can you make a convertible top fully automatic?

The expense involved is not worth it, especially on a 318. Besides, some of us WISH we had manual tops. At least those things work and don't cause very expensive repairs.

Read this subforum on the headaches involved with automatic tops. It's 1:26am and I am about to go outside and try to finish fixing my automatic top (driving during the day with storage cover off (that's how you do it safely if the top doesn't work), fixing her at night...it took me a week of trial and error to find the right tool to unstick my storage cover motor (Sears to the rescue, as always - Craftsman Adjusting Brake Tool - Sears item #00945496000 Mfr. model #45496, which makes for a very suitable crowbar if the motor refuses to disengage after you pulled the emergency lever)) or else I have to drive to Vegas as a passenger with a friend in whatever he drives rather than in my black beauty. Unfortunately, Vegas has thunderstorms most of the weekend in the forecast, so my top must work or else.

In summary, there is far too much electronics involved and the expense is absolutely not worth it.

so much for that idea thanks for the info

my car is a 97 with 142k miles and the first year of the fully-automatic top in the states.

i have not had a single problem with it as far as operating goes.

but yeah...

How To Have A Powered Top On Your E36 Vert:
1. Buy one that came that way.

If u have a manual top well lucky u. Ive seen that all fully automatic and semi auto matic tops have there bigggggggg head aches, trust me ive had a few.like palomino said just buy 1 already automatic.