What does/should this do?

[Cotterz]

Hi, could anybody tell me what the small cover located between the headrests does. It can only be pressed onwards, but on my car it doesn't seem to operate anything, and is partially open. Can't find any mention of it in the owners manual?
Thanks all

 

[Cotterz]

 

[Rockhopper]

its the catch to hold the roof when its down.

 

[Usel]

If you have to have operate the roof manually and you have a prefacelift, you press it so it releases the lock so you can lift the roof back up and close it.

If you have a facelift then it doesn't nothing.

P.S yours is slightly broken and thats why it's half in.

 

[Cotterz]

Ahh, thanks.
Thought it might be 'roof' related.
Will have to see if I can access it to repair it.

 

[DMike]

The locking mechanism was ditched in facelift because it was rather unnecessary — the hydraulics is sufficient to keep the opened roof down. I guess the locking mechanism’s high failure rates led BMW to this conclusion.