E85 3.0i Woes

A

andymol21

Member
So I picked up my car just over a month ago. 2003 3.0i with 39,000 miles. Had been kept in storage for 6 years by a previous owner. I bought it from someone who had done a load of work on it to get it back into road worthy condition after the storage. Thought it would all be fine...

I've recently done some big trips from Birmingham to Aberdeen in the car and have just arrived in Aberdeen for the 2nd time. Both times on the way up to Aberdeen I've had the airbag light come on my dashboard. Didn't think much of it as I've read that it's a common faults with battery under voltage and I guessed the battery is still the same one as was bought 10 years ago.

Had it checked out by an Indy and sure enough a low voltage was directed. Cleared and was fine for a week before my next trip up to Aberdeen. Again had the warning light come on after some, ahem, spirited driving on country lanes avoiding some road works on the motorway. (BMW sat nav is excellent at this, haven't been caught once following its advice. It once sent me on a little excursion down some back road to avoid a queue at some traffic lights, top job!)

I wish that was the end of my worries though, having resigned to the fat that my car will throw up airbag warning lights occasionally, I went for a drive and started hearing some horrible knocking coming from the front suspension. At low speed you can hear a clunk as the car shifts weight and can feel it through the brakes and steering wheel. The strut bracers were loose so I tightened them to 34Nm. No luck.

Then, to compound my misery, tried to put the roof up after a drive. Nothing. Lock disengages, then the roof wobbles as if the motor is turning but nothing happens, and that's it. Would love to hear how the red toggle should be set in the boot, as this was hanging out of its holder when I checked.

I have a warranty from the garage I got it from so it'll be going into a garage as soon as I'm back in Birmingham. Just hope whatever is wrong with the front suspension doesn't cause me any problems on the 450 miles home.

Just wanted to vent my frustration at what I thought was going to be a lovely, well sorted car...

Tl;Dr
New car
Airbag light
Knocking from front suspension
Roof packed in
Sad Z4
 
No idea about the roof but the suspension could be just bushes week link on the z4. Replaced my lower control arm bushes and ARB bushes recently and it transformed the handling. I suspect if its been sat that long then used the rubber could have gone hard brittle and now giving you problems.

It sounds as though the roof motor is working? So hopefully just needs resting or something?????

Good luck
 
If the red toggle is out then the roof shoudn't work at all... But strange how you got it down, then the toggle was out.

Here is how it should look :

Hydraulics engaged - roof motor engaged

IMG-20130107-00108.jpg


Hydraulics disengaged - roof motor disengaged, will only unlock the mechanism, not move the roof

IMG-20130107-00109.jpg


Sounds like the Bowden cable is loose, but I am not sure how it would get loose unless someone has stretched it :?
 
Just a quick one if you say your feeling something through the brakes? I would get it checked before the long drive!
 
Machine monkey said:
No idea about the roof but the suspension could be just bushes week link on the z4. Replaced my lower control arm bushes and ARB bushes recently and it transformed the handling. I suspect if its been sat that long then used the rubber could have gone hard brittle and now giving you problems.

It sounds as though the roof motor is working? So hopefully just needs resting or something?????

Good luck
Click to expand...

How would you reset the roof motor? Is it a simple procedure?
 
You can't re-set it, but sort the toggle and see if it works. If it does, tape it in place so it doesn't come out again :thumbsup:
 
Reseated the red cable and it worked perfectly. Wrote 50% of a message to thank you guys and tried it again. Really weak motor. Didn't get to roof out of the back properly then have up. Damn it. Thought I was there!
 
Try taping it in place. If it doesn't work then you need a new Bowden cable maybe. LukeMace had a similar issue IIRC, though he simply did not have the cable.

Good news is that if the hydraulics are disengaged you can get the roof up and down by hand once you have pressed the button to unlock it. Either do it with another person, one each side, or on your own by reaching into the middle of the hood. Latter is awkward, but you don't want to twist any of the hinges / mechanism.
 
With the red cable unlatched, I.e you can get the roof up and down by hand, will the roof motor still whirr in a working car, as mine is completely silent.
 
Not sure. Shouldn't do as the motor is effectively disengaged. I will check later when I go out if you like ? Be about 3.30...
 
Ok, checked. The only noise is the roof unlatching, the motor doesn't run at all :thumbsup:
 
Sorry Bing..have to disagree with you there, the red pull ring only presses a hydraulic bypass button on the side of the hydraulic pump which is connected to the motor, it doesn't do anything to the electrics .

So the motor should still spin ! the hydraulic fluid will just go around in circles (Bypass) instead of going to the rams :)
 
fixit man said:
Sorry Bing..have to disagree with you there, the red pull ring only presses a hydraulic bypass button on the side of the hydraulic pump which is connected to the motor, it doesn't do anything to the electrics .

So the motor should still spin ! the hydraulic fluid will just go around in circles (Bypass) instead of going to the rams :)
Click to expand...

The motor may spin, but it makes no noise on my car if the ring is pulled out and I try to move the roof. Mechanics aside, the motor 'appears' to do nothing. Go try yours... :D
 
Hi Bing,

I believe you that it makes no noise..can't check it now I'm about 1000 miles away from it, probably make no noise because there is no load :wink:
 
If you are mechanically inclined, Shipkiller has a web page devoted to the Z4 roadster and coupe...

www.shipkiller.com

There is a DIY on replacing the hydraulic motor as well as a load of information on the sensors involved.... among other information on the car. It's truly comprehensive.....
 
fixit man, :D

Clearancediver, that is a great site, have used it myself on a number of occasions :thumbsup:
 
Thought I'd update with one of my fixes. Took the zed to AW Autotech in Aberdeen to get the knocking sorted. They replaced the anti roll bar linkage on the front drivers side wheel. Knocking gone, steering sharper and everything better.

Great service from them at very short notice. Can recommend.

Roof still very broken, and airbag light still on. 1/3 fixed though, a win for today!
 
Clearancediver said:
If you are mechanically inclined, Shipkiller has a web page devoted to the Z4 roadster and coupe...

http://www.shipkiller.com

There is a DIY on replacing the hydraulic motor as well as a load of information on the sensors involved.... among other information on the car. It's truly comprehensive.....
Click to expand...

I'm mechanically inclined... A newly graduated mechanical engineer, so I even have the word in my title! What I am not is well equipped!

Just got off the phone with Autotech in Telford. Quoted £600 all in for the job, seems like the going rate to get it done and the guy on the phone was extremely knowledgable. They are moving premises so won't be able to get it done for another 2 weeks but he said he'd do all the modifications to try and reduce the likelihood of this happening again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom