"Retractable top not locked" -- a simple solution?

tgb1974 · 06-03-2023, 06:45 PM

F83 owners: I wanted to tell you about a problem I had with my convertible top and how I fixed it. Briefly:

I have a 2016 F83 with the Smarttop module installed. It has worked flawlessly. Today, however, I raised and later lowered the top using the key fob (an awesome feature Smarttop enables). The top functioned like it usually does with no problems. I stopped someplace to run and errand, and turned the car off. I left the top down. I returned to the car and started it without operating the top or opening the trunk lid. Out of nowhere, a check control message popped up telling me that "retractable top not locked." I inspected it, opened the trunk lid and confirmed that, in fact, was locked. The crazy part was that the top would not operate at all in this state--it was completely non-responsive. I tried many different things but nothing fixed it. On the advice of my (awesome) service advisor, I put the car in sleep mode by simply locking it and leaving it alone. After about 40 minutes, I tried again and the top was once again operating normally, and the check control message was gone.

Go figure.

My service advisor suggested that, like any computer, the car's computer sometimes just needs to be restarted (which sleep mode accomplishes), and it was as simple as that.

Does that sound right, or does anyone have a different theory? I thought that maybe the Smarttop module overheated, but it wasn't *that* hot here today. Thanks in advance for your input.

N44RP · 07-09-2023, 09:38 PM

I actually had a very similar experience.
Smart top module in place and I think mashed the key fob in my pocket which attempted to open the top while simultaneously popping the trunk.

I came back to a car with the same warning. I knew something was especially funky because the trunk always electronically seals when you close it and that had stopped working too.

I just left the car alone and came back to everything being fine again. I subsequently sold the smart top because it caused me more grief than convenience.

06-03-2023, 06:45 PM	#1
tgb1974 Lieutenant 142 Rep 416 Posts Drives: 2016 F83 M4 (DCT) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicagoland, IL iTrader: (0)	"Retractable top not locked" -- a simple solution? F83 owners: I wanted to tell you about a problem I had with my convertible top and how I fixed it. Briefly: I have a 2016 F83 with the Smarttop module installed. It has worked flawlessly. Today, however, I raised and later lowered the top using the key fob (an awesome feature Smarttop enables). The top functioned like it usually does with no problems. I stopped someplace to run and errand, and turned the car off. I left the top down. I returned to the car and started it without operating the top or opening the trunk lid. Out of nowhere, a check control message popped up telling me that "retractable top not locked." I inspected it, opened the trunk lid and confirmed that, in fact, was locked. The crazy part was that the top would not operate at all in this state--it was completely non-responsive. I tried many different things but nothing fixed it. On the advice of my (awesome) service advisor, I put the car in sleep mode by simply locking it and leaving it alone. After about 40 minutes, I tried again and the top was once again operating normally, and the check control message was gone. Go figure. My service advisor suggested that, like any computer, the car's computer sometimes just needs to be restarted (which sleep mode accomplishes), and it was as simple as that. Does that sound right, or does anyone have a different theory? I thought that maybe the Smarttop module overheated, but it wasn't that hot here today. Thanks in advance for your input. __________________ 2016 BMW F83 ///M4 Tanzanite Blue Metallic/Silverstone Full Merino // NBTevo ID 6 retrofit // G3x/F90 10.25" MGU display retrofit // GTS flash // SmartTOP // 437M + Pilot Alpin PA4 (winter) // 359M + ContiSportContact 5P (summer) Retired: 2013 E93 M3 \| 2015 F22 M235i xDrive \| 2012 E70 X5 xDrive 35d \| 2010 E90 328i xDrive
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-09-2023, 09:38 PM	#2
N44RP Second Lieutenant 70 Rep 299 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: East iTrader: (0)	I actually had a very similar experience. Smart top module in place and I think mashed the key fob in my pocket which attempted to open the top while simultaneously popping the trunk. I came back to a car with the same warning. I knew something was especially funky because the trunk always electronically seals when you close it and that had stopped working too. I just left the car alone and came back to everything being fine again. I subsequently sold the smart top because it caused me more grief than convenience.
	Appreciate 1 tgb1974142.00 Quote