Car laid up for 7 weeks, now roof doesn't work

J

John996

Member
Hi all

Need some advice on my roof.
Car is a 2003 3.0.
Left it covered up for 7 weeks, got back and she started first time. All bits and bobs work except the roof.
No pump whir, no unlock of the roof st the front, no lights on the buttons. Literally nothing.
Had a search around the site and have checked the following so far....
Fuses, all 3 behind the glove box are good.
Rear micro switch, switch clicks normally and both adjusters are in the down position.
Red pull cord, is seated correctly. Pulled out to see if anything happens but still nothing.

Weather down south is 'top down' weather.....😢

Anyone got any ideas???

Thanks in advance

John
 
What light indications, if any, are shown? If there is no unlatching or dropping of windows then that suggests no the motor in the first instance. Was the car left on charge?
 
If it's not unlocking, and you aren't getting the orange light to indicate that the shelf microswitch is open, then it's more than likely a simple power supply issue. Might be worth pulling out the ashtray panel with the switches on it and checking the plug at the back - You don't have a Gap-Tech module fitted by any chance do you, if so could be a faulty connection. Also behind the passenger seat, if you remove the trim, you can access (just) the roof module, again to check plugs.

Mike
 
I would try disconnecting the battery for 10/15 mins and seeing what happens. If that doesnt sort it your describing the symptoms you get when the roof module detects a fault such as an open circuit in the loom or a sensor etc. In these cases nothing happens and no lights flash. Then only way to find out then what's going on is reading the fault codes.
 
Thanks for the replies.
In answer....

Literally nothing happens when I press the button, no light, no unlatching, no window drop, no pump noise.....literally nothing happens!

The car was not on charge when stored.

Don't know if I have a gap-tech module or not? How can I tell?

Will disconnect battery next as above, if not will try a trickle charge overnight and check all the connections described above.

Will post up results.

Again, thanks for the help!

John
 
Does everything else work, I'm wondering if car has gone in to transport mode, I know it affects some of the cars functions but not sure about the roof
 
markplant said:
Does everything else work, I'm wondering if car has gone in to transport mode, I know it affects some of the cars functions but not sure about the roof
Click to expand...

Good point! OP - Does tha fan/aircon work properly, ie at full speed? If not, it could well be in "transport mode" if so, it'll need hooking up to the BMW diagnostic kit to deactivate it. Whereabouts are you? I can do this in about 10 mins for you if you are local to WA9, no charge of course.

Mike
 
Hi all

Thanks for the replies.

I've been away on holiday for 2 weeks, got back...problem still there!!! :(

AC works, fan goes to full speed and all 3 direction settings work.
Have tested everything else on the car and only the roof doesn't work.

Only thing I haven't tried from the suggestions above is the roof module connections behind the passenger seat....I don't want to break the trim, is there a trick to getting in behind the storage bin area????

Unfortunately, I'm down south in Portsmouth!

Thanks in advance.

John
 
UPDATE:

Did a bit more digging from the above post and tried to release manually.
Allen key releases the roof from the screen ok.
Red lever in boot put to 90 degrees do it doesn't go all the way back.
Roof moves about a foot backwards then I hit what I assume is hydraulic pressure.
Roof now secured back in place manually.

Rechecked the 3 fuses behind the glove box, all ok.

Still trying to get trim off behind passenger seat with no luck.

Any thoughts????

Anyone near Portsmouth with a diagnostic kit????

John
 
Hi rosskins

Yes, the panel is in the lower position.
I also took out the switch unit at the back and checked the wiring which is all intact and in decent condition.
Also checked the micro switch, which clicks decently. I dropped the panel and listened for one click (to check if in the lower position wether it was making the switch then breaking it) and all is good. Then as an added check I manually held the switch and tried the roof....still nothing!

John
 
without codes and scanner pids its just guessing, but.....

7 weeks + 2 is a looooong time for a battery. poor thing. Sat there neglected.

Anyway, disconnect the battery, give it a good charge (overnight), and try it all again.
Well worth a try.
Andy
 
John996 said:
UPDATE:

Did a bit more digging from the above post and tried to release manually.
Allen key releases the roof from the screen ok.
Red lever in boot put to 90 degrees do it doesn't go all the way back.
Roof moves about a foot backwards then I hit what I assume is hydraulic pressure.
Roof now secured back in place manually.

Rechecked the 3 fuses behind the glove box, all ok.

Still trying to get trim off behind passenger seat with no luck.

Any thoughts????

Anyone near Portsmouth with a diagnostic kit????

John
Click to expand...
Then contact Bowser134 based nr Camberley hood mystro and also Snr BMW Technician
 
If you pulled the red handle in the boot (and latched it 90 degrees so it didn't return to its 'home' position), but had hydraulic resistance when lowering the hood, it sounds like the hydraulic bypass that is supposed to allow the roof to go up and down manually is stuck. This would not give any of the electrical symptoms you described though - you should at least get an unlatching of the hooks or the light should flash orange or red to indicate a fault.
Any easy way to test the switch in front of the gear selector isn't faulty? It's like the car's not even getting the signal to start the roof lowering/raising process.
 
The bypass seizes on the majority of motors once they have gotten wet. The actual bypass plunger is brass, in the alloy pump housing so you get corrosion between the two once moisture is present. I always remove the actuating arm and check the bypass is free when I relocate/repair motors. Most of the time, if the manual release has been used, it is stuck in the bypass position.

Where abouts are you? I can fix this for you if you come to WA9.

Mike
 
Hi all

Still got the same issues, but have now had the roof motor relocated.
It was wet, but it turns fine.
Still no lights/movement/noises/anything when trying to lower the roof.
Also, no lights/noises/movement/etc if the roof is open and I try to close it on the button.

Does anyone have any ideas?????

Thanks in advance

John
 
Mike

Just read your post, Im down Portsmouth way unfortunatly, however, you did do my exhaust a few months back!!!
Its still sounding great and to be honest seems to have got better after a bit of 'bedding in'! :D

Im really confused about this roof problem as any other posts I've found all mention some form of unlatching/lights/etc and I am literally getting nothing on both buttons in any condition (roof up/down/halfway).

So far I've done everything suggested in this thread:

All other elements of the car work in the correct way
Checked all connections (behind seats and panels, etc)
Had roof motor relocated (it spins fine so is not siezed and is now more accesable for this issue)
Disconnected battery for 15 mins in case car needed 'resetting'
Fully recharged battery
Checked all fuses associated with the roof (in the back of the glovebox)
Checked microswith for shelf in boot
Bowden cable works

Still literally nothing with regards to the roof......
Weather is great at the moment..... :x
Does anyone have any ideas????? Please!!!!
 
Is the actual switch broken? Not got a roadster so don't know if this is an issue but it sounds like you've checked everything else.
 
Ducklakeview asked about a Gaptech being fitted. Did you found out if you have one? The instructions for installing are here: https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=282927&d=1309026407
Which will tell you how to get to it if one's fitted.
They do go faulty sometimes or maybe it's badly fitted.
 
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