Apologies for any repeats...

Soft top issues:
Proper care of the soft top
Rewaterproofing the soft top - how to, best products, is it worthwhile
When to replace the soft top, is it a DIY or not, and how to
"Help my top bangs into the tonneau lid" - Tension band adjustment
How to tighten the tension bands
What bad things can happen over time if you don't keep your tension bands tight
For automatic tops - how to get at the emergency crank (in the front)
For automatic tops - how to disengage the motors with the switch in the back seat, and how to re-engage later
Hard top issues:
Buying a top - where do I get one, how much is reasonable, can I get from my dealer
Installing a top - what do I need, what about the install kit, how do I actually INSTALL the install kit
Putting it on/taking it off
Storage - should I use the cool garage hangers or the rack, tips for storing
Where to get the cool little covers that hide the red handles from the top
Painting the top (given that you can only buy used, it's likely)
Care of the rubber edges on the top
Windscreen:
Why it's uber-cool and everyone should get one
Window issues:
Why the driver/passenger window pops down when the door opens
What to do when the driver/passenger window DOESN'T pop down
How to check the seal between the front/rear windows
Care of that same seal
Rear Window Cleaning - how to reduce scratches, what products to use
Rear Window Care - tips like the towel/rag trick
Replacement of the folding window - where do I get one, what about eBay, what about the Mazda guy, is it a DIY or not

Suspension issues:
What aftermarket suspensions work best for 'verts (not all are designed for 'verts)
RSM replacement within the Tonneau area
Brake issues:
Why does the 'vert come with slotted brakes stock?
What should I consider when changing the rotors for my 'vert BECAUSE the stock is different?

Leaks:
Leaks on the top
Leaks in the Tonneau area
Keeping the drains clear in the Tonneau - else you get water all over your trunk
Electronics:
With limited trunk space, clever solutions are needed
Interior care:
Proper care of the interior given exposure to the elements

And those are just off the top of my head!!!

Oh - I also forgot:

Trunk/Tonneau problems:
Fun with microswitches and other issues because these two covers interact - how to deal with this and help in this area

I'm not sure if this is 100% vert-specific:

Battery:
Why it's a BAD idea to buy a non-OEM battery for your 'vert.
How to check the battery vent/tube in your trunk.

The ones I'm afraid of are the ones I couldn't get into too much detail about - the gory details of the suspension and brake systems. Those are subsystems that I wonder about...

In addition to the lists above....

Rollover Protection:
How do I get the pop-ups to go down after they have popped up.
Can the pop-ups be set off before I go to the track.
How to tell if you have the rollover protection option.
Can the rollover protection be installed if it did not come from the factory with it.

Suspension:
Are the spring rates different for convertibles.
What are the stock spring rates.
What are good aftermarket spring rates for a convertible.
How to access the screw on adjustable rear shocks.
Will a strut brace make more of a difference on a convertible than a hardtop.

Soft Top:
Can the plastic rear window be tinted.
Where to buy a pre-tinted plastic window.
How to fix the sagging roof liner near the rear window.
How to adjust the alignment of the top and tonneau.

Windows:
The "all windows" button has auto-down, is it supposed to have auto-up.

thank you guys for getting, if not our own forum, at least a sticky for us convertible/vert/cabriolet/cabrio/ragtop owners!. Well done and long overdue!http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/icons/icon14.gif http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/icons/icon14.gif

As a guide I can provide the 1 meg file on the e36 vert. I am not sure how to do this except to just post it. Ideas anyone? It has a lot of good information on the top....

Rear Window Cleaning - how to reduce scratches, what products to use:

Meguire's Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner #10 and #17. Used a random buffer and hand with a microfiber cloth. Definite improvement.

Windows:
The "all windows" button has auto-down, is it supposed to have auto-up.

Yes, You are supposed to have an Auto-Up as well as Auto-Down window feature.
To reset the Auto Up feature (such as after you have disconnected the Battery) Close the doors, then raise the window by holding the switch ALL THE WAY DOWN until the window reaches the top, the CONTINUE to hold the button down for 7 seconds. Your windows are now re-set, and the Auto-Up feature should work again.

In addition to the lists above....

Rollover Soft Top:
Can the plastic rear window be tinted.
Where to buy a pre-tinted plastic window.


I was wondering this same question...I've seen sights that sold pre-tinted tops (I think 20%)...But I wondered if there was a way to tint the plastic on an E36 soft-top?

I've seen jeeps with tinted tops, etc...BUt not sure @bout a top that reclined/got stored/aged...etc...N e 1 done this personally/know of the procedure to do it...IF u have had it done can u post pics & the age of ur top with the tint...Also if u have a top prebought tinted...can you submit ur opinion of it. TIA!

Yes, You are supposed to have an Auto-Up as well as Auto-Down window feature.
To reset the Auto Up feature (such as after you have disconnected the Battery) Close the doors, then raise the window by holding the switch ALL THE WAY DOWN until the window reaches the top, the CONTINUE to hold the button down for 7 seconds. Your windows are now re-set, and the Auto-Up feature should work again.

No! (at least not on my German-spec car.

Front windows: auto-up/down
Rear windows: auto-down only
Central windowswitch: auto-down only.

(I check the color of the switches and the wiring and they all match).

In addition to the lists above....

Rollover Protection:
1. How do I get the pop-ups to go down after they have popped up.
2. Can the pop-ups be set off before I go to the track.
3. How to tell if you have the rollover protection option.
4. Can the rollover protection be installed if it did not come from the factory with it.
....

1. Your toolbox should have a special tool for this. (see owner's manual)
2. No! (unless you bin the car before you go racing ;) )
3. see my topic:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=650669

4. Sad, but NO, again see:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=650669

No! (at least not on my German-spec car.

Front windows: auto-up/down
Rear windows: auto-down only
Central windowswitch: auto-down only.

(I check the color of the switches and the wiring and they all match).

I have auto up/down for all 4 windows. US-Spec 1998 w/ rollover protection.

I have auto up/down for all 4 windows. US-Spec 1998 w/ rollover protection.

Could very well be a country specific issue.

What you can do it take out the switches (you can just pop em out of the centre console) and check what color your central switch and plug is.

(the bottem of the switches have a color).

hey... i have auto up and down for all the windows, also with the central button. i think it is because the folding top is fully automatic.
my car is a 328i cabrio 8/97 black with hardtop

hey... i have auto up and down for all the windows, also with the central button. i think it is because the folding top is fully automatic.
my car is a 328i cabrio 8/97 black with hardtop

My top is also fully-auto.

I have a 99 M3 auto vert w/rollover protection and have auto down function for all windows including the central control, but only have auto up for the front driver and passenger windows. Weird.

I have a 99 M3 auto vert w/rollover protection and have auto down function for all windows including the central control, but only have auto up for the front driver and passenger windows. Weird.

Ah yes, so it's just as on mine.

Guess it's a Comos Black color-spec ;)

Oh - I also forgot:

Trunk/Tonneau problems:
Fun with microswitches and other issues because these two covers interact - how to deal with this and help in this area

Would love to know more about this

Would love to know more about this

http://bmwpages.co.uk/archive/e36_convertible_adjust.pdf

http://bmwpages.co.uk/archive/e36_convertible_adjust.pdf

Thanks for the link, it has way more info than the Bently, and certainly more helpful.

I am still wondering how to go about troubleshooting the microswitches though, now that I know where they are and what each one does. Can they just be reset? I dont want to just start replacing them without knowing of they are bad or not.

Looks like S5 is the place to start. I have no responce from the button at all, no top movement, no window movement, no led, nothing. All the fuses have been checked and replaced, even the one in the trunk.

Thanks for the link, it has way more info than the Bently, and certainly more helpful.

I am still wondering how to go about troubleshooting the microswitches though, now that I know where they are and what each one does. Can they just be reset? I dont want to just start replacing them without knowing of they are bad or not.

Looks like S5 is the place to start. I have no responce from the button at all, no top movement, no window movement, no led, nothing. All the fuses have been checked and replaced, even the one in the trunk.

If nothing does anything, maybe the roof module is broken?

Mine is a 96 328i and I only have auto-down as well. My top is a two stage though. Half manual/Half auto. What was the first year that they made all-auto tops?

Mine is a 96 328i and I only have auto-down as well. My top is a two stage though. Half manual/Half auto. What was the first year that they made all-auto tops?

It country specific. I know that in the UK it was for 1997, but over here (Netherlands) we had car from as old/young as 1995 that have fully auto roofs.

Does anyone have the instructions on the installation of the retrofit kit for the hardtop. I bought the HT this morning and just ordered the install kit but I understand that there are no instructions included. I would appreciate some help with this.

Thanks
Jeff

No worries I got them from the dealer. They are supposed to print the instructions from the ASAP system and give them to the customer. The part number for the E36 install kit is 54218163061. The dealer just needs to input that number and the instructions will appear on their monitors.