[hinckley]

I don't know how well known this product known is in the BMW family, but I've used it for many years with my 911 Cabs and more recently with my departed M8 Vert. I installed it in my new M4 yesterday.

It's an incredibly simple module to install (less than 10 mins) and allows you to control your convertible top from the key fob without needing to hold the button thru the top's cycle. Three clicks on the fob (or one 4-second hold) is all it takes. And just as important for me, the interior top control button also raises and lowers the top without needing to hold the button. Just a single quick push or pull and the top will fully retract or go up (just like the window switches). And it's programable so that you can decide whether you want windows to go up or down at the end of either top cycle. It's much more convenient than having to hold the fob or interior button for 20 - 30 seconds.

SmartTOP solves a first-world problem I know, but it is very slick. btw, I'm in no way affiliated with this company. I just love their product.
https://www.mods4cars.com/sms/shop/i...de=view&id=172

[Needsdecaf]

I had it on my 991 Cab and it was freaking fantastic. Would highly recommend the product. My biggest use case was turning the button to one touch, which was very handy for a cab that could drive up to 50 kph with the top in motion...but was a manual!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I don't know how well known this product known is in the BMW family, but I've used it for many years with my 911 Cabs and more recently with my departed M8 Vert. I installed it in my new M4 yesterday.

It's an incredibly simple module to install (less than 10 mins) and allows you to control your convertible top from the key fob without needing to hold the button thru the top's cycle. Three clicks on the fob (or one 4-second hold) is all it takes. And just as important for me, the interior top control button also raises and lowers the top without needing to hold the button. Just a single quick push or pull and the top will fully retract or go up (just like the window switches). And it's programable so that you can decide whether you want windows to go up or down at the end of either top cycle. It's much more convenient than having to hold the fob or interior button for 20 - 30 seconds.

SmartTOP solves a first-world problem I know, but it is very slick. btw, I'm in no way affiliated with this company. I just love their product.
https://www.mods4cars.com/sms/shop/i...de=view&id=172

We do all the warehousing/distributing for mods4cars and install a bunch of them. They're pretty neat modules in terms of convenience. The Plug and Play harnesses make installation a breeze.

[pesh]

$500 seems pretty steep for such simple functionality.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by pesh

$500 seems pretty steep for such simple functionality.

Relative in the context of a $100k car, I’d say.

[Berzerker]

hinckley you still using this? I just came across this browsing the EAS store and it looks...interesting.

Not sure if I'd want to pay $500 for just the one-touch operation, we get a lot of the features it offers (open/close while moving, remote operation) already...

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

hinckley you still using this? I just came across this browsing the EAS store and it looks...interesting.

Not sure if I'd want to pay $500 for just the one-touch operation, we get a lot of the features it offers (open/close while moving, remote operation) already...

The module is also flash-upgadable via USB, so it's common throughout the life cycle for new features to be released and/or improved upon.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

hinckley you still using this? I just came across this browsing the EAS store and it looks...interesting.

Not sure if I'd want to pay $500 for just the one-touch operation, we get a lot of the features it offers (open/close while moving, remote operation) already...

Yes, I'm absolutely using it. The one-touch operation from inside the car is worth the price of admission for me, but add to that the one-touch external operation, and it's a no-brainer. fwiw, I ride with my top down about 90% of the time, so that may skew my perspective. YMMV.

[MJBO]

I installed a SmartTop module in my dads E89 Z4 way back in 2012, and it was excellent!

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Yes, I'm absolutely using it. The one-touch operation from inside the car is worth the price of admission for me, but add to that the one-touch external operation, and it's a no-brainer. fwiw, I ride with my top down about 90% of the time, so that may skew my perspective. YMMV.

Alright ordered lol. How does the one touch external operation work? Since the car has remote start is it a different button? Or just a different button press delay or something?

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Alright ordered lol. How does the one touch external operation work? Since the car has remote start is it a different button? Or just a different button press delay or something?

Three successive quick taps to the fob's unlock button, or one long tap of the unlock button. You can program the module for one or both methods. I usually use the three tap method as I approach my car.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Three successive quick taps to the fob's unlock button, or one long tap of the unlock button. You can program the module for one or both methods. I usually use the three tap method as I approach my car.

What about the close external operation?

[yocubed]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

What about the close external operation?

Triple tap lock to close
https://youtu.be/_opayFQmvf4?si=FGMKG8dK5IOYhxXa

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by yocubed

Triple tap lock to close
https://youtu.be/_opayFQmvf4?si=FGMKG8dK5IOYhxXa

So 3 taps for everything just not that fast. Got it, thanks.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

So 3 taps for everything just not that fast. Got it, thanks.

I think that vid exaggerates the time between taps for illustrative purposes. There's also a single, long (3 second-ish) tap to accomplish the same thing. For me, the three quick taps method is faster.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I think that vid exaggerates the time between taps for illustrative purposes. There's also a single, long (3 second-ish) tap to accomplish the same thing. For me, the three quick taps method is faster.

I'm sure it is but like I mentioned the remote start feature is also a 3-tap lock press, so I was wondering how those two functions using the same tap button/method worked together.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

I'm sure it is but like I mentioned the remote start feature is also a 3-tap lock press, so I was wondering how those two functions using the same tap button/method worked together.

Ah, I didn't understand. I don't have remote start (that I know of), so I can't answer that. You may have to use the one, long press method.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Ah, I didn't understand. I don't have remote start (that I know of), so I can't answer that. You may have to use the one, long press method.

That should work. thanks.

[f8th]

I'm looking for one if anyone is selling!

[yocubed]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Ah, I didn't understand. I don't have remote start (that I know of), so I can't answer that. You may have to use the one, long press method.

You know I meant to come back around and follow-up on this. Had my smarttop module on for a number of months now and love it. Will verify the triple tap function with remote start tomorrow and relay back. I think we'll have to be more deliberate with the triple tap (i.e. one per second rather than 3 in rapid succession) I'm thinking 3 in rapid succession will trigger remote start but may also drop the top?? I'll report back soon.

[yocubed]

Can confirm that remote start overides top function.

If you rapidly press the lock button 3 times remote start works (but top stays open).
If you space out your presses approximately 1 every second like in the video then smarttop takes over and closes the top.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by yocubed

Can confirm that remote start overides top function.

If you rapidly press the lock button 3 times remote start works (but top stays open).
If you space out your presses approximately 1 every second like in the video then smarttop takes over and closes the top.

Not sure if it really "takes it over" or just it's too slow to activate the remote start function but good to know anyway.