Just picked up this 1997 328i Convertible with 124,000 miles. This car was babied by the previous owner, who I know. Everything worked when I drove her home from NC to VA about a month ago, but this afternoon when I went to put the top down, the soft top unlatches and starts retracting. The rear portion pulls up but that's where it stops. The lid fails to open. No sounds. No indication the motor is spinning. My thoughts from looking at the e36 Convertible Manual (Bentley?) is either the Hall monitor or the microswitch that's supposed to lock the the trunk. Any thoughts? Jeff
Once you get the top to the part where it stops moving. Push up on the back of the top where the rear window is while someone presses the switch to move the top. If the trunk opens then the issue could be with the famous e36 straps causing the micro switch to not engage and allow the top storage lid to open.
