I found this on the German Copen club http://www.micro-roadster.de/wbb2/attachment.php?attachmentid=4852 Just need to translate it.
You have to be a member to access that site, so I joined which wasn't easy. They wouldn't accept Sunderland as a city so I now live in Newport. Anyway after joining I still couldn't open that page, they must have it restricted.
Scooty who runs the German forum is also at active member here. He also came along to this years KKITP meet. It's worth joining micro-roadster forum. Use google translate to browse the forum. There's a lot of great information on the site.
I'm now a member. I hadn't confirmed my membership by clicking on the emailed link earlier that's why I couldn't access anything. It is a good site, one member has adapted his roof opening to work from a remote or by a one press button in the car so he doesn't have to hold the normal switch up or down. There is some interesting stuff about moving the seat belt guides higher up. You get a mention in that article, nice one. I've been trying to translate that page you linked to but right click doesn't work. It appears from the pictures that they have done no more than cut two wires to the roof ECU and joined one of the wires to the other where it joins the ECU plug. I'll wait a translation though before attempting anything.
A link to the page with the remote roof opening and a video of it in action. He also has the small windows up while driving. Does that reduce the draught? http://translate.googleusercontent....=ALkJrhj1t3-waaRiH4aFPDCfpreNQMm8mw#post20166
Great video. Yep having the small rear windows up does help reduce the draft. You can buy a kit on Japan for the roof trick. I'll see if I can find it again.
Here's the trick with getting the 1/4 windows up with the roof down. http://copen.4.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=1128&hl=rear+window
Thanks for the links Adam much appreciated. Next time I have the roof down I'll give that 1/4 window trick a try. It probably won't be in the near future though, its snowing up here.
Had to scrape a couple of inches of the car roof this morning. The roads weren't too bad though a light coating and slushy in places. The Copen coped ok though, no tendency to slide around. Should be interesting to see how it handles if or when the snow gets worse.
Here's a Google Translation of the text: Roof open / close while driving List of materials: · 1 piece crimp 1.5 mm ² 6mm hole · 20cm single core feinädrig 0.75 mm ² (H07VK-F) · Tape Tool list: · Phillips screwdriver, large medium · Small screwdriver · Cutters · Crimping · Soldering iron with solder · Ten Sockets Conversion time: One hour Description: After the conversion the roof can be opened and closed while driving or. The Speed signal is disabled and the roof would also be at 180 km / h suggest. Here, then, common sense has to be used. I made his own experience, that the roof easily open up to about 30 km / h / close blasphemous. In addition, I press the roof to only good road to vibrations and torsions . avoid Conversion: Remove the blind back in the trunk. Using a small screwdriver to two small 30mm large Abdeckplätchen remove left and right side of the blind. With the tens wrench remove the nuts and remove the blind. Now the right holder where the blinds are usually hung with tens sockets three For screw and unscrew the plastic bracket. With a Phillips screwdriver loosen the plastic rivets and pull. Now the carpet be removed. Underneath the white styrofoam cover in the rear third right the control unit (power window ECU) for the roof. Now drag the center plug out of the box and some black on the Plastic casing open. This is only a piece of plastic to which the harness was beaten and then glued. Looking now at the rear of the harness side of the Plug and the latching projection points to one, there are the contacts 19 and 22 The picture shows the plug from behind. So where to go in from the side of the cable. Contact no brake signal 22 (red wire) Contact No. 19 Speed signal (green wire with red line) The red cord is (22) are cut and the plug out by a piece of Be extended single core. At the end of the lug was pressured and under the Screw with the ECU unit is fastened down to earth. To connect the Cable, both a terminal block and a Quetschwerbinder be used. The ideal solution is using a little soldering and shrink tubing to the solder joint Isolate. The open end of the wire harness isolating simple. The cable (19) only needs to be cut, and can be isolated on both sides. Finally, seal the harness again and replace the plug. By converting the ECU thinks that the vehicle is stationary and the handbrake is. All other safety devices will not be affected and will remain active. Now you could install another speed Warner (which is available for motorcycles) to the Speed signal at a certain speed to turn on. This is certainly more complex. Furthermore, it would when opening or closing the roof and while exceeding the set speed of the roof are easy remain confident that light is not ideal. Here, common sense should be enough. If this but someone's up, I can be happy to help him. Of course I can not guarantee or even liability for any damage. Moreover, I do not know what the Highway Code says.
Hmmm, Nice idea, but I think you have to be very careful. Even at low speed the force from the wind could be considerable. Not sure if want to take that risk as I'm sure re-alignment is not so easy. The other idea of not having to keep your finger on the roof button, has some dangers. I'm sure the reason it is done this way was so you can stop it immediately if anything gets trapped. Sound like I'm being a killjoy, I know, but everybody should at least be aware of the risks before doing these mods. Rex.
Both good valid points Rex. I would only use the roof at the traffic lights if I thought I had enough time. With this mod at least I could pull away slowly whilst it finished off.
That's more or less what I was thinking, or opening it while driving out of a carpark, etc. Anybody got a translation of the google translation? No, should be able to follow it from that. What Rex said about roof catch modifications. You'd have to park the car without the catches being fastened to operate it remotely from outside the car.
I tried the 1/4 window thing and it worked perfectly. Was out on Sunday middle of the day with the sun streaming down and thought why not. Put me bear trapper hat on, heater full blat and who cares what other drivers thought. A Copen isn't just for summer.
Too right Nothing like being wrapped up on a crisp Sunday morning with the roof down. Proper hard core.
The downside of the hat was I couldn't tell whether it was less draughty with the 1/4 windows up. My next sunny Sunday drive I'll leave the hat off to find out.
