Auto and Manual Vert Tops Interchangeable?

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  • Schnitzer318is
    R3VLimited
    • Jan 2008
    • 2057
    #1

    Auto and Manual Vert Tops Interchangeable?

    I have a 92 Alpine vert with the power top. Bought it with the top motor dropped down (so it doesn't engage) but the tonneau cover is still powered.

    My question... can I buy a manual top (I like the larger rear window) and install it, frame and all. Then still operate it as I do currently? Fold the top up and down manually and just use the electrics to open and close the tonneau cover?

    Thanks for any info.
    "A good memory for quotes combined with a poor memory for attribution can lead to a false sense of originality."
    -----------------------------------------
    91 318is Turbo Sold
    87 325 Daily driver Sold
    06 4.8is X5
    06 Mtec X3
    05 4.4i X5 Sold
    92 325ic Sold & Re-purchased
    90 325i Sold
    97 328is Sold
    01 323ci Sold
    92 325i Sold
    83 528e Totaled
    98 328i Sold
    93 325i Sold
    Tags: None
    • 6erwebb
      Advanced Member
      • Oct 2010
      • 125
      #2
      Hmm Ive been thinking about this as well as Im in the market for a vert but dont want an auto top. And of course the auto ones keep popping up at nothing prices...
      DSC_0195 by Webster Burch, on Flickr

        Comment

        • Schnitzer318is
          R3VLimited
          • Jan 2008
          • 2057
          #3
          ^The auto ones can be converted to manual pretty easily... minus the rear tonneau cover. I prefer that be the only powered portion of the top though.

          I was wondering if the manual top frame could bolt in to a car that originally had the power frame. It's moot now though as I am just going to buy a new top for my current frame.
          "A good memory for quotes combined with a poor memory for attribution can lead to a false sense of originality."
          -----------------------------------------
          91 318is Turbo Sold
          87 325 Daily driver Sold
          06 4.8is X5
          06 Mtec X3
          05 4.4i X5 Sold
          92 325ic Sold & Re-purchased
          90 325i Sold
          97 328is Sold
          01 323ci Sold
          92 325i Sold
          83 528e Totaled
          98 328i Sold
          93 325i Sold

            Comment

            • robrez
              No R3VLimiter
              • Jul 2008
              • 3376
              #4
              Originally posted by Schnitzer318is

              I was wondering if the manual top frame could bolt in to a car that originally had the power frame. It's moot now though as I am just going to buy a new top for my current frame.
              I still want to know
              sigpic
              January 2012 COTM

                Comment

                • e30rapidic
                  R3VLimited
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 2167
                  #5
                  one day i'd like to try and convert my '87 to power.
                  '87 325ic, powered by S50.

                    Comment

                    • IronmanE30
                      R3VLimited
                      • Sep 2009
                      • 2121
                      #6
                      Originally posted by robrez
                      I still want to know
                      I have both here out of the cars if you want to compare them and I have talked to people that have successfully changed their electric top to manual but you need all the other parts to make the tonneau cover manual as well. It seems to me that it would be more difficult to keep the tonneau cover electric with a manual top because the car looks at the sensors in the electric top to make sure the time is right to open and close the tonneau cover.

                      Cheers,

                      Jim
                      sigpic

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