2009 BMW Z4 Hardtop Issues

[Smartbear]

ALSO, while driving the back glass popped off and when I pressed to the button to drop the convertible top, the glass unlatched and lifted. The top portion remains on top of the windshield and is still locked in.

]When I press to close the top the back windshield wont close and goes down when you shut off the car.

This is caused by broken wires in the rear roof shell, mostly on the right side. Can be repaired with new wires, BMW dealer's usually will replace the complete loom for some 4k bucks.

If anyhow possible, send the new JBE back as it's not required.

I checked the wiring on the left and right side where the mechanism folds (higher possibility of broken wires) and there was no evidence of kinks or damage to any of the wiring. They are perfectly straight with 0 corrosion on them. The JBE module comes in today. Ill have it coded and let u guys know if it reveals anything.

You need to check for broken wires by carrying out a continuity test, it’s the conductors that break & not the outer insulation.
You can’t see the damage with your eyes :?
Rob

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[Admend]

You need to check for broken wires by carrying out a continuity test, it’s the conductors that break & not the outer insulation.
You can’t see the damage with your eyes :?
Rob

Correct!
And in addition, the broken wires are in the non-visible area of the rear roof shell. You can't view or feel it. Only by continous measurement while the roof is moving (like I can do with my self developed tool) or by removing the rear roof shell (that's not a task for newbies!!!!)

Hey, sorry for the late replay my schooling and the whole covid-19 stuff kept be busy. Anyway I got the new JBE and the only think that appeared from it was a check engine light ( I need to check the codes soon). The back shell is still unlatched from the top roof portion and each time the "lock or "unlock roof button a pressed two clicks are heated in the back side. The first one holds for a second and the second follows up right after. Are you sure that it's the wiring that might be causing this or could it be a hallswitch/microswitch. The BMW gave me false information so when it comes to trusting them count me out.

 

[Admend]

So..... I finally found the problem. While inspection the trunk of the car I seen two salmon colored relays on the hydraulic pump and remembered seeing a post somewhere saying that these could cause issues with the mechanism. I unknowingly swapped the two relays and discovered that the roof was able to go down half way (rear shell lifted on top of main roof and trunk opened) and it paused. I then swapped the two again to the original position and it fully opened and locked in. I had to hold the convertible button, pause, swap, and lock in to fully close the roof. I ordered two new salmon pieces to replace the one that is most likely burnt. Thanks for the advise on what it could be but it turns out that the biggest issues can be due to the simplest $18 USD pieces (18x2). BTW no codes came up on the JBE module but getting a new one for some reason is causing my car to start up smoother with less shake.

 

[enzed4]

So..... I finally found the problem. While inspection the trunk of the car I seen two salmon colored relays on the hydraulic pump and remembered seeing a post somewhere saying that these could cause issues with the mechanism. I unknowingly swapped the two relays and discovered that the roof was able to go down half way (rear shell lifted on top of main roof and trunk opened) and it paused. I then swapped the two again to the original position and it fully opened and locked in. I had to hold the convertible button, pause, swap, and lock in to fully close the roof. I ordered two new salmon pieces to replace the one that is most likely burnt. Thanks for the advise on what it could be but it turns out that the biggest issues can be due to the simplest $18 USD pieces (18x2). BTW no codes came up on the JBE module but getting a new one for some reason is causing my car to start up smoother with less shake.

I don't think anyone guessed that as the cause, but it will make all of us who have just replaced the salmon relays feel somewhat more justified in having done so

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[flybobbie]

Those salmon relays have a lot to answer for.

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[flybobbie]

So why doesn't the dealerships as soon as someone arrives with a roof problem, just replace the relays.
When i connected my Foxwell reader, it said several switches had failed, when they hadn't.
God help me if that was a dealership reading those faults.
I began to wonder if when the relays fail there is a power surge, throwing up non faults.

My colleagues car was a Friday afternoon car, with only 12k miles the roof kept failing, BMW spent hours replacing parts.
Roof unlocked bong was the main one, then roof getting stuck in operation.
She ended up with invoices (under warranty) about 3cm thick.
I had a quick flick through and they were replacing microswitches all over the place.
I wasn't as familiar as i am now about what did what.
She finally traded it in for a Merc. after the parking brake failed. She said it was the worst BMW car (roof failing, ignition coil fail, O2 sensors replaced because no top end power on motorway driving, recall for bolts, ebrake fail) she ever owned and she had several over 20 years.

I always thought that dealers had a network where they could refer to past problems and fixes, perhaps i am naive and they don't.

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[Admend]

So..... I finally found the problem.

Till now I've not heard about a defective JBE.

Some links to the JBE in NewTIS:
https://www.zroadster.com/forum/threads/wischwasser-spritzt-nicht-mehr-ursache.117349/post-3001900

What about the JBE? Did the dealer take it back or is the new one still in place? Could you then please re-check the current result with the old/original JBE?

So... I went the the BMW dealer and they were telling me that my JBE Module failed which is causing the roof and windows to stop working. I do not believe this to be true because I did not recieve an error code on this. I will be checking the codes again tonight to see if I see one and if they messed around. ALSO, while driving the back glass popped off and when I pressed to the button to drop the convertible top, the glass unlatched and lifted. The top portion remains on top of the windshield and is still locked in.

I did not buy the JBE module from the dealership because they wanted $1400 for the module plus coding. I went on Ebay and purchased the exact one (used 2009 BMW Z4 30i) module) and plugged it into the car. I thought I would need to code but everything was working properly. All i had to do was reset the ECU and the codes (seat heater sensor, etc.)(they all worked) and they never came back. I kept the JBE because the car has began running a lot smoother when it comes to starting up. I use to deal with low and high unstable rpm when starting the engine but no more.

 

[Admend]

Here is a pic of the Salmon relays in case you are unsure where they are located.

 

[RobbiZ4]

Thanks for the update.