Lowering Top via Central Locking Toggle Switch

[flibmeister]

Would somebody with a recent build convertible, USA spec, try holding up the central locking toggle switch and let me know if it lowers the roof and windows?

My March build doesn't work that way, although the manual says it should. Nobody at the dealer (or MINI) can tell me if that's a change (and the manual is wrong), or if there's something wrong with my particular car.

Thanks!

[horn]

read this and you know a lot more I guess...

[flibmeister]

Quote: Originally Posted by horn

read this and you know a lot more I guess...

Thanks, but the thread you pointed to involves programming of comfort opening via keyless entry, which is something else entirely.

I'm asking about comfort opening via the central locking toggle switch on the dashboard-- which (according to my dealer and MINI) is not a programmable feature (and never has been)-- it's supposedly there in all MINI convertibles. I know that MINI's with build dates earlier than mine had it, but I haven't been able to ascertain if later builds do.

[eeney]

I've got a late 2004 build and I have it. I found this out by mistake whilst sitting at the lights in the city centre, I just pressed the unlock button to let someone into the car, holding it down to ensure it was pressed and suddenly the roof started opening I tad confusing and embarrassing at the time, but I was pleasantly surprised.

[horn]

Quote: Originally Posted by flibmeister

Thanks, but the thread you pointed to involves programming of comfort opening via keyless entry, which is something else entirely.

Sorry, the disadvantage of English not being the native language. Did misunderstand your post.

[Sam S]

it worked on our March 05 One

[horn]

Does not on my May Cooper S Convertible

[Frosty_Boy]

Works on an 04 MCSC Australian delivery - I know this doesn't answer your question about US spec, but thought it might help you build the picture re what's going on.

Cheers

Frosty

[AZDESERTMINI]

I have a Dark Silver MCSC that was built in April and delivered in May of this year.

I just checked to see if I could operate the top via the central locking toggle switch and it works. It also lowers the front windows completely.

My remote convenience feature has been activated, I'm not sure if the two are related.

[flibmeister]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like there's no rhyme or reason to why it works for some and not for others-- both MINI and my dealer (North Scottsdale) claim it's not a programmable feature, but have no clue as to why mine doesn't work. The dealer claims they are "working the issue"-- but they've been saying that for months.

For anybody else gathering data on the issue, mine is a March-2005 build MCC. The keyfob comfort opening came activated (by default; I assume-- must have been one of the last ones before they changed the default to deactivated). However, the central locking toggle switch has no effect whatsoever on top operation.

[jaredpdmd]

I just checked the switch on my new July '05 build MCC, and all it did was lock the doors. I held it down for several seconds, and nothing happened with the roof. The convenience opening on my key is deactivated.

[AZDESERTMINI]

On my MCSC April build I need to hold the toggle switch in the UP position as if I'm unlocking the doors to lower the top via the central locking toggle switch. When I hold it in the down position nothing happens (other than the doors locking).

My dealer is also MINI North Scottsdale.

[Cadfael_Tex]

Tried it and nothing happened. Mine is a late June 2005 build with the courtesy opening activated.

[flibmeister]

Quote: Originally Posted by jaredpdmd

I just checked the switch on my new July '05 build MCC, and all it did was lock the doors. I held it down for several seconds, and nothing happened with the roof. The convenience opening on my key is deactivated.

Thanks for the data point. If you should mention that this is an anomaly (from the manual) to your dealer, please post their reply!

Quote: Originally Posted by AZDESERTMINI

On my MCSC April build I need to hold the toggle switch in the UP position as if I'm unlocking the doors to lower the top via the central locking toggle switch. When I hold it in the down position nothing happens (other than the doors locking).

My dealer is also MINI North Scottsdale.

MINI North Scottsdale initially denied that it was possible to lower the top with the central locking toggle, and insisted the manual had a misprint. Got the shop manager involved, he insisted that he'd been to every class and workshop possible on the car and had never heard of such a thing, so it had to be a misprint. They were ready to blow me off completely, as was 866-ASK-MINI, who insisted it had to be a misprint because, "why would there be two different buttons that both lower the top?)

Fortunately, the dealer had another car in the building (maybe yours!) where they found that the feature did work, so that argument didn't hold up very long.

866-ASK-MINI is another story. My insistence that it should work the way the manual states went up the ladder for quite a ways, and I finally won-- they agreed that it should work as designed. So they "resolved" my complaint-- by contacting my dealer and telling them to fix it.

The fact that the dealer has already stated, both to me and to MINI, that they don't have a clue as to how to do that apparently isn't relevant.

Oh, well, guess I'll be glad it's a relatively inconsequential problem and not something that makes the car unusable!

[GBMINI]

On the hardtops, I think the convenience opening from the remote (to open the windows when you hold down the unlock button) and the opening-windows-by-holding-unlock-toggle are both active or inactive from the same program setting.
Probably the convertible is the same - make sure the dealer goes through the program settings and has the convenience opening active.