A different roof problem...

K

k31ron

Member
 Ashbourne
Slightly different to the normal roof/motor problem on my 2003 3.0 ...

I've searched endlessly but I cant find a similar problem to work out what's wrong.

Press the roof lowering problem it unclips and the windows go down (so not the microswitch) and then the motor whirs (which suggests its working and the fact it was replaced less then 18mths ago! by BMW at a cost of £700) but it doesn't lower the hood

So I thought I would try to lower I manually but even when I pull the manual release toggle and try to move it physically... it still wont budge (although not sure if that's related)

any ideas? I cant face paying BMW more money on this bl00dy hood....and the sun is "almost" shining
 
If it will not operate in manual mode, seems like the frame must be bound up somehow. Any chance something fell into the mechanism somehow? Did the frame experience any mechanical trauma?
 
You don't have the flashing orange light then? My soft top module became unclipped once which stopped the hood lowering. Never been so glad to hear a click when it re-attached!
 
bcworkz said:
If it will not operate in manual mode, seems like the frame must be bound up somehow. Any chance something fell into the mechanism somehow? Did the frame experience any mechanical trauma?
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I don't think so its been sat on my drive since it last worked a few weeks ago, Any ideas where it might get stuck? the mechanism isn't really visible
 
billy_beemer said:
You don't have the flashing orange light then? My soft top module became unclipped once which stopped the hood lowering. Never been so glad to hear a click when it re-attached!
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it flashes when you take your finger of the button but I think that just indicates its in half way state.....really hoping its something similarly simple....
 
k31ron said:
Any ideas where it might get stuck?
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I was imagining if there was something on the parcel shelf, it may have rolled off the side into the lower mechanism somehow. Probably extremely unlikely, even if you tried to do this. Sorry, don't have any realistic ideas. Did you sense the manual release valve actually operated? Several have had problems with the valve frozen closed by corrosion. Roof should still move slowly with firm steady pressure even with the valve closed. Did the head rail catches fully release? My other far fetched idea was a broken hydraulic line, but I imagine the frame would operate manually in that case. I'm sure some of these questions seem daft, but my imagination runs wild when I can't actually see anything.
 
bcworkz said:
k31ron said:
Any ideas where it might get stuck?
Click to expand...
I was imagining if there was something on the parcel shelf, it may have rolled off the side into the lower mechanism somehow. Probably extremely unlikely, even if you tried to do this. Sorry, don't have any realistic ideas. Did you sense the manual release valve actually operated? Several have had problems with the valve frozen closed by corrosion. Roof should still move slowly with firm steady pressure even with the valve closed. Did the head rail catches fully release? My other far fetched idea was a broken hydraulic line, but I imagine the frame would operate manually in that case. I'm sure some of these questions seem daft, but my imagination runs wild when I can't actually see anything.
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some good ideas and I really welcome your speculation...I'll investigate tonight if i can find anything blocking the on the parcel shelf etc....having two very small children anythings possible...i've already "broken" one stereo after they posted all my loose change into the CD player

Yes, the head rail catches disengage completely so no issue with them...
 
k31ron said:
i've already "broken" one stereo after they posted all my loose change into the CD player
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:D So infuriating, yet you gotta love them and their nutty imaginations!
 
Damn it nothing obvious and still not working...looks like I'm off to see the stealer for an expensive "diagnosis"
 
andysat said:
Let us know the outcome.
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will do booked in for next Friday

One thought I changed the headunit to an after market one (I know it doesn't look as good but offers a stack of extra functionality and better sound)...I cant imagine how, but any reason this could affect the roof operation?.
 
k31ron said:
...I cant imagine how, but any reason this could affect the roof operation?.
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Neither can I. It may be remotely possible to jostle some related wiring loose in the process, though I'm fairly sure there is none in the immediate area. In any case, the motor spins and the manual release does not work, so no, could not affect the roof issue.

It is unfortunate aftermarket HUs don't fit with the dash aesthetics. If not for that, nearly everyone would swap out the OEM unit as it's performance and options are seriously underwhelming.
 
Ok been to dealers they looked at for an hour an then told me they need to take the roof off (but cant today) they say that there is an 80% chance its the motor in which case the repair would be under the 2year parts warranty (since they replaced it 13mths ago) or a 20% chance its hydraulics in which case i have to pay (4 hours labor at £100 an hour + parts) ..... any ideas on this? I thought the motor and hydraulics where in the same unit..any thoughts on differentiation of hydraulic or motor.
 
What we refer to as the "motor" is actually the electric motor and hydraulic pump as one assembly. Saying it is the "hydraulics" is ambiguous. It could mean the pump section of the "motor", or the lines, or the actuators on either side. The actuators have been known to develop leaks, either internal or external, but is quite rare compared to motor failure, which is always the electric motor portion, not the pump section.

The fact it spins with no resultant movement could be due to fluid loss, either from the lines, actuators, or connections. It may be an actual pump failure. Does not explain why you cannot manually move the roof, but as you suggested initially, it may be an unrelated issue.

It's conceivable the motor spins, but not fast enough to result in any motion, depending on what kind of pump it actually is. (I've no idea) Which would be a motor failure. Unusual for a relatively new unit, but not unheard of. For the sake of your wallet, let's hope that's what it is.
 
well took the car into the very friendly and helpful! dealers on Wednesday last week...they rang me Wednesday afternoon to tell me it wasn't the motor and therefore wouldn't be covered by warranty, I asked for a quote and they rang back an hour later to tell me they had decided it was now the motor and would now be covered by warranty....2.5 days later! it was ready..... apparently there where some "complications"....I still don't know the overall problem as the report wasn't ready and I was in a rush, but my roof does now go up and down ;-).....however they also spotted a broken coil spring, :-( which does at lease explain why the handling isn't as good as i had hoped it would be when i bought the car.

Bit of a shock for me but I have to admit the level of service I got at Derby BMW was exceptional...never been so well treated by a dealer before...I guess at ~£120 per hour you can afford to be nice though :-)
 
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