Temporary roof fix?

therealmc · Post by **therealmc** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 8:57 pm

I’m away with Mrs S in the Z4 and on the journey from the south coast to the Yorkshire Dales on Sunday we had no problems but then I didn’t have the roof down for hours of motorway driving. Today the weather was definitely good enough to have the roof down while touring. After some initial complaining bongs I thought I might need to raise and lower the roof a couple of times to try and clear things but actually made things worse and the whole thing ground to a halt neither up nor down with the dash saying that the pump has overheated!

After cooling down (both me and the car) I got the roof up and am now planning to continue our week away without touching the thing but are there any temporary tricks I can employ to stop the still intermittent bongs; like disconnecting the power to the hydraulics or something?

Any advice is welcome and I’ll do a more thorough investigation when we get home

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:01 pm

As far as i know there’s no easy tricks to silence the warnings, it needs a proper fix!
Rob

Deepseaskateboard · Post by **Deepseaskateboard** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:03 pm

The best thing to do is get it diagnosed and fixed.

It likely will be about £300ish to get it sorted. If the roof still
operates somewhat it will probably be a microswitch, but get it checked.

Don’t mess about with the electrics or try to stop the bongs, you will likely incur more cost when fixing it.

RobbiZ4 · Post by **RobbiZ4** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:11 pm

The bongs are caused by a roof, that is definitely NOT locked. Damages may occur in addition on the mechanics, if you continue driving with this constellation over a longer period or longer distances.
So join the bongs as a warning, or request the Z4 roof emergency service to help onsite.

But I actually don't know, if I have to go into quarantain.

therealmc · Post by **therealmc** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:38 am

Thanks for the replies.

As far as further damage is concerned if I continue without getting things fixed 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? I don’t want a burnt out pump added to the list of items to be replaced obviously

2k35is · Post by **2k35is** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:30 am

RobbiZ4 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:11 pm So join the bongs as a warning, or request the Z4 roof emergency service to help onsite.

So if poster in uk is a company based in Germany going to be able to help says also in Switzerland, France and Austria
Just asking
Ps when mine stopped working changed salmon relays they were original dated 2009. Easy to take out and look at date on them and if originals BMW usually have them in stock and not expensive.

therealmc · Post by **therealmc** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:52 am

I changed my salmon relays last year so hoping that’s not the issue but given they switch the power on and off to the hydraulic pump (yes?) then my idea was to remove one or both of them as my temp fix to stop the pump overheating; probably wouldn’t stop the bongs though…

RobbiZ4 · Post by **RobbiZ4** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:58 am

2k35is wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:30 am So if poster in uk is a company based in Germany going to be able to help says also in Switzerland, France and Austria
Just asking

Everything is possible, if asked for.

Btw, the named company is a friend of mine, who only offers a platform to get in contact with me. I'm willing to travel, if expenses will be taken.

RobbiZ4 · Post by **RobbiZ4** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:06 am

therealmc wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:52 am ...as my temp fix to stop the pump overheating; probably wouldn’t stop the bongs though…

It's easier to pull the grey plug out of the red fuse box next to the battery.

mcbutler · Post by **mcbutler** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:25 am

Sit the wife on the roof, that'll keep it shut

SV8Predator · Post by **SV8Predator** » 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?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » 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

RobbiZ4 · Post by **RobbiZ4** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:26 am

Smartbear wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:31 pm ... & they can burst into flames!
Rob

I would not expect "flames". The motor simply continues turning around as intended. But it gets hotter and hotter until internal(!) plastic parts will get overheated and melt away. Then the rotating unit will stop, cool down and is destroyed.

2k35is · Post by **2k35is** » 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 ?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » 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

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