What is this for?

[TrackMyZ]

What is this piece for in these upper center console? This is a 2008 e85 and I understand that at some point they dropped the manual roof lock option. But this little piece of plastic slightly moves, but I can’t figure out what it does.. I saw a picture somewhere else where someone actually has a small lever in front of that that is the manual release so I’m guessing that I don’t have one at all.

 

[enuff_zed]

It is linked to the lock mechanism just below it for the storage door. So when you lock the car the electric motor to the left of the lock assembly moves over to secure the storage door. It also prevents the roof lock button from being operated. Not quite sure of the reasoning for it though.

 

[TrackMyZ]

Hmmmm, I figured out the locking mechanism but I haven’t figured out how that piece is attached to anything that I can see. Do you know if there is a piece missing that’s supposed to somehow lock the roof?

 

[enuff_zed]

Hmmmm, I figured out the locking mechanism but I haven’t figured out how that piece is attached to anything that I can see. Do you know if there is a piece missing that’s supposed to somehow lock the roof?

It moves to create an interlock when the outer cover is in place I think

 

[TrackMyZ]

Oh, OK, so completely useless. So the button that goes there really doesn’t do anything. I basically disabled the lock mechanism because the emergency release cord came out Sometime before I bought the car. Found it in the trunk.