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      01-13-2012, 08:35 PM   #1
CeEl
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2012 Z4 can open/close roof while driving from March 2012 on

Anybody know if this is going to be available for the US market?

BMW Z4: retractable hard top can now be opened and closed at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
It is well known that the BMW Z4 can be swiftly transformed from coupé to and open-top roadster, since opening the dual-section hard top is fully automatic and takes just 22 seconds. And closing the roof is even faster, taking just 19 seconds. As of spring 2012, the comfort and functionality of the roof kinematics are improved a stage further. A reinforced hydraulic system means that the driver can now open or close the hard top while travelling at speeds of up to 40 km/h, enabling an even more flexible response to the vagaries of the weather.
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      01-13-2012, 08:55 PM   #2
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If this is true, I hope they put the button in a more convenient place. I wouldn't want to drive while leaning forward to press the roof opening button in front of the stick shift for 22 seconds.
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      01-14-2012, 08:47 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
If this is true, I hope they put the button in a more convenient place. I wouldn't want to drive while leaning forward to press the roof opening button in front of the stick shift for 22 seconds.
Which is exactly why the new feature will be virtually useless.

...and how difficult is it to decide whether you want the top up or down BEFORE you take off in the car?
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      01-14-2012, 09:03 AM   #4
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The only situation this is a benefit is in traffic. Going slow and no good way to pull off and raise the top if raining. Any other time, just pull over for 30 seconds. I've done that.
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      01-14-2012, 10:45 AM   #5
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it will be great in traffic when the sun is to hot or bad weather is coming that kind of situation happens quite often, so i think its a +
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      01-14-2012, 11:13 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by az34 View Post
it will be great in traffic when the sun is to hot or bad weather is coming that kind of situation happens quite often, so i think its a +
+1

Getting off the highway where the wind cools you and into the stop and go traffic due to red lights, it would be quite useful if the red phase lasts less than 19 seconds ... you know, so you don't hold up all the traffic while showing off your automatic roof
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      01-14-2012, 11:45 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CeEl View Post
+1

Getting off the highway where the wind cools you and into the stop and go traffic due to red lights, it would be quite useful if the red phase lasts less than 19 seconds ... you know, so you don't hold up all the traffic while showing off your automatic roof
This situation occured for me about 2 times in the past 2.5 years. I doubt the situiation will come up enough for anyone to truly justify the additional cost to add this feature that BMW will pass along to buyers. Plus it's not safe to be driving up to 40 mph while a chunk of metal is obstructing your rearview mirror view. Even if I had the feature I don't know that I'd ever use it.

Last edited by 35iDriver; 01-14-2012 at 12:04 PM..
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      01-14-2012, 11:58 AM   #8
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This feature actually already exists in our pre-2012 z4s, it is just not enabled.

prochip.de has an OBDII solution which will enable this function. Or by installing the smartTOP module you can enable this option, plus one-touch open/close. This is just one of the option you get with this module, the open/close with the standard remote was the main reason I installed it.

I use the close-while-moving every time I pull into the garage, so the roof is closed when I get out of the car. I have also used it a few times on the road when the light changed sooner than I expected, but only at very slow speed.
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      01-14-2012, 12:16 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 35iDriver View Post
Plus it's not safe to be driving up to 40 mph while a chunk of metal is obstructing your rearview mirror view.
It is 40 km/h, so 25 mph and you have the side mirrors, so it can be quite safe. That said, I never start the operation while driving, but it is nice that it completes without stalling if you start moving.
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      01-14-2012, 11:39 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjarne View Post
It is 40 km/h, so 25 mph and you have the side mirrors, so it can be quite safe. That said, I never start the operation while driving, but it is nice that it completes without stalling if you start moving.
Whether it's safe or not is a matter of opinion. With 90% sunshine here in AZ, I drive with the top down 90%+ of the time, so it would not be a feature I'd want to pay extra for. To each their own, I guess.
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      01-15-2012, 12:51 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjarne View Post
This feature actually already exists in our pre-2012 z4s, it is just not enabled.

prochip.de has an OBDII solution which will enable this function. Or by installing the smartTOP module you can enable this option, plus one-touch open/close.
Not quite the same thing though as BMW claims to have reinforced the hydraulic system too, so it's not just a software update. It'll be interesting to see if they've also added the one-touch feature. Probably not, because they need to protect themselves against that one moron who would inevitably decapitate himself.
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      01-15-2012, 01:50 AM   #12
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Good news.. seen it and operated it on other cars, very convenient.
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      01-15-2012, 09:35 AM   #13
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SmartTop is the way to go. I installed it and wow... does it make a difference. Single touch to make it go up or down, and that includes all of the windows. Plus, if you are walking away from your car or walking to it, all you have to do is unlock the car, pressing the button for 4 seconds... and let go.. and presto... the car does the transformer thing as you are walking to it...
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      01-18-2012, 09:37 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FalconFlyer View Post
SmartTop is the way to go. I installed it and wow... does it make a difference. Single touch to make it go up or down, and that includes all of the windows. Plus, if you are walking away from your car or walking to it, all you have to do is unlock the car, pressing the button for 4 seconds... and let go.. and presto... the car does the transformer thing as you are walking to it...
Can't you program your key to do that (opening roof by holding on unlock button) without installing SmartTop?
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      01-18-2012, 09:09 PM   #15
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Well yes and no ABRis... the factory option will allow you to do it... but you have to hold the key the entire time.. and you can't open a door or do anything else. I have yet to have it work. The SmartTop will allow you to press the key for only 4 seconds.. and let it go (both opening and closing)... and if my memory serves me correct... the factory option will only let you open it. In addition the SmartTop will allow you to open and close it with only a single push of your button on in inside.. so you don't have to keep your finger on it. Also you can program it to open and close all the windows after either opening or closing the top.

Hope that helps
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      01-18-2012, 09:40 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FalconFlyer View Post
Well yes and no ABRis... the factory option will allow you to do it... but you have to hold the key the entire time.. and you can't open a door or do anything else. I have yet to have it work. The SmartTop will allow you to press the key for only 4 seconds.. and let it go (both opening and closing)... and if my memory serves me correct... the factory option will only let you open it. In addition the SmartTop will allow you to open and close it with only a single push of your button on in inside.. so you don't have to keep your finger on it. Also you can program it to open and close all the windows after either opening or closing the top.

Hope that helps

Actually,the factory option allows you to close the roof as well as open it.
And then, if you have CA, you can do the Convenient Access option with the factory key fob.
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      01-18-2012, 10:51 PM   #17
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I have the unlocked factory version (prodrive) and CA on my 2010 e89.

Yes you have to hold the button down, but it:
1. opens while you are driving up to 40kph
2. closes while driving up to 40 kph
3. opens by fob when standing within 3 metres of the door
4. Closes by fob when standing within 3 metres of door
5. Stops and alarms if you open a door - but restarts if you release and press the button again.

There is also a tilt sensor that will stop the roof opening and closing while driving, say if you corner sharply while driving at say 20kph and in the middle of opening the roof. (I did it once by going to fast in my car park)

I really only use it as I crawl in and out of my car parking garage, or if I am just slowing down or slowly starting off from lights (and then only if it has started to rain on me).
So I use it just about every day I go to work really - unless I know it is raining outside.
Holding down the button is a small price to pay.
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      01-19-2012, 01:52 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2 View Post
I have the unlocked factory version (prodrive) and CA on my 2010 e89.
.
Thanks Dr. Stig 2.

How did you get the "unlocked" version? was it luck? or did u unlock it when you took delivery?

I am waiting to receive my '12 35is and would like to have that option without having to install SmarTop or other software to avoid any warranty issues.

Can I do that?
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      01-19-2012, 03:39 AM   #19
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You buy the module from Prodrive - stick it in the data port in the footwell, and press a button. 5 seconds later, its unlocked.
The module costs a few hundred. There was a group buy a bit over a year ago...
No wires. No cutting or removing parts. And its reversable at any time.
They threw in the mirror folding on door lock as well for free in the group buy.
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      01-19-2012, 12:00 PM   #20
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I would go with the smart top... there is no cutting.. took about 10 minutes to install... all you do is disconnect a wire harness in the trunk, plug it into their module, then plug their module back into the place where you disconnected their harness. Everything is controlled via the turn signal stock on the steering wheel. If you are taking it into the dealer, take two seconds to disable to model... my BMW dealer know I have it installed (because I told them), they told me they cannot see anything on their computers.

On a side not, one of the benefits of SmartTop that I found is how much you can customize everything... don't like the windows to go up when you put the top up.. no problem..... want the mirror to be folded and unfolded when you lock and unlock the car.. no problem... it is kinda fun
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      01-19-2012, 03:56 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FalconFlyer View Post
I would go with the smart top... there is no cutting.. took about 10 minutes to install... all you do is disconnect a wire harness in the trunk, plug it into their module, then plug their module back into the place where you disconnected their harness.
That sounds like a huge improvement over the version we compared 18 months ago.
The old one had to be spliced into the wiring harness.
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      01-19-2012, 04:02 PM   #22
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Yep... it was all plug and play... really nice piece of equipment...
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