Cant get the soft top down manually, help pls!
- Thread starter Zfyra
- Start date
But hopefully you local indie can help you with it. Cheers, Tug. Hello Tug:
I am having the same problem, do you know why the red boden is not releasing the fluid in the motor?? do you know how the releasing is made, does the releaser stuk to the motoer works by magnetism? I dissabled that part and nothing pushes the golden part of the pump.
Any comment or tip?
Regards
Arloga
I am having the same problem, do you know why the red boden is not releasing the fluid in the motor?? do you know how the releasing is made, does the releaser stuk to the motoer works by magnetism? I dissabled that part and nothing pushes the golden part of the pump.
Any comment or tip?
Regards
Arloga
Hello Tug,
I released the front hooks with he front motor , they I turned 90º the red wheel in the trunk but it didn't work, the roof was resisting to be opened, now I took off the hole soft top and I found a damged hinge (left) so I disconected all connetors , hoses, hinges and motor in order to send the hinges to repair and when ready be able to relocate the motor in the trunk, the point is that I took off the release mechanism from the hydraulic motor and I don't see how it works, it looks just like a plastic piece I don see any metal unlees it could have a magnet . Do you know how it works or why I wasn't able to open the soft top manually even if I placed the red ring in manual position?.
Thanks in advanced.
Arloga
I released the front hooks with he front motor , they I turned 90º the red wheel in the trunk but it didn't work, the roof was resisting to be opened, now I took off the hole soft top and I found a damged hinge (left) so I disconected all connetors , hoses, hinges and motor in order to send the hinges to repair and when ready be able to relocate the motor in the trunk, the point is that I took off the release mechanism from the hydraulic motor and I don't see how it works, it looks just like a plastic piece I don see any metal unlees it could have a magnet . Do you know how it works or why I wasn't able to open the soft top manually even if I placed the red ring in manual position?.
Thanks in advanced.
Arloga
VERTIMAC said:Hi All,
I am new on here and I am having motor issues with my 2005 Z4 - I was wondering if there was a way I could put the roof down manually until I can afford to fork out for yet another motor?! Any help greatly appreciated
Hi and welcome, you don't give a location but if your are UK based there are a few forum members who repair roof motors and move them to the side compartment of the boot where they are dry and snug - for a fraction of the cost BWM. If you search the threads you can find them and pictures of motors they have brought back to life!
Give us a rough idea of where you are then we can suggest who to contact.
Hi Arloga, sorry for not responding sooner but been away for awhile. If you un couple the nylon ring, under it there is a ball bearing looking protrusion, this is the release valve. You need to manipulate it by pushing it in (it could take some forceable pushing) to get it freely working. It is sping loaded. Once it is free your boden cable will work again.Arloga said:
Cheers, tug
Hi, It is been a while that this post was made, and apparently worked for everyone. I'm having the same problem mentioned. At the moment to pull the red ring, the top it is just able to move about 5-10 cm fighting. To be more specific, would you help me and tell me about how many minutes did you move in/out the red ring and in what position? After that did you have to fight again with the top? (I dont want to broke anything) I would appreciate if someone can help me a little bit.
I have 2003 Z4... motor packed up for the roof, so trying operate manually. Pulled the red tab in the boot and turned it, does not appear to do anything. I have push the open button to release the roof from the windscreen which works. I can push the roof down with relative easy but can not get it back up again. I have tried this procedure twice... Takes two grown men and alot of pushing to get the roof backup... so recap, it goes down easy but will not go up with out a fight manually..... any ideas??
Hi Ian, it sounds like your boden valve is partially seized up. What the boden does is, it lets the hydraulic fluid flow freely allowing free movement of the soft top. So, try pulling and pushing the red ring quite a few times (it doesn't move very far) and hopefully it will free it for you.
If not, then its roof motor out (which you will be replacing any way) To make things easier for you then i suggest depending on where you live to contact Ducklaview (Mike) or Number 5 or Bowser plus many others on the forum.
Best regards and good luck with your probs.
Cheers, tug
If not, then its roof motor out (which you will be replacing any way) To make things easier for you then i suggest depending on where you live to contact Ducklaview (Mike) or Number 5 or Bowser plus many others on the forum.
Best regards and good luck with your probs.
Cheers, tug
williamdefender
Member
Sounds like the bypass valve on the motor is stuck . You will need to release the pressue in the lines if you want to use the roof in manual mode . To do this you need to get the roof up again and get to the motor from the boot . Theres threads on here about how to do that , then undo the lines from the pump and this will cause the oil to release . You should then be able to lift roof up and down freely . Good chance of getting the motor working again although i wasnt so lucky .
BMW Z4 2.5I SE 2004
Member
Guys whats the average cost to repair a bmw z4 e85 rooftop motor? For like an indie garage also cost for boden cable seized repair
Hi, I have this same problem. Indeed now second time. Thanks for this thread I got a solution to manually open soft rooftop! Right in time for the summer! Thanks Tug & co! So here is what happened ...
I have 2007 Z4 3.0Si, and it was around 2010 I had issues with the top. That time warranty saved me and BMW fixed the issue. If I got it right electric pump is sealed in plastic cover. This cover was filled with water and pumps were rusted. Mechanics changed the pumps and replaced plastic covers and told me they now drilled hole to the bottom of plastic cover so that pumps would not lay in water.
Now 2020 May I took Z4 from winter cave and noticed top is not opening again. As I press the opening button at console the front electrical engine seem to work and open the screen release (and windows open) but pumps at the back do not give any sign of life. Just like many of you write in here. I remembered from 10 years back that I was able to manually work with the top. I was not able to do so before my first visit at garage and they did something like "we released a thing".
Again this time 2020 top was very reluctant to fold manually. Lot of resistance and not willing to push too hard. I had a wake idea that at the trunk there is "this thing" - red plastic release ring. I tried to work with it few times but it felt like it was stuck and gave no response. I tried with more power and was worried I brake it (indeed I managed to detach the red plastic ring from the wire, luckily I managed to place ring back. But being violent with the release thing did not help! I was bit desperate. Came here and read the same symptoms and care. I decided to try one more time.
This time I opened the screen locking and top was lifted few centimeters. I went to trunk side and pull the red ring. It felt like no response. But I was encouraged by your advices here and was not ready to give up. I tried to "wank" boden ring back and forth several times. I did not use too much power, my grip was firm but pull power was far from braking the plastic ring or wire. Even it felt like wire was not moving at all, it eventually moved a bit at the far end and "emptied the cylinders or something". This trick worked for me! Top gave up the resistance and was extremely easy to open. Closing was bit harder and recommend two persons to do it. Thanks guys! I usually do not write in these forums but I was so grateful for your advices and saw some still have issues with this so decided to give some hope
I have 2007 Z4 3.0Si, and it was around 2010 I had issues with the top. That time warranty saved me and BMW fixed the issue. If I got it right electric pump is sealed in plastic cover. This cover was filled with water and pumps were rusted. Mechanics changed the pumps and replaced plastic covers and told me they now drilled hole to the bottom of plastic cover so that pumps would not lay in water.
Now 2020 May I took Z4 from winter cave and noticed top is not opening again. As I press the opening button at console the front electrical engine seem to work and open the screen release (and windows open) but pumps at the back do not give any sign of life. Just like many of you write in here. I remembered from 10 years back that I was able to manually work with the top. I was not able to do so before my first visit at garage and they did something like "we released a thing".
Again this time 2020 top was very reluctant to fold manually. Lot of resistance and not willing to push too hard. I had a wake idea that at the trunk there is "this thing" - red plastic release ring. I tried to work with it few times but it felt like it was stuck and gave no response. I tried with more power and was worried I brake it (indeed I managed to detach the red plastic ring from the wire, luckily I managed to place ring back. But being violent with the release thing did not help! I was bit desperate. Came here and read the same symptoms and care. I decided to try one more time.
This time I opened the screen locking and top was lifted few centimeters. I went to trunk side and pull the red ring. It felt like no response. But I was encouraged by your advices here and was not ready to give up. I tried to "wank" boden ring back and forth several times. I did not use too much power, my grip was firm but pull power was far from braking the plastic ring or wire. Even it felt like wire was not moving at all, it eventually moved a bit at the far end and "emptied the cylinders or something". This trick worked for me! Top gave up the resistance and was extremely easy to open. Closing was bit harder and recommend two persons to do it. Thanks guys! I usually do not write in these forums but I was so grateful for your advices and saw some still have issues with this so decided to give some hope
Jarppa
I can't tell if you've had your motor/pump relocated to your trunk/boot. You folks in the UK have about 4 or 5 guy's who will relocate the motor to the trunk for a really reasonable fee. We in the States don't have these guy's & are either on our own or at the mercy of the dealership.
The reason I'm telling you this is because using the red emergency handle to move the top could have really bad things happen if your motor isn't in the trunk/boot. In that, it totally locks up at the motor. You can pull on the red handle as much as you want with zero results. If your tops up when this happens (happened to me this way) you'll be able to reach the motor thru the trunk as I did. However, if the tops down when this fails...…...your really totally sc***ed. Basically your top is then folded down on top of the motor under great hydo pressure with either no way of releasing it or reaching the motor. The only way that I know of to fix this is to cut the hydo lines on the passenger(American) side.
I would urge you to take advantage of the folks you have in the UK to move your motor/pump to your trunk/boot. There rates are really reasonable. You want at all costs to avoid having your emergency by-pass system fail top down
I can't tell if you've had your motor/pump relocated to your trunk/boot. You folks in the UK have about 4 or 5 guy's who will relocate the motor to the trunk for a really reasonable fee. We in the States don't have these guy's & are either on our own or at the mercy of the dealership.
The reason I'm telling you this is because using the red emergency handle to move the top could have really bad things happen if your motor isn't in the trunk/boot. In that, it totally locks up at the motor. You can pull on the red handle as much as you want with zero results. If your tops up when this happens (happened to me this way) you'll be able to reach the motor thru the trunk as I did. However, if the tops down when this fails...…...your really totally sc***ed. Basically your top is then folded down on top of the motor under great hydo pressure with either no way of releasing it or reaching the motor. The only way that I know of to fix this is to cut the hydo lines on the passenger(American) side.
I would urge you to take advantage of the folks you have in the UK to move your motor/pump to your trunk/boot. There rates are really reasonable. You want at all costs to avoid having your emergency by-pass system fail top down
Mr Chainsaw
Member
Hi, I'm having same roof issues on my 04 2.2 as some of above posters.
Ie, roof latches open/close normally then nothing. No sound from roof motor presuming it's knackered.
Boden cable into manual and roof extremely difficult to manoeuvre up or down.
Does anyone know someone in the North East of England who would fix / replace the motor?......indies I've tried so far dont want to know.
Cheers in advance
Ie, roof latches open/close normally then nothing. No sound from roof motor presuming it's knackered.
Boden cable into manual and roof extremely difficult to manoeuvre up or down.
Does anyone know someone in the North East of England who would fix / replace the motor?......indies I've tried so far dont want to know.
Cheers in advance
Mr Chainsaw said:Hi, I'm having same roof issues on my 04 2.2 as some of above posters.
Ie, roof latches open/close normally then nothing. No sound from roof motor presuming it's knackered.
Boden cable into manual and roof extremely difficult to manoeuvre up or down.
Does anyone know someone in the North East of England who would fix / replace the motor?......indies I've tried so far dont want to know.
Cheers in advance
Search for Durham Dave on hear, sounds like he isnt too far away from you!?
Mr Chainsaw
Member
Many thanks bigwinn yes anywhere in Durham is near...much appreciated!
Mr Chainsaw
Member
Thanks again bigwinn....unfortunately I've searched for the username Durham Dave and cant seem to locate him.
Probably something I'm doing wrong...any suggestions appreciated!
Cheers.
Probably something I'm doing wrong...any suggestions appreciated!
Cheers.
Mr Chainsaw said:
Here you go
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=123017&hilit=Durham+Dave
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