I haven't had the handle fall off in my hands yet, but when you twist the handle to release the top, and the "open" operation begins, does the front of the top pull back on its own, or does it land back onto the top of the windshield after the rear canopy door opens and the rear window is retracted?

Actually, I should ask, how far along the operation do you get before it quits working?

Try pushing against the front of the top gently while it begins it operation, leaving it airborne until the mechanism "grabs" the top and retracts it on its own. I believe there is a cable adjustment that is required to keep it aloft, and when it doesn't do it's job, some microswitch somewhere prevents the top retraction from occurring.

This is the issue mine has. Rather than going back to the dealer (already had to shell out $2200 for a bad pump motor two years ago), I just live with coaxing the top at the beginning of its operation...it closes up fine on its own.

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car