Electric rear quaterlight window does not return when the convertible roof of the car is closed

I am not sure what you are trying to do. But if the problem is that the roof will only open to the first stage, sun roof, and no further, the problem is the package shelf in the trunk.

If the package lid gets pushed up and is not pushed back to it's normal position, the roof will fail to open completely. If you lift the bottom of the roof at the boot, there are levers on either side to release the bottom edge of the roof, you can make certain that the package shelf is seated correctly. Once the shelf is seated, the roof will open in all of it's glory.

The first thing to check is the roof is actually secure. Somewhere there will likely be an electrical contact that makes and breaks when the roof is up. This will activate a circuit which will tell the computer the roof is up thus allowing certain operations to be executed (in this case the heated rear window). Over time these sorts of connections can corrode.

If the top is half way down that means that the trunk is open and should be touching the trunk switch to continue the process. The switch must be bad and it is inside the rear right fender close the the stop light

Some things to try:

Raise and lower all windows through a cycle or two

Open and re-latch the Rear shelf latches

good luck

Hi I have the same problem on my 1999 Carrea, I had the windows at the rear stuck down and the roof latch keeps open and closing, I have not solved this yet it could be a relay but it all started when I was opening and closing on the keypad, if you get the roof up and cant get the rear windows to close get the roof closed to a locking position and where the hood lock pulls back at the roof lock station slide a thin s crew driver up the side of the lock hook they close then, also a tip, if you stick your little finger in the hole where the hood lock goes and press both the rear window buttons up they close when the roof is down. if anyone knows why my hood wont lock please let me know

just double check that something didnt get jambed back there behind the seats and nothing is restricting it from comeing all the way up have someone control up and down then watch to see if its binding up some where this should be a smooth transaction

There are numerous technical service bulletins issued for the top. The list with the full TSBs is here.

I just bought a 1996 328iC (the "C" is for convertible). I bought the car with the knowledge that the roof needed a motor replacement (~$300 for the part alone + ~1-2 hours labor) and that I would need to open and close the roof manually if I wanted to take advantage of the convertible part of the car.

After some trial and error, I figured it out and now it takes me <30 seconds to open or close the top (manually). Note: my top is a semi-electric roof, which I think is what came on the 328iC, you have to lock into place after you close it.

Here's what you do:
1- open all of the windows
2- unlock the roof by turning the latch between the sun visors.
3- push the front of the roof towards the rear of the car - be sure to push in the middle of the roof, where the latch is.
4- lift the back of the roof up off of the roof storage compartment
5- while holding the back of the of the roof up, lift up the roof storage compartment door
6- let go of the back of the roof so that it drops right into the storage compartment
7- push the rest of the roof into the storage compartment
8- close the storage compartment door.

To close the roof, follow the steps above in reverse order. Remember: this is a German car, so you use a little bit (or a lot) of force and you won't hurt it (I think it actually likes it ;-D ).

Good Luck!!!

Roman

The Roof Mechanism works with two motors similiar to the ones that wund the windows. Now the two mechanism are located in the left side of the trunk. 

The trunk wont open Because of the roof lid that is not closed properly. How you can test this is to press down on the right sid of the roof lid and then try to opne the trunk.

Now the reason that this is happening is that the roof lid is not closing properly nad pressing on a small orange buttin located just below the right hand side roof lid catch. How you are going to remedy this problem is to adjust the cable tension to close more securely.

Now the two motors in the trunk that works the convertable roof can be engaged and disengaged on motor works the roof lid and the other one the roof.

You need to get these motors in sync so that they open and close the roof in the correct order.

That is if the electric are still working.

I have solved part of problem,, if you use the manual latch key and close the latch, you need to push the wrench all the way counter clockwise and the windows do go up. the latch mechanism has the activation switch in it..need to be fully closed