Convertible Hydraulics

[giraffophobic]

So,

Recently I encountered a couple issues when trying to use the soft top. Retracting it for maximum-sun mode is no issue, and it almost seems to retract more forcefully and quickly than before. However, when I attempt to raise it back up, I hear the motor function, but the roof fails to rise. In addition to this the emergency release does not function at all (I've used this once before and have a feel for how it should be working).

I was able to get the roof back up instead by having one person hold the close button, while I lifted/pushed the roof back into place. When the roof was about 3/4 of the way closed, the hydraulics seemed to kick in again. When this happened, the roof closed with greater force than normal. Does this sound like a hydraulic line is getting pinched, and at a certain point is being subjected to enough pressure to overcome that pinching (thus the slamming of the roof, and the rapid opening)?

I'm in the process of relocating the roof motor to the boot of the car ('06 3.0si), as I initially figured the roof motor woes had finally hit me. So far I've failed to remove the motor from BMW's interesting choice of location, however the motor does not seem to be the original, has a mostly full hydraulic fluid reservoir, and is missing its original sound dampening material (presumably got soaked with the original motor). I can't see the connection of the emergency release line to the motor yet.

Any ideas or recommendations?

 

[colb]

You need to extract the motor up and backwards into the boot, once there you can inspect the small manual release valve, a small brass coloured ball that the manual release cable op[erates on to depress it to relieve the pressure. Sound like your valve may be stuck in and not released after you used the red pull ring causing lack of pressure to work the hood correctly. Getting the top of the motor container is a fight and breaking the nylon tie wraps that hold the container in the well can be a challenge. If someone else has been in there there is no telling how many tie wraps they used when putting it back. I managed to force a long pry bar inbetween the container lid and its body then using a built up fulcrum point in the boot exerted pressure so thewhole container broke free of the tie wraps allowing the unit to be pulled back into the boot and finally repositioned inside the left hand side of the boot/trunk behind the sidewall carpet.
Good how to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhwOO654JA

 

[Number5]

Your issue will be caused by a fault on the pump head, not the motor part itself. Your pump is weak in one direction.

Once you’ve got it out of its location, you can reverse the ports so it is stronger going up and gravity will assist the weak direction going down. However you’ll need a new pump head to completely cure it in both directions

 

[giraffophobic]

You need to extract the motor up and backwards into the boot, once there you can inspect the small manual release valve, a small brass coloured ball that the manual release cable op[erates on to depress it to relieve the pressure. Sound like your valve may be stuck in and not released after you used the red pull ring causing lack of pressure to work the hood correctly. Getting the top of the motor container is a fight and breaking the nylon tie wraps that hold the container in the well can be a challenge. If someone else has been in there there is no telling how many tie wraps they used when putting it back. I managed to force a long pry bar inbetween the container lid and its body then using a built up fulcrum point in the boot exerted pressure so thewhole container broke free of the tie wraps allowing the unit to be pulled back into the boot and finally repositioned inside the left hand side of the boot/trunk behind the sidewall carpet.
Good how to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhwOO654JA

This was perfect, thank you very much! That forwardmost tie wrap near the bottom of the housing was a nightmare to break, but fortunately whoever did work on the motor previously did not add any tie wraps in other locations not covered by the video. The process of getting the motor/housing out made me seriously consider purchasing a boroscope haha.

Your issue will be caused by a fault on the pump head, not the motor part itself. Your pump is weak in one direction.

Once you’ve got it out of its location, you can reverse the ports so it is stronger going up and gravity will assist the weak direction going down. However you’ll need a new pump head to completely cure it in both directions

A correct diagnosis, one of the nuts securing a hydraulic line to the pump was not on tight, and in combination with that minor hydraulic fluid leak there was a fair amount of corrosion on that joint. Rest of the assembly seemed corrosion free for the most part. I appreciate the help!

Will be replacing the pump head, refurbishing that hydraulic line connection, and doing a hydraulic fluid reservoir refill later today

 

[colb]

Brill, glad you got it out and found the fault, Number5 is the expert at doing this job.