Convertible top hack (lower top while moving)

[kajita]

hey perfectlap,
i have a 2000 box and it works fine. (i originally posted the hack)
i also know that it is not recommended at any speed faster than 25mph but i think that is still too fast. i would say 15 mph should be max.
i hardly ever used it on mine but the weather in southern CA is so beautiful now days, i am using it at least 2x a day. right brucelee???

[Perfectlap]

do your windows still come down that little bit automatically when you push the top up button so that you can lock the top?
Or do you have to lower the windows yourself?

[kajita]

it comes down when the botton is pushed, other words, it works the same as before.

[UKBXSTR]

The german one is called smarttop

Taping over pin18 with some thin scotchtape has the same effect - you can remove the tape when the vehicle goes to service if you so desire.

[graybeard]

I guess you don't use the felt pad when you lower the top in the cars with plastic windows

[PDXBoxster]

I received my Smarttop for my 2001 Box and installed it in about 5 seconds. Works as advertised and I am delighted with it! The full stop, pull brake, mash the button while the top opens/closes is not such a big deal, but it was annoying. My initial impressions are that I can get going quicker just like a real car without having to fiddle around with it.

[ukchris]

I love my SmartTop, I think it is quite expensive at $200 but makes the roof easier and just an all round nicer experience. The one exception would be the people doing the chop, I have glass so that isn't relevant to me.

One-touch is how it should be, I know it doesn't make a big time difference, it's just "right". As I pull in to park I tapthe button once and the roof is reay to latch when I am at a standstill.

More importantly, for me, I have a tip and rarely use the hand brake, as such that need was always a pain. I set of a couple off times with it still engaged!

Probably the best point for me is putting the roof up while moving. Let me stress that wouldb more accurate to say while not at a complete stop, in park with the hand brake on". I left work the other day and it was warm but gloomy, I'll be on a highway ging slow for half an hour so ordinarilly would not have been able to stop and put the roof up, now, in 15mph Boston traffic, I can with one click.

Now, as for those hacks, I was tempted but decided not to as it removes the speed restriction completely and could be dangerous. Bending/ breaking / taping pin 18 removes the speed check completely, your roof will work at any speed. There is also another pin that you can ground to remove the hand brake check if you're interested.

I kow both work well and many swer by them, I just wouldn't want to risk someone pushing the hood up button at 65mph. I suppose keeping the hand brake check in place would prevent this, but that was one of the main things I wanted to avoid needing to do.

I have no affiliation with any of these solutions, just passing on my experiences.