OK, haven’t managed to make it electric, but I can now close the roof without getting out of the car, especially useful in traffic.
I bought a small ring bolt from the hardware store (2 for £4; £2 each) and a small dog lead for £4.75
I removed the roof handle, drilled an appropriate hole, cut the bolt down to 1.5cm and assembled.
The pet shop owner asked what colour lead, and I explained what it was to be used for and said red, to match the car.
nice ive thought about something similar with my roll bar, basically have to dislocate my shoulder
Nice work, a hell of a lot cheaper than the £45 Jass want for the same thing. Sadly my mx no longer has the soft top so wont be something ill be doing 
I wonder if…
You could unscrew the original handle and fit a luggage handle strap (Heavy Duty Replacement Case Handle 170mm Steel Reinforced Strap Suitcase Amp | eBay) in its place to save on drilling through the original handle and then just tie the dog lead round it.
Thought about that, but I didn’t want anything distracting or “dangling” when the roof is shut. I also thought about just having a loop of luggage strap fitted under the roof handle.
Your idea would work though.
I could always close mine from the inside! Did it once when a summer thunderstorm was approaching, while sat at traffic lights. A few miles on, I saw a middle-aged couple in a big Merc looking very wet and grumpy as their electric roof slowly went through the motions.
