Procedure

1 Remove the soft top (tonneau) cover drive unit (bracket and motor). Follow the directions for removing the soft top (tonneau) cover motor, without dismantling the motor and potentiometer from the bracket. See "8. Convertible, Adjustment/Replacement, Soft top cover motor".





2 Inspect the square stub axle to make sure it is not worn, twisted or damaged in any other way that will cause excess play. Use the square jaws of a vernier caliper, for example, to check for straightness of the stub axle.





3 Change the damaged link arm as follows: Mark the position of the link arm on the shaft on the motor's gearbox. (The link arm and shaft are splined.)

4 Undo the bolt securing the link arm and remove the link arm.

5 Fit a new link arm, part no. 45 57 906. Make sure it is positioned correctly on the shaft. Tighten the bolt.

6 Fit the drive unit. See "8. Convertible, Adjustment/ Replacement, Soft top cover motor". Plug in the connectors to the motor and potentiometer.





7 After changing the link arm, the front soft top (tonneau) cover latch must be checked and adjusted, if necessary.





8 Raise the soft top (tonneau) cover sufficiently so that the special tool (16) 82 93 177 can be positioned as illustrated.

9 Make sure the soft top (tonneau) cover latch fining fits freely into the latch without touching the tool. Listen for a "clicking" sound as the microswitch is activated. If the latch fining touches the tool, the latch must be adjusted towards the front of the car.

10 Adjustment:

Remove the trim on the side in question. See "8. Convertible, Adjustment/Replacement, Rear side trim". Undo the two nuts securing the latch and push the latch forwards. Tighten the nuts.

Repeat from step 8 and check the adjustment. The soft top cover may slam" in the latches. In this case, adjust the latches downwards so that the soft top cover cushions against the seals.

Put back the rear side trim. See "8. Convertible, Adjustment/Replacement, Rear side trim".

11 Connect the diagnostic tool, clear any diagnostic trouble codes and then program the control module. See "8. Convertible, fault diagnosis, General, Programming the control module".