e89 roof - Reasonable precautions.

S

Sludgepump

Member
I am the new owner of a 2009 E89 with 18,000 miles on the clock.

Have been reading up on roof problems and while I appreciate the majority of drivers don't have any issues I am
thinking of putting a car cover in the boot in case of roof malfunction on long journeys. What do other people do?
The thought of being stuck on the open road with rain pouring in doesn't bear thinking about so it seems a reasonable
precaution until you can get it recovered to a dealership (I assume a dealership should be able to sort it?)

The boot is bone dry with no sign of leaking so I will just replace the salmon relays for now. Was thinking of having
all the microswitches and hall sensors replaced but maybe that is me being paranoid.

Thanks

Dave
 
Sludgepump said:
I am the new owner of a 2009 E89 with 18,000 miles on the clock.

Have been reading up on roof problems and while I appreciate the majority of drivers don't have any issues I am
thinking of putting a car cover in the boot in case of roof malfunction on long journeys. What do other people do?
The thought of being stuck on the open road with rain pouring in doesn't bear thinking about so it seems a reasonable
precaution until you can get it recovered to a dealership (I assume a dealership should be able to sort it?)

The boot is bone dry with no sign of leaking so I will just replace the salmon relays for now. Was thinking of having
all the microswitches and hall sensors replaced but maybe that is me being paranoid.

Thanks

Dave
Click to expand...

I certainly would not use a BMW dealer - they wont have a clue at all, better off with a local indie.

Car cover seems sensible with some bungee cords to go under the car to keep it tight
 
Agree with Sean (OGR) regarding BMW dealers. They seem to have the 'E89 roof' section of their technical manuals missing, so just throw expensive parts at them until it cures the problem when they mis-behave.

I am convinced that things like microswitches corroding and failing are directly linked to water ingress in the boot at some stage. It makes logical sense to me....water in the boot will evaporate when warm and the vapour has to go somewhere, so will condense back out on all the metal parts until it can be released. If there is no (or never has been) moisture in the boot there should be no corrosion to these parts. It's just a theory but makes sense to me.
 
I have cheap car cover, keep behind drivers seat.
Been used a few times with roof problems.
Also fire extinguisher.
 
Pondrew said:
Agree with Sean (OGR) regarding BMW dealers. They seem to have the 'E89 roof' section of their technical manuals missing, so just throw expensive parts at them until it cures the problem when they mis-behave.

I am convinced that things like microswitches corroding and failing are directly linked to water ingress in the boot at some stage. It makes logical sense to me....water in the boot will evaporate when warm and the vapour has to go somewhere, so will condense back out on all the metal parts until it can be released. If there is no (or never has been) moisture in the boot there should be no corrosion to these parts. It's just a theory but makes sense to me.
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This makes sense to me as well.
The car is one owner who has kept it garaged all its life. The roof mechanism looks like new.
I have lubricated all the hinges and softened all the seals with Gummi Pflege.
The battery is original fitment (in 2009!) so I really ought to get a new one considering the strain the roof will put on the battery
Probably get a car cover as well

Thanks for all the replies

Dave
 
I would bet the percentage of e89's that are fitted with covers is limited to a tiny tiny percentage - with the majority havinga cover due a an existing issue / leak.

I really wouldn't bother, they are designed to work outdoors & I don't see that a cover will materially change the chances of a microswitch type issue ever happening. I assume you will occasionally use the car in the rain - so it is going to get wet regardless.

Only sure way is to keep it indoors at room temperature & don't drive it.

Lube the seals every season & if you get a roof issue get it fixed.

Definitely change out that battery, probably look at the age of the tires also.
 
matsmith749 said:
I would bet the percentage of e89's that are fitted with covers is limited to a tiny tiny percentage - with the majority havinga cover due a an existing issue / leak.

I really wouldn't bother, they are designed to work outdoors & I don't see that a cover will materially change the chances of a microswitch type issue ever happening. I assume you will occasionally use the car in the rain - so it is going to get wet regardless.

Only sure way is to keep it indoors at room temperature & don't drive it.

Lube the seals every season & if you get a roof issue get it fixed.

Definitely change out that battery, probably look at the age of the tires also.
Click to expand...

I think cover is being mentioned above as something to have on the side in the (hopefully unlikely!) event of roof ever being stuck open.
 
Fady said:
matsmith749 said:
I would bet the percentage of e89's that are fitted with covers is limited to a tiny tiny percentage - with the majority havinga cover due a an existing issue / leak.

I really wouldn't bother, they are designed to work outdoors & I don't see that a cover will materially change the chances of a microswitch type issue ever happening. I assume you will occasionally use the car in the rain - so it is going to get wet regardless.

Only sure way is to keep it indoors at room temperature & don't drive it.

Lube the seals every season & if you get a roof issue get it fixed.

Definitely change out that battery, probably look at the age of the tires also.
Click to expand...

I think cover is being mentioned above as something to have on the side in the (hopefully unlikely!) event of roof ever being stuck open.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I precaution in case you're out on the road and your roof fails. Just stops the car filling with water.
 
Fady said:
matsmith749 said:
I would bet the percentage of e89's that are fitted with covers is limited to a tiny tiny percentage - with the majority havinga cover due a an existing issue / leak.

I really wouldn't bother, they are designed to work outdoors & I don't see that a cover will materially change the chances of a microswitch type issue ever happening. I assume you will occasionally use the car in the rain - so it is going to get wet regardless.

Only sure way is to keep it indoors at room temperature & don't drive it.

Lube the seals every season & if you get a roof issue get it fixed.

Definitely change out that battery, probably look at the age of the tires also.
Click to expand...

I think cover is being mentioned above as something to have on the side in the (hopefully unlikely!) event of roof ever being stuck open.
Click to expand...

Spot on, its not to protect the switches
 
Ah I see - hadn't considered that as an option.

Whilst I can see that in the event of a roof failure whilst away from home, and that it was raining, that would indeed be handy - is it really a 'reasonable' precaution?

In poor weather I keep the roof up - I just don't get it.

These roofs don't fail every 5 minutes - I've had 2x e89s for a period of years without any concerns. You see more of it on here, as this is where people come when they have problems.

I think it's many times more likely that I would have a tyre fail (I don't carry a spare), or the engine have a problem (I don't carry any spares or tools).

If something goes wrong I call BMW & get them recover it / fix it.

Maybe I'm just a risk comfortable nutter.
 
matsmith749 said:
Ah I see - hadn't considered that as an option.

Whilst I can see that in the event of a roof failure whilst away from home, and that it was raining, that would indeed be handy - is it really a 'reasonable' precaution?

In poor weather I keep the roof up - I just don't get it.

These roofs don't fail every 5 minutes - I've had 2x e89s for a period of years without any concerns. You see more of it on here, as this is where people come when they have problems.

I think it's many times more likely that I would have a tyre fail (I don't carry a spare), or the engine have a problem (I don't carry any spares or tools).

If something goes wrong I call BMW & get them recover it / fix it.

Maybe I'm just a risk comfortable nutter.
Click to expand...

I have and I guess many others started a drive with the sun orbit 50 miles away the weather is poor and its raining so I stop and put the roof up so it can happen.

I agree roof failures are rare but they do happen as mine did and I don't have a garage, I was lucky as I used my neighbours overnight (it was dry) but the issue was security for me.
 
I have a bag of items I need to temporarily repair problems on the spot. I have ProTool to get trunk open if needed and diagnose problem. And I have spare microswitch and hall sensor. Additionally I have jumper wires to short left right micro switches together. Wiring on both side has already been replaced with high flex chain link cable.
 
javis20 said:
I have a bag of items I need to temporarily repair problems on the spot. I have ProTool to get trunk open if needed and diagnose problem. And I have spare microswitch and hall sensor. Additionally I have jumper wires to short left right micro switches together. Wiring on both side has already been replaced with high flex chain link cable.
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Impressive…and I thought I was paranoid .. :thumbsup:

That should guarantee that it never fails!
 
Well, I've experienced 2 roof failures, so far. Looking to avoid another. Most worried about roof down failures, when roof is stowed, and can't get to CTM. That's why I’m thinking of installing a pair of shorting switches pin 7 & 10 .
 
javis20 said:
Well, I've experienced 2 roof failures, so far. Looking to avoid another. Most worried about roof down failures, when roof is stowed, and can't get to CTM. That's why I’m thinking of installing a pair of shorting switches pin 7 & 10 .
Click to expand...

Yup …

So what does shorting 7 and 10 do again?
 
As you may recall, someone posted about an A68B code when roof was stowed. Had to go to extremes measures to get roof into service position. Problem was a broken wire to a micro switch on one side. Shorting left and right microswitch wire together would have over ridden the problem. Basically he had the exact same diagnose dan problem, except the roof was stowed. Shorting CTM connector pin 7 and 10 would solved his problem, but he couldn't get to the connector. So I plan to install a easy to access switch to address the problem.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147873
 
javis20 said:
As you may recall, someone posted about an A68B code when roof was stowed. Had to go to extremes measures to get roof into service position. Problem was a broken wire to a micro switch on one side. Shorting left and right microswitch wire together would have over ridden the problem. Basically he had the exact same diagnose dan problem, except the roof was stowed. Shorting CTM connector pin 7 and 10 would solved his problem, but he couldn't get to the connector. So I plan to install a easy to access switch to address the problem.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147873
Click to expand...

Splendid..I’ll add it to my winter upgrade program :thumbsup:
 
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