The E46 Convertible top closing mechanism (325 and 330 CI) is ultra-expensive to have repaired at the dealer. Some have paid $600 to $1000 to fix this issue. Many owners will share this same common failure eventually. Mine is a 2005 325 CIC.
I put the top up and down every day, several time per day. Over time, the moving parts wear out. Then one day,the top would only go half way down. I had to close it manually before I could drive home after work.
This DIY addresses the common issue where the control wires in the wiring loom that runs along the driver’s side headliner eventually bend until they break. This can result in a convertible top that operates only half way and then stops with red lights blinking next to the switches.
Cause: The control unit (CVM) triggers a fault when a broken wire is read as an open circuit or a faulty position sensor. And then everything stops.
For more details on this issue visit: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=854059
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I had the same exact symptoms as your car except that my broken wire was in a different location toward the rear of the car… there's another place where the wire loom constantly bends and my green wire was broken there.
Hi Hope ur ok
can you help me please? My E46 2002. The roof only goes half way. I don't know much about cars. 1] the symtom is basically roof stops just like yours but a bit before actually, then inside the red LED just blinks. I have to shut off engine and reset to get car back to normal. THE ROOF LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OUT AFTER IGNITION START AND I HEAR A TICK TICK SOME KIND OF CHECK I GUESS 2] How do I do this repair? I mean should you disconnect battery? 3] do I need to remove fuses as well? 4] also I see you put up some kind of props to hold up front of roof what have you used? Do you do same for back? 4] How can I be sure it is this, I don't have money to buy computer lead to check what fault it is could there be leak in the fluid in the trunk?
Please would be greatful for reply as you clealy know what you are doing.
Cheers mate
Thanks a ton for the video!
Awesome!! Thanks David for the helpful video.
That was amazing advice mate you took me to my problem and sure as hell the exact wire as yours was broken and I'v fixed the problem two thumbs up on your advice mate top marks
Excellent – exactly the same as on my 2001 330Ci: brown wire broken at the first bend.
Thanks to the video, I was able to fix it in less than an hour – great tip to melt the loom with a soldering iron, kept the area nice and clean.
Now I don't have to look stupid driving around in sunny 75 degree weather with the top up 🙂
So far I have had no issues with my own E46 M3 roof but when the time comes, I will definitely be using this method to renew the weak points of the wiring loom along the roof frame. Well explained, with excellent visuals to match. Thanks for sharing David!
What a star will be checking mine out tomorrow
Hey David mine it e36 m3 , it open just motor top release from windshield frame that all . nothing move at convertible cover. Do you have any idea what happening ? thank you
Great video!
Thanks for sharing David. Very helpful.
Great video, David — you saved me. Thank you!
Sir you are awesome! Earlier my car used to exactly the same. But from few months I noticed there's no more power to lift the front latch even. But yeah let me check those wires first thanks alot and regards