Another roof query... sorry

t90ark

Member
Southampton
My e89 hasn't been used a great deal lately, and has been sat with a battery conditioner connected. The conditioner, however, rarely shows full. I'm content the conditioner is OK - I've used in on the X5, no worries.

Now, to the roof. If I try to use the roof, I get the red light and 'movement impaired' error. If I drive the car for a short time, I'm talking 10 minutes, the roof will come back to life. Park it up, and go through the process all over again.

I'm starting to lean toward the battery, i know these cars can do some strange things if the battery isnt 100%, but does anybody else have any thoughts?
 
t90ark said:
My e89 hasn't been used a great deal lately, and has been sat with a battery conditioner connected. The conditioner, however, rarely shows full. I'm content the conditioner is OK - I've used in on the X5, no worries.

Now, to the roof. If I try to use the roof, I get the red light and 'movement impaired' error. If I drive the car for a short time, I'm talking 10 minutes, the roof will come back to life. Park it up, and go through the process all over again.

I'm starting to lean toward the battery, i know these cars can do some strange things if the battery isnt 100%, but does anybody else have any thoughts?

Yup crappy battery…or at least 90%+ probability…always the first thing to swap out..probably one or more cells dying…very few test measurements will discriminate to the point that an E89 is happy..
 
So, I may be nearer to understanding why my roof is playing up. By using Bimmerlink, I see a roof error A6A3 temperature sensor. Doing some reading, it seems this is caused by moisture- which makes some sense as my boot does leak (I've ordered new vents) and the foam carrier for motor is usually damp. I believe the sensor is located inside the motor - can anybody confirm or deny this? Can the sensor be recovered/ repaired/ replaced?

It's not that the motor has failed entirely, its just temperamental about how long it takes to operate the roof. Oh, I've got salmon relays coming, too.

I'm hoping to save it before it fails completely.
 
I haven’t done mine but there was a post a few weeks ago about separating the motor from the pump and apparently yes, it just two bolts and the connector.
 
Getting the boot dry is definitely a priority but I still think it’s your battery that’s causing the issue with the roof.
 
Chippie said:
Getting the boot dry is definitely a priority but I still think it’s your battery that’s causing the issue with the roof.

Boot is dry now, i need to do the maintenance to ensure it stays that way. Judging by the tide mark in there, its been very wet at some point. New battery has been fitted, so I don't think it's that.
 
I guess you'd rather your roof motor didn't look like that... :o
 

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I've just done this check and I'm getting 51.2kohms... so hopefully all is well.
 

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Interesting find. Shouldn't that seal be seated around the opening?

Edit: that's was N/S. O/S was even worse.... squashed half in, half out. Reseated them for now but new on order. Small wonder I'm getting water in.

So that'll be 2x boot vents, 2x light seals, 2x boot lid joint seals. I've got to improving it, haven't I?
 

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And after cleaning the motor out.... still the red light, the bong and 'roof movement impaired'.

Anybody know a roof person near Southampton?
 
So, in case anybody has any thoughts.... cos I don't, lol, this is what happens when I try to open the roof.

Press button, red light and bong, message on idrive 'roof movement impaired'.

Nothing attempts to move, not the windows, not the roof.

Could it be the much talked about salmon relays?
 
Unlikely to be the relays as when they fail they stick and the pump motor just keeps running until it burns out, it’s more likely to be a micro switch or hall sensor that’s failed or possibly a broken wire where they bend around the roof pivot points. Have you scanned the car again after putting it all back together?
 
I've just checked and roof related, I still have A6A3. I also have center roof A670.
 

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