Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

More Roof Woes

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
Post Reply
Bottom
Member
Member
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:16 pm

More Roof Woes

Post by Bottom » Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:41 pm

Alright, I managed to relocate my motor into the boot. Yay. Then I couldn't resurrect the old one. Boo. I installed a nice new reconditioned one today. Yay. I tried to run it and it ran out of hydraulic oil, but I expected it would need bled. No problem. I topped it up with the small bottle the motor supplier kindly gave me... then it ran out again. I've now found a nice puddle of hydraulic oil dripping down below the driver's side roof drain.
I assume this means that one of the seals at the hinge has gone? Is there any way to fix this without taking the whole f******* roof off again? Does anybody want to buy a cheap Z4m? :|

thespannerman
Member
Member
Posts: 110
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:10 pm
Location: Oldbury, West Midlands

More Roof Woes

Post by thespannerman » Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:50 pm

I also have a problem with the roof rams on mine, and it’s worse since I replaced the roof motor and pump. I think if the seals are “weak” then a new pump and motor just blow oil past the old worn seals.

I have been told there is a way to change the rams without taking the whole roof out, but I can’t find any details of doing this.

Al
BMW newbie, 2003 E85 2.5 SE - but after 10 Discoveries this ought to be a walk in the park :P

User avatar
Number5
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6022
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:34 pm
Location: Bristol M4/M5

More Roof Woes

Post by Number5 » Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:27 pm

Bottom wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:41 pm Alright, I managed to relocate my motor into the boot. Yay. Then I couldn't resurrect the old one. Boo. I installed a nice new reconditioned one today. Yay. I tried to run it and it ran out of hydraulic oil, but I expected it would need bled. No problem. I topped it up with the small bottle the motor supplier kindly gave me... then it ran out again. I've now found a nice puddle of hydraulic oil dripping down below the driver's side roof drain.
I assume this means that one of the seals at the hinge has gone? Is there any way to fix this without taking the whole f******* roof off again? Does anybody want to buy a cheap Z4m? :|
It could just be something as simple as a burst elbow on one of the hyrdaulic lines entering the Ram and nothing wrong with the Ram itself.

Where are you based geographically?
Alpina Roadster #307
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)

Bottom
Member
Member
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:16 pm

More Roof Woes

Post by Bottom » Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:18 pm

About as far from you as possible. The West Highlands. :D
Fancy a cheap holiday?

User avatar
Number5
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6022
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:34 pm
Location: Bristol M4/M5

More Roof Woes

Post by Number5 » Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:14 pm

Bottom wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:18 pm About as far from you as possible. The West Highlands. :D
Fancy a cheap holiday?
Mmmm, Thats a fair trek then !
I'm not sure if we've any roof Gurus in Scotland. Durham Dave in Cumbria is probably nearest !
Alpina Roadster #307
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)

Mr_Ke1th
Member
Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:34 pm
Location: Fife

More Roof Woes

Post by Mr_Ke1th » Wed Jul 07, 2021 11:58 am

I had this when I relocated my motor, turned out I pinched one of the hydraulic lines. I videoed in the cavity while opening the roof…. Was an easy fix luckily :thumbsup:
2005 E85 3.0

Bottom
Member
Member
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:16 pm

More Roof Woes

Post by Bottom » Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:01 pm

I'll get a camera on it later on then, let's hope I get lucky. Have my doubts though! The damn thing has fought me every step of the way doing this job...

Mr_Ke1th
Member
Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:34 pm
Location: Fife

More Roof Woes

Post by Mr_Ke1th » Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:22 pm

I was the same with mine… I put a wee socket in the micro switch and videoed from boot using remote to open roof. Hope it’s just the same hose that went on mine…
Attachments
BB4C717E-9164-45DB-9650-1D92DB86CB99.png
BB4C717E-9164-45DB-9650-1D92DB86CB99.png (457.06 KiB) Viewed 432 times
2005 E85 3.0

thespannerman
Member
Member
Posts: 110
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:10 pm
Location: Oldbury, West Midlands

More Roof Woes

Post by thespannerman » Fri Jul 09, 2021 4:56 pm

Well, I should have done this first, but with some great help from forum member Number5, I swapped the pipes and spade connectors over - yes you know what’s coming next, the roof then goes down fast and comes up really slowly, so it’s a port pressure issue on the new pump I brought less than two weeks ago. It came with 12 months warranty but they don’t have any in stock now !!

I guess I didn’t expect this from a “new” motor/pump.

At least it’s proved it’s not a ram issue, phew!

Just need to get a replacement pump from the folks I brought this one off and hope that does indeed fix it.

Al
BMW newbie, 2003 E85 2.5 SE - but after 10 Discoveries this ought to be a walk in the park :P

Bottom
Member
Member
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:16 pm

More Roof Woes

Post by Bottom » Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:03 pm

Sadly mine seems to be a ram issue. Going by the puddle of oil on the ground at the drivers side drain area :(
I’ve decided to live with a “manual” roof for the rest of the summer and fix it in the Autumn.

Post Reply