BMW Z4 winter care

D

danjb89

Member
 Sunderland
Hi guys

So I have finally bought a BMW Z4 2.5L 53 plate in dark grey with 63k on the clock a week ago and I know these roof motors are prone to water leaking damage. What precautions do I need to take to look after it please? I do not have access to a garage and I was thinking of buying a soft top cover to protect it and planning on getting the motor moved eventually when I find the contact details I need (someone mentioned there is a guy in the North East who can do this).

Sorry if a similar post exists, I did do a soft search but could not find what I was looking for. If it needs removing I will remove it and can someone point me to a useful thread?

Kind regards
Dan
 
danjb89 said:
Thanks for your response Steve. Are there any covers you would recommend?
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Custom covers gets my vote :thumbsup:

Can fit / remove in 1 minute and it hasn’t scratched my paint. I only fit it if the roof is dry to prevent and funky stuff growing.
 
Silverzedtom said:
danjb89 said:
Thanks for your response Steve. Are there any covers you would recommend?
Click to expand...
Custom covers gets my vote :thumbsup:

Can fit / remove in 1 minute and it hasn’t scratched my paint. I only fit it if the roof is dry to prevent and funky stuff growing.
Click to expand...

I really wouldn't recommend custom covers. I bought these last spring because my allotted car park spot at work sat under a willow tree and I didn't want the hood to get gummed up. When I arrived each morning I would put the cover on and at night I would carefully fold it loosely and put it back in the boot. I didn't bother folding it so tight it would go into its carry case!. After approx 4 months I noticed that the thin plastic covering on the inside was cracking, peeling and chipping off in places. I had intended to use it over winter, but by the time winter had arrived there were so many cracks I realised that rain would penetrate and get trapped between the hood cover and the hood, potentially causing my hood to rot. So I haven't used it over winter. On another note, the black dye runs off, causing streaks down the car, not a big issue they wash off, but it looks unsightly and has faded to dark dirty grey not black.

On a positive note, it is a good fit (bit fiddly to trap the rear fixing in the door crack, but doable), I never experienced any of the problems reported on amazon, i.e: scratches and leaks into the boot (I had to wash the car each week to get rid of the stains from the hood, so my car was never dirty, and to be honest you would have to fit it pretty badly to get leaks into the boot).

But the material is simply not up to repeatedly being folded and unfolded. I will try to take some photos and have a go at posting them.

IMAGES:

There are three images in the post below.

First shows the extent of the dye running/fading, hood used daily from Feb 2017 to Oct 2017, the black bit folds into the boot.

Second shows one of the areas where the inner plastic liner has cracked.

Third shows another area showing cracking (there are scores of them, the hood is unusable for long term storage in the rain)
 
I can see the images Magi. I honestly don't know what to do I really don't have the option of a garage at all!
 
I have the same problem I was pretty gutted to be honest.You may be fine if you are only fitting it in winter and leaving it there. My problem was I had to put it on and off daily, and the material wasn't up to being folded to that extent. But that should have been stated. There is another company https://cabrioshield.com/uk/bmw-z4.html they do two materials, not sure if the dearer material is any better.CC-Dye-Run.JPG
 

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probably just putting it on a few times a month to be honest and eventually get the motor moved. I may look into that dearer material!
 
danjb89 said:
probably just putting it on a few times a month to be honest and eventually get the motor moved.
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That is a wise move, despite covering mine over most of summer, I have cleaned the drain plugs 3 times in 12 months (4000miles) each time there has been leaves in them. Ducklakeview on here is the man if you can get to him, he's done lots. I wish he was nearer to me but it is pretty difficult for me to find the time to travel so far. I may have a look at it myself because I have to get the boot carpet out to do some wiring mods once the weather picks up, but I get the impression it is one of those jobs that if you know what you are doing it is not too bad, but if you don't it is really difficult :(
 
Dan if you are worried about the drains pop a hose down the hole at the top of the rear wing where it meets the door you will see the water come out of the bottom underneath the car that's what I do every so often as my Z has lived outside for 10 years she is out there now covered in snow.

I thought about a roof cover to combat the mildew problem I was having but thought it would most likely make it worse
 
danjb89 said:
Hi guys

So I have finally bought a BMW Z4 2.5L 53 plate in dark grey with 63k on the clock a week ago and I know these roof motors are prone to water leaking damage. What precautions do I need to take to look after it please? I do not have access to a garage and I was thinking of buying a soft top cover to protect it and planning on getting the motor moved eventually when I find the contact details I need (someone mentioned there is a guy in the North East who can do this).

Sorry if a similar post exists, I did do a soft search but could not find what I was looking for. If it needs removing I will remove it and can someone point me to a useful thread?

Kind regards
Dan
Click to expand...
A decent car cover is expensive and a few members on here move roof motors into the boot for cheap so I would just have it moved.
Where in the country are you? A Bristol member "number5" does them I think. Also member Ducklakeview does them up north
 
I would agree with Magicarcher,do not go anywhere near Custom Covers,I bought one and had the same problems.When I complained to Custom Covers after having used it for approx 8 months they said it was only guaranteed for 6 months and told me to get lost.
 
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