Occasionally I have a problem operating the hardtop on my 328i convertible. This has happened the last 2 years in a row at the beginning of the summer driving season. Last year we got stuck in town with the top half way down and it refused to move the rest of the way. It also refused to go back up! Not a situation I want to be in again.
I suspect the problem has to do with lack of operation over the winter months and things just getting “stuck” and not wanting to move. Because once I get it to operate, it seems to be fine.
The other day I found a well written guide on how to properly lubricate and maintain the hardtop on the BMW E93’s . The author recommends doing this every 40-50 operations. I’ve never done it in the 5 1/2 years that I’ve owned the car, so it was time!
I have now lubricated every bearing, bushing, slider and moving part in the roof mechanism with white lithium grease as directed in the guide. Time will tell if this eliminates any future problems, but I’m hopeful that it will.
In the meantime, I can drive my car with renewed confidence that the roof will operate when I need it to.