stick out of the retractable soft top.
Do not open the retractable soft top if there is
snow or ice on the roof, as this could result in
malfunctions.
If you cannot open or close the retractable
soft top due to a malfunction contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
Never operate the retractable soft top if
there is the possibility of anyone being
harmed by the opening or closing proce

dure.
G
Warning!
The retractable soft top is made out of
fabric. In the event of an accident, the
fabric may tear. This may result in an
opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not
wearing their seat belts or not wearing
them properly may be thrown out of the
opening. Such an opening also presents a
potential for injury for occupants wear

ing their seat belts properly as entire
body parts or portions of them may pro

trude from the passenger compartment.
G
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

Soft top system (cabrio only)
114
>> Controls. Opening from outside
You can open the retractable soft top com

pletely with the key.
1
ª
Locking button
2
»
Opening the retractable soft top
3
 Panic button
4
ª
Unlocking button
>Press button
»
on the key for approxi

mately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens completely.Opening from the inside
Retractable soft top switch
1
Closing
2
Opening
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch until the desired position is
reached or the retractable soft top is
opened completely.
or>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch briefly.
The retractable soft top opens completely.
i
Pressing symbolÖ or± on the
retractable soft top switch while opening the
retractable soft top will interrupt the opening
procedure.
Closing
For safety reasons, you can only close the
retractable soft top using the retractable soft
top switch inside the vehicle.
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
>Press symbol± on the retractable soft
top switch until the retractable soft top is
closed.
i
To avoid draining the battery, leave the
engine running when opening and closing the
retractable soft top. P80.35
2313
31
P54.25
6093
31

Soft top system (cabrio only)
>> Controls.
115 Opening and closing the rear soft
top
You can open and close the rear soft top when
the vehicle is either stationary or in motion.!
Make sure that objects are not stacked too
high in the cargo compartment. They could get
damaged when opening or closing the rear
soft top.
!
When the rear soft top is folded down, the
side rails are accessible. To prevent theft,
you should remove the side rails and store
them in the storage compartment of the tail

gate or close the soft top system.
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
Retractable soft top switch
1
Closing
2
OpeningOpening the rear soft top
>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch or button
»
on the key until the
retractable soft top has opened completely.
>Release the retractable soft top switch or
button
»
on the key.
>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch until the rear soft top has folded
down completely.
Closing the rear soft top
>Press symbol± on the retractable soft
top switch until the rear soft top has folded
up completely.
>Release the retractable soft top switch.
i
If you release the retractable soft top
switch while driving before the rear soft top
has closed completely, the rear soft top will
fold down again.
G
Warning!
Never operate the rear soft top if there
is the possibility of anyone being harmed
by the opening or closing procedure.P54.25
6093
31

Soft top system (cabrio only)
116
>> Controls.
Removing the side rails>Open the retractable soft top.
>Open the rear soft top.
>Open the driver’s and passenger door when
conditions are safe to do so.
>Open the tailgate.
1
Release lever
2
Side rail
>Push release lever
1 of side rail
2 back

ward.
Side rail
2 can be lifted at the rear end,
but remains secured.
>Push release lever
1 backward again.
1
Lifting
2
Removing
>Carry out the following steps when condi

tions are safe to do so.
>First lift the side rail at rear end
1 and
then remove it in the direction of arrows
2. P77.30
2381
31

Soft top system (cabrio only)
>> Controls.
117
1
Handle
>Pull handle
1 on the inside of the tailgate
backward.
>Lift up the storage compartment cover.
1
Front left
2
Rear left
3
Front right
4
Rear right
>Store the side rails in the storage compart

ment of the tailgate with the painted side
facing down in the designated order
1
to
4.
1
Front left
2
Rear left
3
Front right
4
Rear right
>Close the storage compartment cover.
P77.30
2384
31

Soft top system (cabrio only)
118
>> Controls. >Close the tailgate.
>Close the driver’s and passenger door.
>Open the side windows if desired.
!
Make sure that the storage compartment
cover is closed before closing the tailgate.
Otherwise the tailgate could jam.
Mounting the side rails>Open the driver’s and passenger door when
conditions are safe to do so.
>Open the tailgate.1
Handle
>Pull handle
1 on the inside of the tailgate
backward.
>Lift up the storage compartment cover.
>Remove the side rails from the storage
compartment in the tailgate.
1
Front left
2
Rear left
3
Front right
4
Rear right
>Close the storage compartment cover.
>Install the side rails in the designated
order
1 to
4.
G
Warning!
Always close the storage compartment
cover properly when storing the side
rails. Otherwise occupants could be
injured by the side rails moving about
during
•braking
•vehicle maneuvers
• an accident

Soft top system (cabrio only)
>> Controls.
119
1
Front end of the side rail
2
Seal on the side rail
3
Rear end of the side rail>Take one side rail and start by attaching it
to front end
1.
>Make sure that the seal of the side rail is
facing up at position
2 and is not pinched.
>Push the side rail at rear end
3 downwards
until it audibly engages into place twice.
>Install the side rail on the other side in the
same manner.
!
Make sure that the side rails are installed
correctly. Otherwise the side rails may not
function properly or may be damaged.
G
Warning!
Make sure that the side rails are properly
mounted. Otherwise the side rails could
disengage while driving and injure you
and other persons.P77.30
2385
31