Where is it for the 1999 bmw? I check under the seat but didn't see anything ...

Did you checked UNDER the rear seat, drivers side ???

Did you checked UNDER the rear seat, drivers side ???

both ... didnt see anything ... should it be a red cord? also once pulled you can manually drop it down and pull it up, right?

You may actually have to remove (pull off the mounts) the front edge of the driver's side rear seat... just looking won't do it...

I've got a '99 M3...it's there under the drivers side of the rear seat. Should be a metal lever with a short red or orange nylon strap at the end.

To clarify, you are going to need to pop up/lift up the rear lower seat cushion. Actually lift it UP. UNDER the seat cushion is where you will find the red cord.

all that it does is disconnect the motors. it wont pop the front of the top off the windsheild.

i think the manual says not to use the emergency release for dropping the top because there is no way to secure the storage compartment cover down.

the emergency release is for raising the top.

i think the manual says not to use the emergency release for dropping the top because there is no way to secure the storage compartment cover down.

the emergency release is for raising the top.

Yes, very good point... You're not going to get a "manually operated top" experience, where you can just raise & lower the top whenever you want, by pulling the release lever... that's not the purpose. Once you pull the release lever, you'll need to raise and lock down the top and leave it that way until you have time to fix the problems you have and can re-attach the motors.

^^

Then I wonder whyt he wants to know.

And the emergency lever is in the same spot for all e36 verts: under the left rear bench seat.

How do you re-attach the convert. motor.

both ... didnt see anything ... should it be a red cord? also once pulled you can manually drop it down and pull it up, right?

you can pull it up, not put it down.

its for emergencies. dropping the top on a nice day is not an emergency, as far as e36 engineers were concerned.

Just for the record...here you can clearly see the emergency handle: the black lever with the orange flag on the tip.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/mike325i/DSC00145-1.jpg

Do you have to re-sync the roof after you pull the lever? I bought a 1998 323.... the top was not working when I bought it... pulled the lever and opened the boot found that the rod that lifts the roof had broken the bolt off the plate that attached to the motor... I bought a new rod and plate from the dealer.... put it in today....but I am having a problem getting it to work... read that you need to lower the top all the way and push the roof button for 10 seconds with the key off inorder for the roof to sync... my question>
when you pull the red lever and disconnect the motors... should you be able to push the roof back freely all the way into the boot.... I have un-craked the front to disconnect the locks and cranked until I can lift the rear of the roof.... but the roof will still not push back... is it stuck.... maybe that is why the roof rod broke off of the plate.... don't know for sure...but thought you guys might be able to help...... big question is ...should the roof push back and how much do I have to manual crank the front before it will push back,,,????

Hey Parallel....Is that a parts car in your pic...
I could sure use that rear seatbelt cover up between the headrests....
Sell it...?

Hey Parallel....Is that a parts car in your pic...
I could sure use that rear seatbelt cover up between the headrests....
Sell it...?

I wouldn't do that to my car!

Besides...you can see in my sig and from several pics I posted I have a black interior and black trim.

Not white leather and grey trim. ;)

Never mind guys.... used a sync guide I found on another link.... now the roof works perfectly! Used it today on a record hot (for MI) 80 degree day...very nice!

Sorry I didn't see your post sooner; glad you were able to get an answer.

Never mind guys.... used a sync guide I found on another link.... now the roof works perfectly! Used it today on a record hot (for MI) 80 degree day...very nice!

Wish I had seen your post sooner. I pulled the lever to lower the top to re synch the motors (per instructions) a few days ago. I'd imagine that's the only time that calls for pulling the emergency lever to -lower- the top.

Wish I had seen your post sooner. I pulled the lever to lower the top to re synch the motors (per instructions) a few days ago. I'd imagine that's the only time that calls for pulling the emergency lever to -lower- the top.

NO!!!

It's to raise the roof!! I'd almost want to say obviously!

Why? Think about it. You're driving topless, suddenly you're in a downpoor. You want to raise the roof and for whatever reasons, the motors fail....
And of course you want to be able to park your car with the roof up.


So that's where the emergency lever come in place.

The top not being able to go down, while not preferable, it's not an emergency.

Better yet...as the motor locks the stowage compartment lid, with the motors disengaged, you can't even drive with the roof down, unless you like to do so with an unlocked stowage compartment lid.

No... I know why the emergency lever is there. But if your motors are not synched and the top doesn't work the instructions tell you to pull the emergency lever to disconnect the motors and lower the top so you can do the re-synch sequence. See link: http://www.sqbimmer.com/dump/RAInitializingEMconvertibletopafteremergencyreleas e(convertibletopunlocke.pdf

Like I said, probably the only time you would ever pull the lever to actually lower the top (since it is made for emergency raising). Did I miss something?

No... I know why the emergency lever is there. But if your motors are not synched and the top doesn't work the instructions tell you to pull the emergency lever to disconnect the motors and lower the top so you can do the re-synch sequence. See link: http://www.sqbimmer.com/dump/RAInitializingEMconvertibletopafteremergencyreleas e(convertibletopunlocke.pdf (http://www.sqbimmer.com/dump/RAInitializingEMconvertibletopafteremergencyreleas e%28convertibletopunlocke.pdf)

Like I said, probably the only time you would ever pull the lever to actually lower the top (since it is made for emergency raising). Did I miss something?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh if you put it like that...

Yes, you need to lower it to re-sync, but the emergency is for one being able to put up the roof.
As the lever disengages the motors, doing this makes it possible for the top to be closed.
Yes you can -and need- to put it down for re-syncing, but the lever is for putting the roof up.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh if you put it like that...

Yes, you need to lower it to re-sync, but the emergency is for one being able to put up the roof.
As the lever disengages the motors, doing this makes it possible for the top to be closed.
Yes you can -and need- to put it down for re-syncing, but the lever is for putting the roof up.

Okay it make sense that pulling the emergency cord is for pulling the top up (close top) but I need it to come down because my top is not working :( ... When I hit the button to start the top down (open top) it always stuck in the middle of the process and freeze and when I tried to pull it up (close top); it it won't go either WTF!!!! So i had to reset the top just by pulling it up (close top).

So with that said is it possible to pull the emergency cord to manually pull the top down? So I can install the hardtop? .... I'm getting mix feedback ... Thanks

Okay it make sense that pulling the emergency cord is for pulling the top up (close top) but I need it to come down because my top is not working :( ... When I hit the button to start the top down (open top) it always stuck in the middle of the process and freeze and when I tried to pull it up (close top); it it won't go either WTF!!!! So i had to reset the top just by pulling it up (close top).

So with that said is it possible to pull the emergency cord to manually pull the top down? So I can install the hardtop? .... I'm getting mix feedback ... Thanks

You can get the top down with the motors disengaged, but the storage lid won't lock.

I could however imagine that when you put a hardtop on top of it, which you lock into place, this will keep the lid fully closed.

Or as I suggested in another topic, after pulling the lever, maybe only re-engage the motor for the lid. So the lid will close, while the topdrive motor is still disengaged.

You can get the top down with the motors disengaged, but the storage lid won't lock.

I could however imagine that when you put a hardtop on top of it, which you lock into place, this will keep the lid fully closed.

Or as I suggested in another topic, after pulling the lever, maybe only re-engage the motor for the lid. So the lid will close, while the topdrive motor is still disengaged.

After pulling the lever I thought all motor will disengaged; How do you re-engage just the lid motor after pulling the lever? Sorry, I'm slow ...

You read the instructions and do what is says :)