Convertible Owners

MrElussive

MrElussive

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#21
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#21
I have never heard of this US law that prohibits an owner from remotely opening/closing the top via the key. The new Mercedes SL and Mercedes CLK Cabriolet both allow you to open AND close the top via the remote key, but if it makes any difference at all, both of these models are equipped with two batteries, one for the engine/car, and one specifically for the top.
 
R

RuflessPhilly

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#22
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N. Jersey
#22
MrElussive said:
I have never heard of this US law that prohibits an owner from remotely opening/closing the top via the key. The new Mercedes SL and Mercedes CLK Cabriolet both allow you to open AND close the top via the remote key, but if it makes any difference at all, both of these models are equipped with two batteries, one for the engine/car, and one specifically for the top.
Click to expand...
Insightful, Informative as always[thumb]
 
fantom

fantom

New Member
#23
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Potomac, MD
#23
As I said in a previous posting:

"As for BMW dealers here in the US, due to safety concerns, they will not activate this feature. As far as I know, it is not illeagal to has this feature on convertibles in the US (since other convertibles, such as Mercedes, do have this feature enabled on US cars) but it's more of a decision by BMW due to possible lawsuits that could, or possibly have resulted, in the past."

So it's not against the law but BMW is not taking any chances for any lawsuits related to this. Too bad for us.
 
MrElussive

MrElussive

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#24
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#24
Oh I see, I misunderstood...I thought it was actually AGAINST the law, heh. I guess there really is no "convenience" to being able to open/close your top remotely, just a really high cool factor. [:p]
 
L

LooNTooNs

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#26
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LI NY
#26
RuflessPhilly, I used the belkin auto charger which has a line out on the plug. I also got the BMW adapter for the flashlight plug in the glove box. I also replaced the little flip out sunglass holder under the climate control and changed it to the box as the previous years had. I then hooked everything up in the glove box and ran the one wire to the box, So when hooked up I not only get the output but the IPOD charges in the car as well.


Any questions drop me an email
LooNTooNs@aol.com
 
C

cordelli

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#27
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Ct
#27
The thing that concerns me about the remote to open and close is that my owners manual states:

To avoid placing unnecessary
loads on the battery, you should
avoid operating the top when the
engine is switched off.


Is they just making that up, or is it a real issue?
 
R

RuflessPhilly

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#28
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N. Jersey
#28
cordelli said:
The thing that concerns me about the remote to open and close is that my owners manual states:

To avoid placing unnecessary
loads on the battery, you should
avoid operating the top when the
engine is switched off.


Is they just making that up, or is it a real issue?
Click to expand...
I really don't think opening the top once before you start the car will drain the battery. I think they mean repeated use of the top while the car is off.
"I'm Rich Biotch" - Dave Chappelle
Click to expand...
 
W

wingedtiger

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#29
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Alexandria VA
#29
Re: Opening Covertible Top with Key

I just spoke with my dealer and he said he will not program it. If anyone knows of a dealer that will within 250 miles of Washington DC I will drive there. Thanks!

fantom said:
I ordered the Radio Key Module from Tectronics (http://www.tectronics.com/tectronics/e_index.htm) that allows me to open AND close the convertible top with the BMW key. I installed it a few months ago and it works wonderfully. The module cost me $350.00 US and took about 2 weeks to be delivered from Germany. If you're interested in this, just remember that it only works with E46 and Z4 Convertibles with automatic tops. In the US, BMW used to allow convertible owners to open the top by holding down the "open" button on the BMW key but as of 3 years ago, disabled this feature due to safety issues. The key could never be used to close the top.

Here is how the module works. To open the top, I just click the "open" button on the BMW key and keep pressing it down for an additional 5 seconds. The windows start coming down and at that time, I release the key. Once the opening process has started, there is no need to keep holding the button down. The same is true for closing the top. Just click the "close" button and when the top starts the closing process, just release the button and the top will continue to close, and all the windows will come up when the top is completely closed.

There is a jumper setting in the module that lets you set how you would like to open/close the top. Either by holding down the appropriate button the whole time the top is opening/closing or by holding down the appropriate button until the top starts opening/closing and then releasing the button. I chose the latter since it is more convenient.

It took me about 2 hours to install the module. It was necessary to remove the glove compartment and the air conditioning panel to get to the wires. The installation is a little more difficult than installing a radio in a car so if you are afraid to work with the wirings in the car, get someone else to help or install it for you. I would say for me, from a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being easy, this installation was a 3. The tricky parts were pulling out the face plate around the gear shift and dismantling the plack 54-connector.

In my opinion, I would say that this is the most important feature for convertible owners [thumb]. I'm glad I ordered this module.

One thing I noticed after the installation: if I use my key to open the top, my doors will not auto-lock after 5 mph. I think it has to do with the wires that I tapped into. No big deal for me though. I just lock it myself with the door close button. Now if I were to not use the key to open the top, such as during the winter season, then my doors will auto-lock after 5 mph.

As for BMW dealers here in the US, due to safety concerns, they will not activate this feature. As far as I know, it is not illeagal to has this feature on convertibles in the US (since other convertibles, such as Mercedes, do have this feature enabled on US cars) but it's more of a decision by BMW due to possible lawsuits that could, or possibly have resulted, in the past.
Click to expand...
 
B

BRC

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#30
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Florida
#30
For those of you that have your lights flash when locking and unlocking, do you have an alarm? I just came from the dealer and they said that it could not be done without the alarm....
 
bmwrocks

bmwrocks

1000 Post Club
#32
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Orlando, Fl
#32
BRC said:
For those of you that have your lights flash when locking and unlocking, do you have an alarm? I just came from the dealer and they said that it could not be done without the alarm....
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I don't have the alarm, and yes it can be done, many of us have it. I for one have no alarm and my lights flash just as if I had an alarm, clown nose flashes too. I have the alarm in my X5 and it's lights flash just like the 330, twice unlocking and once locking.

Don't you love it (or hate it, take your pick) when the dealer is so wrong?

Or maybe it can't be done with the convertible? That would be stupid though.....
 
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