Broken Convertible Roof Motor

S

Sephanite

Member
Recently, the roof motor has been making a straining noise when its folding down or up and moved slower. Today though, it stopped halfway with a lil noise and the roof not moving making me pull it close by hand and pressing the close button to lock it into place.

DIY for checking and changing the motor?
Anyone know if there is a simple fix?
Motor price or what else could be broken?
 
Ouch this can an expensive problem to resolve.Is the motor 'straining' or is the roof frame stiff? This would put load on the motor and potentially damage it.Have you tried manually raising and lowering the roof as this will give you a good idea if you have a stiff frame or failing motor. If the roof moves freely does the motor now make any sound? If not has the fuse blown? If it is a failed motor then it's not an easy DIY job, it all depends how mechanically skilled you are and if you want to give it a go? If mine goes i'm giving it a go but i'd rather try preventative maintanence, ie lubing the frame pivot points and clearing drain channels.
 
Sephanite said:
The motor is straining and the roof is easy to move by hand and close manually
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:( Doesn't look good then, motor could be goosed.Has it always been slow or straining, as i was wondering if there is any warning with motor failure?
 
there was a warning. the motor started making some straining noises about 1 mth ago and the roof would shake open instead of a smooth fold
 
Sephanite said:
there was a warning. the motor started making some straining noises about 1 mth ago and the roof would shake open instead of a smooth fold
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Sorry to hear, but thanks for the info.
 
i hope your dealer is more merciful then mine. They said this is a big job and asked me for 800$ labour. looking at doing it myself atm
 
I know how to do it, I just am worried that if I have to bleed the hydraulic system, I will not be able to do it. In this case, it my be better for the dealer to do it than me....
 
Just beat on it really hard with a hammer........fixes most of the problems I've had !!!!!
 
zee42 said:
Just beat on it really hard with a hammer........fixes most of the problems I've had !!!!!
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I think the only thing being beat on hard will be the pocket unfortunately! I'd give it a go myself.
 
*AL* said:
zee42 said:
Just beat on it really hard with a hammer........fixes most of the problems I've had !!!!!
Click to expand...

I think the only thing being beat on hard will be the pocket unfortunately! I'd give it a go myself.
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im good at beating stuff hard. its always a screamer :D
 
My 2005 Z4 had this problem too :( .The roof would unlatch from the windscreen frame when activating the opening button, but it would not go backwards into open position. If I pushed the closing button, the roof latched into close position and sealed towards the top of the windscreen frame. My local stealer fixed the roof, and it turned out that the electrical motor had been exposed to water. To protect the motor, it is wrapped in a protective bag. But for some reason, water accumulated into the bag. Hence, the motor was permanently soaked, and it eventually failed. When I saw the failed motor after the repair, it was rusty and in a bad condition.

ElmotorsofttopBMWZ42005mod1-1.jpg
ElmotorsofttopBMWZ42005mod2-1.jpg

From my view this is actually a design error. It is described in a BMW service bulletin dated august 2003 (SI B 54 03 03, http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/56-29644-288775-4559/540303g.pdf). But as the problem normally takes some time to occur (usually after the warranty periode :tumbleweed: ), BMW has not done anyting to correct the problem.
 
How hard was it to get the softtop out of the car. I have the TIS/ETK procedures, but I was wondering just how hard it was to do?

From what I see in the procedures, I have to remove the rear trim panels (behind the seats) to access the mounting bolts to get the top out of the car.
 
According to the mechanic replacing my soft top electric motor, the whole soft top roof cassette had to be removed. For a good hobby mechanic with proper tools, this is probably do-able. But if you not have sufficient tools (and maybe a repair handbook), this might be a tough job. And remember, the roof should not be leaking water after the repair....
 
Yes, the whole top must be removed from the car.

The real sticker I can see is the removal and replacement of the motor/hydraulic pump. I think you have to break the lines to remove the assembly, then use a special rig to bleed the system. Not sure yet. Still going through the procedures.
 
I have the same probably on my 03. I'm out of warranty so for the moment I have disengaged the motor by using the red pull out thing in the boot (trunk) and now when I want to open the roof I use the button to release from the windscreen and then just manually push it back and then just reverse the action to close. It's far from ideal but I can't justify spending a fortune on it at the moment plus can't do without the car. My aim is to hear more about what people have done with regards to a fix and hopefully get it fixed next year in time for summer.
 
had my whole top replaced and watched how the stealers replaced it about a year ago.

anyway the motor is just suspended in one side of the of the B-pillar base(just beside your roll bar) If you see a covered wire that would be the side where it is located.

motor is housed in a plastic casing that is actually not water proof, problem is it is placed in a water channel so water will eventually get the best of the motor.

removing the top, stealers just used a few hand tools and 2 people to carry the top out and put the new one in. basically, the top is just screwed around the B pillar base, and rear metal frame. you have to unscrew and screw the bolts from the trunk.
 
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