Z4-forum.com

Hello,
My 2011 Z4 3.0 has an intermittent roof problem, it stops mid cycle and then just doesnt work, you then have to open it again, and it still wont close. When it does close, it bongs constantly saying the roof is not closed properly. Sometimes you can't open the boot. Its been in to BMW about a year ago, they replaced a pump and re-set parameters.

Last week the same happened where it just wouldnt close so we took it to BMW again, and left it with them a week. They said that they "reset parameters" and tested it, its all ok.

Car got delivered back, and its been bonging every now and again saying roof problem, or roof not closed.

Car is in under BMW warranty.

Any help or suggestions? tempted to try another dealer, but unsure whether the outcome will be the same.

charlesritter wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:45 am Hello,
My 2011 Z4 3.0 has an intermittent roof problem, it stops mid cycle and then just doesnt work, you then have to open it again, and it still wont close. When it does close, it bongs constantly saying the roof is not closed properly. Sometimes you can't open the boot. Its been in to BMW about a year ago, they replaced a pump and re-set parameters.

Last week the same happened where it just wouldnt close so we took it to BMW again, and left it with them a week. They said that they "reset parameters" and tested it, its all ok.

Car got delivered back, and its been bonging every now and again saying roof problem, or roof not closed.

Car is in under BMW warranty.

Any help or suggestions? tempted to try another dealer, but unsure whether the outcome will be the same.

Search the members for Robbi_Z4. When you find him you’ll see a link in his signature to a comprehensive maintenance guide for E89 roof issues.

Thank for your suggestion. I found him

It would also be worth reading all of the threads regarding roof issues on here. It’s unlikely you will have a unique problem.

You should get the error codes from the vehicle and look them up on here. Don’t assume bmw technicians would have done this.

I had a similar issue and I have read horror stories of bmw replacing the whole roof because they would rather do that than work through the problem.

I had to tell the technicians what the issue was with mine by doing research on here.

It’s usually micro switch wiring which needs fixing / replacing, or one of the microswitches themselves or both.

Often these are inexpensive fixes.

There are some more catastrophic failures with leaky hydraulic lines but I would say 99% are in the microswitch category as it’s a common point of failure.

I know it can seem daunting but get the codes, do the research and if you are still stumped, the forum people are here to help!

There does seem a common theme with BMW dealers and E89 roofs.....generally they haven't got a clue.

It almost seems as though the E89 roof section of their technical manuals has been lost or was never there!?

Get a proper BMW code reader like ISTA, or Bimmergeek ProTool and give us the codes. However, more than likely it's one of the boot closed microswitches in the boot. Easy DIY to replace. Both sides should be replaced.

I don't get why any garage can't fix a car with so much stuff on internet.
Friend had car towed to garage, told car needed new cyl. head gasket. I said know it didn't.
Well garage smashed engine on reassembly, got timing wrong. My friend paid 300 for the privilege to release car and then bought 2nd hand engine.
It took me a few minutes speaking to dealer service desk and they told me it was egr valve from symptoms.
Then on internet raft of faults and fixes. Took me 10 minutes research. Think car was Vauxhall Vectra.

charlesritter wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:45 am Hello,
My 2011 Z4 3.0 has an intermittent roof problem, it stops mid cycle and then just doesnt work, you then have to open it again, and it still wont close. When it does close, it bongs constantly saying the roof is not closed properly. Sometimes you can't open the boot. Its been in to BMW about a year ago, they replaced a pump and re-set parameters.

Last week the same happened where it just wouldnt close so we took it to BMW again, and left it with them a week. They said that they "reset parameters" and tested it, its all ok.

Car got delivered back, and its been bonging every now and again saying roof problem, or roof not closed.

Car is in under BMW warranty.

Any help or suggestions? tempted to try another dealer, but unsure whether the outcome will be the same.

They probably know but their fix is complete replacement of roof electrics and BMW warranty don't pay enough for the work involved.
Look up the common faults here and go to indy to fix.
Boils down to broken wires or boot limit switch, or even just loose connector.

When i first acquired my Zed, it had a rear axle knocking noise two BMW dealers couldn't cure. By chance i found a 20 year old BMW bulletin, that led to a fix.
They don't even research their own data for fixes.