The all-new Comfort Top :)
 

I think this thread deserves a little background history... Ever since I decided to buy my boxster of a BMW z4, I've had a small amount jealousy towards the automatic convertible tops in the BMW. of course, after a week with the boxster, that was the only thing I was jealous of. Butttt still... I went out looking for any solutions to this problem. I found that pelican parts sold a smart-top module that brought one-touch operation, but it was wildly more than I wanted to spend ($380 + shipping). I came across robo-top, which I really liked, but the modification to the relay module to make it work without the handbrake or speed limit, made me afraid that I (or a passenger) might operate it at high speeds.

Recently, I've been waiting for my clear engine covers and mounting hardware to be manufactured and had some time to revisit the topic. I figured, I might as well take a shot at making my own one-touch top relay. After a lot of reverse engineering and simulation time, I have finally finished! the modded relay module now has the following abilities:

One touch open/close
Manual open/close
Automatic service mode from opened or closed position
no handbrake operation (without bent pin)
open/close top from 0-20mph (one touch operation)
Calibrate-able open/close times (more accurate service mode position)
Plug-&-play (no wiring needed)


I have to admit, driving through the city and being able to just press the open or close button is sooo nice... and judging by the number of head turns, it's apparently pretty cool too lol.
Here's a quick little video of some of the features. I hope you guys like it :) and sorry about the weird video resolution

Basic Functionality

Speed Test

Instruction Manual

The other day I was at the local Porsche dismantler and saw an ad about a PCA sponsored porsche swap meet on June 1st, I though it would be cool to make a couple of these and some engine covers to have a little stand and either sell them or trade them for other cool porsche parts. I've already mode four and ordered four more relays to retrofit this week. Of course, all of you here are welcome to the "comfort-top" relay as well

.... Now I just need to make an automatic latch for the top lol.

Saw this in a different thread... and it sounds awesome. What is your price for the relay?

btw, that clear engine cover looks great as well.

HAAAAA this is so cool!!!!!!

"Open and close unlatched top by turning the key in the door "

Top quality mate

If my top would not be "manual" (I also get a few looks!) I would certainly grab one of those relay.

My top broke twice and I simply gave up getting it fixed. Actually I might want to fix it myself this summer and get a relay from you. Let's see

The all-new Comfort Top :)
 

I moved it out of the guide topic to here since it wasn't really a DIY

The price breakdown for forum members is $225 for the unit and $175 if you send your original relay back.

Haha. Thanks. I'm not sure how much everyone would like that option. Whenever I go for a quick coffee run I normally park with the top down and windows up so being able to have the top up, even if it's not latched is still a plus for me. The purpose is mainly to stop debris and bugs from getting in... and of course, it'll make it a little less appealing for lazy thieves to try and grab something.

How can you have such a good looking car and let your top stay broken?

Is that all it takes to complete that mod, removing your old relay and plugging the new one in?

I can't tell you how many times I'd like to put the top down at a stop light but worry that the light might turn green before the operation is complete.

Yeah, just the swap.

What prompted me to make this was being in stop-and-go traffic on the highway, opening the top, and then having to drive like a 100 meters with the top half open until the next time we stopped. Definitely ruined that cool factor moment lol.

Does it do the Boxster chop?

Lets see.... $380 vs. $150 with the core return. Even for me this is an easy one. PM sent! :)

Cool invention!

If you choose to use that video I'd suggest refilming it in landscape format, portrait is horrible to watch...I turned it off after 5 seconds.

Hahaha. It was that bad? I'll be filming another one with someone else holding the camera anyways

Neat! The door feature sounds very cool.

Yep, same here. Very nice work Shehadehd! The ingenuity and creativity of this forum consistently amazes me:cheers:

That's very awesome man! great work.

Put me on the list of buyers!

I've been thinking about hacking my relay, but this is a much better solution. :cheers:

cheers mate!

This is timely. I was just about to post my arduino based top opener in the DIY section. It's maybe $30-$35 in parts and I've had mine in use since last March without any issues what so ever. It plugs in between the top switch, plus I ran the power to a switched +12 so it has no draw while the car is off.

It behaves the same as the power windows in that a quick push makes it fully open or close, a long press opens/closes it for the length of the press, and any length press while auto-opening/closing will cancel the auto-open/close.

It does use the bent pin, and I left the one-click parking break safety.

There are already two auto-open options available for $100-$200. I think a free open source option is the next iteration needed.

Great work. Rather than key in door to operate could you get the same function by holding the remote button like the auto windows feature?

Wait, you can control the windows via the key???

Help me out here. The windows auto operate with the remote? How does that work? I've been searching that exact feature.


To Shehadehd,
PM sent. Where in the bay area are you. Maybe we can meet up.

Tony

Now I'm confused. You said "and my favorite...... Open and close unlatched top by turning the key in the door (in tandem with rolling up and down the windows) "

In order to implement this feature you must obviously know that you can control the windows via the key, right? Am I missing something or are you just funning around?

Further to that, would this unit be available without this feature? I sometimes use the key to raise or lower the windows, but I don't necessarily want the top operating at the same time.

I only knew of being able to put the key in the door and turning it to open and close the window. I never knew it was possible remotely through the key.

I can definitely provide you guys with a relay that doesn't have this feature installed if that's what you prefer.

When I press two long and one short on my super Porsche remote: I want my relay to unlatch the top, raise the driver side window up, and lower the passenger window to half. Carrying dogs in the Porsche sometimes you know ;)

Where is your mate eppap btw? I'm surprised he haven't complained yet. Is he well?

Hahahaaha! To both comments. Epapp will definitely be chiming in soon.

There must be a model year difference, because my 04 S does not have this feature (that I've been able to find). Is it something that I'm doing wrong? Is there an option that you need to have or something that needs to be activated to get the windows to roll up with the remote? The feature works fine with the key in the door, but not with the remote.

Tony

I need a turbo for that top motor. Too slow!! I've gotten soaked waiting for that thing to come up.

I see now. No, the windows don't actually work with the remote. Someone just commented that it would be a great feature to implement.

Me too! I'm convinced it works slower when it's raining.

The windows do work with the remote. You guys in the us just for haven't by the sounds of it.

I can't imagine the feature being taken out for a specific market. How do you get them to roll up?

Maybe this is a feature that has to be activated in the ECU like the OBC. I looks like you have and anniversary edition. That's an 04, right. I have an 04 S and have not been able to find this feature.

Tony

Hey everyone. Thanks for all the support following the convertible top relay mod. I want to update everyone on the the current stock situation.

Like I mentioned, I've made four relays so far, which includes mine. I expect four more to come in sometime this week and I've ordered 25 more micro controllers. The clear bottle neck is the amount of relays I can get my hands on. I will be going to my local porsche dismantler tomorrow to pick up essentially all of their relays. I will be providing relays to those who have asked in the chronological order that I received the requests.

One caveat I forgot to mention is that I cannot reuse relays from Porsches between 97-99 as the wiring and internals are significantly different (read insanely hard to salvage). I've been working on having the relays auto recognize the year you have and redirect it's outputs and inputs accordingly. I plan on meeting up with a friend who owns a 99 to verify this works flawlessly. Until then, I cannot ship out this relay to owners of 97-99 boxsters as of yet.

Thanks for reading.

'A friend' ????? Gosh, what has this thread come to...More like a husband.

I've got my own special projects on the side for my Porsche, but this degree ain't gonna get itself! DIYs probably maybe sometime soon.

I do think this relay is quite convenient, and it being plug and play makes it attractive(maybe you will eventually use an ARM so the big boys can have a play day with your code?). I just hope the '99 prototype doesn't fry my top motor :O


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I have the 8 relays done and I'm running them through a couple tests before I ship them out. I'm working on a PDF and video to go over the features included.

As a recap of what they are:

PARKED
One-touch open/close
manual open/close
Service mode from fully opened or fully closed position

Greater than 0mph but below 20mph
one-touch open/close

Above 20mph
Disabling of all button functions

The handbrake does not need to be set for any of these functions to work.

NOTE: I've removed the function to open and close the top by turning the key in the door. The reason being that because you must keep the key in the lock/unlock position to keep the soft top moving for the 15 seconds it takes to open/close the top, it just didn't seem practical enough to keep.

"NOTE: I've removed the function to open and close the top by turning the key in the door. The reason being that because you must keep the key in the lock/unlock position to keep the soft top moving for the 15 seconds it takes to open/close the top, it just didn't seem practical enough to keep. "

That's how they do it on the BMW Z4's...it wasn't too bad.

So your mod does not work on 97-99 boxsters? Only after 2000? I dont feel so bad now I have a 99.

The all-new Comfort Top :)
 

I believe I have it working for 97-99 boxsters... I've tested it as much as I can on a lab bench but I still need to plug it into a 97-99 boxster and verify it works. That's why I can't ship the already completed relays to 97-99 boxsters yet.

It is the convertible top relays from 97-99 boxsters that I cannot reuse. I have to begin with a newer relay and make it backwards compatible.

I'll volunteer my '99 as a test car.

Waiting on that relay to test in my car as well


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Any update on this. I am anxious to get one.

So Robo Top is $80, what are the other ones?

haha, sorry. I've been replying to PMs and completely forgot to update the thread.

I've put in a couple weeks of use on my relay and some others to test their stability. So far so good. I just ordered some QA stickers to put over the seams.... Not that I expect anyone inadvertently break it by taking it apart just to see what's inside :)

As soon as they come in, I'll be ready to ship out to everyone. ETA is Friday or Saturday.