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      06-18-2012, 09:58 PM   #1
timwhayden
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Major SmarTop malfunction resulting in expensive trip to dealer:

I installed the SmarTop about 9 months ago and did fine until the roof got stuck in the trunk and would not come up. I had to take it to the dealer and pay $250 dollars to get the top back up so I could then uninstall the SmarTop. It still would not work and I then had to pay $1200 to get a shorted out trunk release latch replaced and now it works fine. This of course was not covered by warranty since it was POSSIBLY related to the SmarTop. I really loved all the advantages provided by it but am afraid to get another now. I had hoped this was an isolated event with this product but it looks like someone else just posted with possibly a related problem. Just be aware of the possible risks with this product. And I so liked it...
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      06-19-2012, 12:41 AM   #2
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Did u call SmartTop for help? They should have answers for the problems.
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      06-19-2012, 04:58 AM   #3
lrc454
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Tim,

If I understand correctly, the shorted out trunk release latch was the root cause but the dealer wouldn't cover under warranty due to the SmartTop mod?

I can't blame you for not wanting to reinstall the module though.

It doesn't really sound like the module was the cause? Are you thinking the module had something to do with it?
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      06-19-2012, 08:14 AM   #4
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Its enough to make me leave it alone now... they're nice features but not at the risk of expensive repairs, related or not...
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      06-19-2012, 10:43 AM   #5
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I'm was also on an EOS forum (sold my EOS a month ago) and there have been similar discussions. Three different people had their smarttops put the top down for no reason in the middle of the night. One fella had his car parked outside, smarttop lowered the top and it was in the middle of a huge rainstorm. His car was ruined. I've been thinking of getting one for my Z4 but am starting to get a bit gun-shy.
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      06-19-2012, 11:17 AM   #6
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I was thinking about it but now will leave well alone.....good job we have these forums, sorry for the software company though.....but potentially saved us all money
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      06-19-2012, 07:02 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nickm9 View Post
I was thinking about it but now will leave well alone.....good job we have these forums, sorry for the software company though.....but potentially saved us all money
Same here. I almost pulled the trigger but decided to wait. Now after seeing these posts I will suffer without the "Smart-top".
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      06-19-2012, 07:12 PM   #8
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Just curious but how did it get stuck in the position? Were you closing or opening the roof and it stopped working?

Or is it like E36ic4Me where it would just open up the top on it's own and then got stuck?
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      06-19-2012, 07:46 PM   #9
timwhayden
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Of course they said the SmarTop caused the shorted trunk release and I'm not sure they're wrong because when everything crashed I could not turn off the SmarTop with the blinker stalk which you are supposed to do when you take it to the dealer so his computer won't pick up you have installed it. In fact it would not respond at all leading me to believe that it had crashed possibly taking the trunk release with it. I was afraid it may have shorted out the top control module that it is plugged into but that fortunately was not the case.
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      06-20-2012, 02:12 AM   #10
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wow very strange

I've had the ST on both my Z4s and E93s for the past couple of years and never experienced something like this

Scary....


So how did it get stuck? I mean, were you operating it and it just stopped working or...?
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      06-20-2012, 04:55 AM   #11
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I have had my smartTOP installed for a few months now and absolutely love it with no issues. I have taken it off and reinstalled it a few times before taking it in for service and it was clean each time. I also am curious if these issues people have seen are with the plug-n-play version or the one that you have to wire together. I have the newer plug-n-play type.
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      06-20-2012, 03:35 PM   #12
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I'm hoping to read more about people having had these units installed in their Z4s and other cars for years without issues, because I really like the unit and don't want to uninstall it.
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      06-20-2012, 03:53 PM   #13
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I have had ZERO issues with Smart Top. I too feel the Smart Top probably had nothing to do with the problem, but the dealer/BMWNA saw it and used it as an excuse not to warrant the issue. BMW is famous for this crap and I do not want to get started as I have had two major issues with them on similar but more significant problems.

However, this is the bottom line, any time you modify your car from stock you run this risk.
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      06-20-2012, 05:48 PM   #14
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However, this is the bottom line, any time you modify your car from stock you run this risk.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. And you can't blame BMW for not covering an add on by the owner.
If I ever install something that could potentially cause a malfunction, I wouldn't even think for a second that BMW should repair it for free. That is the chance that we take.
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      06-20-2012, 08:27 PM   #15
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I was lowering the top and it went all the way down but the trunk would not lock and the red "top malfunction" message came on and never went off. The red/green light on the top switch would not come on and the windows were all frozen. The trunk lid would bounce up and down but not latch. It was the older SmarTop version that had to be wired in instead of the newer plug and play.
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      06-21-2012, 01:16 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nv Z View Post
However, this is the bottom line, any time you modify your car from stock you run this risk.
Exactly. And you can't blame BMW for not covering an add on by the owner.
If I ever install something that could potentially cause a malfunction, I wouldn't even think for a second that BMW should repair it for free. That is the chance that we take.[/QUOTE]

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      06-28-2012, 02:19 PM   #17
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unless you have an issue unrelated to the ST and they say they won't warranty because of the ST

like when you have a TPMS issue and they're blaming the ST... a TPMS issue that came up after THEY changed a tire... an issue that wasn't there before the tire change (with ST installed).

after this I never returned to said dealer which shall not be named
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      06-29-2012, 02:25 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by persian54
unless you have an issue unrelated to the ST and they say they won't warranty because of the ST

like when you have a TPMS issue and they're blaming the ST... a TPMS issue that came up after THEY changed a tire... an issue that wasn't there before the tire change (with ST installed).

after this I never returned to said dealer which shall not be named
Why not name the dealer? If they are behaving badly, call them out on it. Money talks.
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      06-29-2012, 01:12 PM   #19
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Sorry about your trouble OP
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      07-13-2012, 05:32 PM   #20
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We had major Smart Top issue too!

We just bought our 2009 Z4 35i about a month ago. As I was putting the top down. I stopped it about 1/2 way. When I tried to get it to go the rest of the way the top jammed really badly.

We had to call BMW Assist to get it driven (towed) to the dealership. BMW Concord found that a Smart Top was installed and told me that these devices can effect the timing of the various top opening and closing functions and this is why it jammed so badly. It was like the top went down without the trunk door opening all of the way.

They fixed the top at no charge and I decided to pay them $450 to remove the device. By the way, they say they have never seen a top jammed halfway up like ours before.

I am happy I do not need to worry about this anymore! The worst part was not having it for a week over the 4th. With its red interior, it is a natural for the 4th.
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      07-13-2012, 06:11 PM   #21
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Did you guys face issues with the older module or the newer plug & play ones.

How annoying can BMW dealers get!! Anyway this makes me nervous and want to take the SmarTop off but the convenience... I actually ordered the module before I got the car



Figure if I ever have an issue, I'd blame it on the faulty fuel pumps. *wink wink nudge nudge*
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      07-13-2012, 11:01 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fre2bpowerless View Post
How annoying can BMW dealers get!!
They fixed the roof for free. I can think of a lot of things more annoying than that.
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