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Temporary roof fix?

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davegt
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by davegt » Wed Sep 08, 2021 3:04 pm

I've had two roof issues in my 20 months of Z ownership, both were traced back to broken wires that connected to the microswitches on the rear roof shell (one on each side) I had the wires repaired and switches on both sides replaced for good measure just in case.

Best bet is to get it plugged into a good quality code reader, if it's a switch, remove the loom tape on the side indicated and give the individual wires a gentle linear tug, chances are you'll end up finding the issue quite easily.

I figure that if it occasionally "bongs" when driving but the boot can still be opened/closed when stationary (my initial problem), the car at some point was happy that everything was secure and that the "bongs" have been caused by a broken wire on it's limit of breaking whist moving i.e. at a stand still the damaged ends are making contact so the car is happy but when moving the wires move around loosing contact resulting bongs -same when it fails midway through the opening cycle.
Daily: 2022 Mercedes GLB mileage muncher
Weekend: 2010 E89 35i, Stubby, Black Grills, Milltek exhaust, DCI, Carplay, BC Coilovers, Black Aluwerk 19" Alloys. (Parts sat collecting dust: IS diffuser, m4 carbon spoiler, FMIC)

2k35is
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by 2k35is » Wed Sep 08, 2021 4:24 pm

Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:12 pm
2k35is wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:41 pm I do wonder about the complexity of the roof car looks great but compared to my E46 330ci convertible which you had a way to raise or lower the roof without worrying about what could happen to eclectics/pumps.
Sot what's the correct way to stop stop pump overheating and being able to continue to use the ?
The pump won’t overheat if all is working correctly? :?
Rob
Yes but comparison was that if it went wrong in E46 no problems could still use car. take hood up and down .
It can go wrong anywhere but if you are on holiday how do you continue journey in E89 without running risk of anything being damaged in roof mechanism. Ok if find out about it if roof up but if down and cant get it sorted cant just let car become a fish bowl. Had it happen with mine took dealers three attempts to get it right. Fortunately able to get car home and into garage without getting soaked. So two potential problems not getting car soaked and not causing damage to roof mechanism.
Just my opinion but E46 seemed far better arrangement.
Dec 2009 Z4 35i DCT Deep Sea Blue
2018 3 door Cooper S DCT
sold 2003 e46 330ci Convertible

SV8Predator
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by SV8Predator » Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:58 pm

Smartbear wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:31 pm
SV8Predator wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:36 pm
therealmc wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:38 am would I be right in thinking that the hydraulic pump continues to operate because, for example, the micro switch hasn’t told it to stop?
Surely you can hear if the pump is constantly operating?
Probably, it’s not such an easy thing to turn off quickly though & they can burst into flames!
Rob
Gosh, that must've given you a fright! How did you resolve it?
2012 Z4 2.0 M-Sport Atacama Yellow
2000 Z3 3.0
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Smartbear
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Smartbear » Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm

SV8Predator wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:58 pm
Smartbear wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:31 pm
SV8Predator wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:36 pm

Surely you can hear if the pump is constantly operating?
Probably, it’s not such an easy thing to turn off quickly though & they can burst into flames!
Rob
Gosh, that must've given you a fright! How did you resolve it?
Where does it say that was my car? :?
Rob
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by therealmc » Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:31 am

My update: ‘local’ BMW specialist couldn’t see me for a week as he’s busy but based on our phone call he believed that if the roof is up and secure (physically everything is in place, there’s no hint of any movement in the roof panels and I’ve put quite a few miles in since the beginning of the week with no other issues) and I’m now only getting random warnings, I’m safe enough to continue as is and get it looked at when I’m back home.

Seems to me that some sort of broken wire or similar could be my problem. Sometimes all is ok and no issues reported then after stopping for a couple of hours it reports a problem which clears after the next stop. I’m not attempting to put the roof down at all and the pump doesn’t appear to be running when the issue is live so it’s hard to see that I could be building up future problems.

Travelling home on Friday and will report further once more investigations done.

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Temporary roof fix?

Post by SV8Predator » Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:49 pm

Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm
SV8Predator wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:58 pm
Smartbear wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:31 pm

Probably, it’s not such an easy thing to turn off quickly though & they can burst into flames!
Rob
Gosh, that must've given you a fright! How did you resolve it?
Where does it say that was my car? :?
Rob
Why would you report that they burst into flames then?
2012 Z4 2.0 M-Sport Atacama Yellow
2000 Z3 3.0
2016 Vauxhall GTC Sunny Melon Yellow
2000 Jaguar X308 Sovereign 4.0
1969 Jensen Interceptor 6.3 litre

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Deepseaskateboard
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Deepseaskateboard » Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:46 pm

SV8Predator wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:49 pm
Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm
SV8Predator wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:58 pm

Gosh, that must've given you a fright! How did you resolve it?
Where does it say that was my car? :?
Rob
Why would you report that they burst into flames then?
If the relays get fused together, it will power the motor on until the battery drains. Far before that happens, the motor will overheat and break, possibly resulting in flames, it would get very hot, possibly enough to ignite it’s foam enclosure.

I don’t think the OP is at risk from this issue with his situation.

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Deepseaskateboard
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Deepseaskateboard » Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:52 pm

therealmc wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:31 am My update: ‘local’ BMW specialist couldn’t see me for a week as he’s busy but based on our phone call he believed that if the roof is up and secure (physically everything is in place, there’s no hint of any movement in the roof panels and I’ve put quite a few miles in since the beginning of the week with no other issues) and I’m now only getting random warnings, I’m safe enough to continue as is and get it looked at when I’m back home.

Seems to me that some sort of broken wire or similar could be my problem. Sometimes all is ok and no issues reported then after stopping for a couple of hours it reports a problem which clears after the next stop. I’m not attempting to put the roof down at all and the pump doesn’t appear to be running when the issue is live so it’s hard to see that I could be building up future problems.

Travelling home on Friday and will report further once more investigations done.
If the roof is latched in the up position, it will likely not cause damage. You may experience not being able to access the boot at all, and not being able to use the windows. Both of which can be a pain if touring.

If this does happen, you have to leave the car until it sleeps, then unlock it and try again, seems to be on a whim if the boot opens in this state.

If you are staying close to anywhere with a BMW garage they will be able to fix in a few days, provided they can still get the parts easily with all the supply chain issues as of late.

I don’t think you are at risk of any pumps or motors overheating, as each micro switch tells the system to activate the next part of the cycle. Off is the default I presume, for all sorts of logical reasons!

Best to leave latched up, and take it easy, and I hope you aren't plagued by the boot / window demons!

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RobbiZ4
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by RobbiZ4 » Fri Sep 10, 2021 7:10 am

Deepseaskateboard wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:46 pm If the relays get fused together, it will power the motor on until the battery drains. Far before that happens, the motor will overheat and break, possibly resulting in flames, it would get very hot, possibly enough to ignite it’s foam enclosure.
Excuse me, but why are you telling such a crazy story, far removed from real life experiences that were already written a few lines above ???
This is nonsense..
RobbiZ4 wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:26 am I would not expect "flames"...
And you are talking/explaining totally different fault situations, which can't be explained together in one sentence: welded relay contacts vs. issues with the roof sensors.

The real background regarding the 2 salmon relays:
https://www.spoolstreet.com/threads/urg ... lays.3815/


Stupidly always the same story especially in this forum.
I'll shut up again from now on.
posting.php?mode=quote&f=5&p=1745391&si ... a237b126da
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by flybobbie » Fri Sep 10, 2021 7:57 am

Motors can get very hot short circuit. I had a starter motor jam on. The engage solenoid must have been faulty.

When i lifted the bonnet to see where smoke was coming from and disconnect battery, the starter was glowing bright orange as though ready to go in a forge. The oil and dirt around it was on fire. Little hand held extinguisher wasn't much use, so used a bucket of water. That did the trick.

Having the battery under the floor in boot is another disaster waiting to happen as it's very difficult to quickly empty the boot to disconnect battery in an emergency, as i have already found out :roll:

Much better just under bonnet.

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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Pondrew » Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:01 am

RobbiZ4 wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 7:10 am
I'll shut up again from now on.
posting.php?mode=quote&f=5&p=1745391&si ... a237b126da
No Robbi, don't do that. You are about the only person on here who actually knows about the roofs and your knowledge is invaluable. :thumbsup:
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Smartbear » Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:17 am

SV8Predator wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:49 pm
Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm
SV8Predator wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:58 pm

Gosh, that must've given you a fright! How did you resolve it?
Where does it say that was my car? :?
Rob
Why would you report that they burst into flames then?
Because I’d read it elsewhere, is that ok with you?
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by SV8Predator » Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:59 pm

Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm Because I’d read it elsewhere, is that ok with you?
Rob
No no real-world experience then?

I don't understand why people post their "wonderful advice" when they really don't know anything about the subject being discussed?

See Robbi's advice (above). He actually has the real-world experience.
2012 Z4 2.0 M-Sport Atacama Yellow
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Smartbear » Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:25 am

SV8Predator wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:59 pm
Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm Because I’d read it elsewhere, is that ok with you?
Rob
No no real-world experience then?

I don't understand why people post their "wonderful advice" when they really don't know anything about the subject being discussed?

See Robbi's advice (above). He actually has the real-world experience.
As opposed to you, who only seems to come on here to criticise & find fault?
I’m alright as i am thanks :poke:
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
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Ole gits rule
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Temporary roof fix?

Post by Ole gits rule » Sat Sep 11, 2021 8:41 am

Smartbear wrote: Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:25 am
SV8Predator wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:59 pm
Smartbear wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:54 pm Because I’d read it elsewhere, is that ok with you?
Rob
No no real-world experience then?

I don't understand why people post their "wonderful advice" when they really don't know anything about the subject being discussed?

See Robbi's advice (above). He actually has the real-world experience.
As opposed to you, who only seems to come on here to criticise & find fault?
I’m alright as i am thanks :poke:
Rob
:thumbsup:
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