E89 roof won’t close… or fully open!

[WayOfTheGinja]

6 weeks into ownership and unfortunately the roof has thrown a wobbly. It did it a couple of times the other day but turning the engine off and on fixed it. Tonight it won’t close, and when reopened it won’t put the windows up. Red roof error and bonging at either extreme.

Video of it in action (apologies for commentary!)

https://youtu.be/ixpNOr1Sydc

I don’t have a garage but thankfully bought a half cover in case this happened so that is on tonight.

My local dealer opens at 11. I think I’ll head over there unless anyone has any better ideas?

Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[Ole gits rule]

This looks like microswitches, do a search on here and see the same thing many time (including mine) - around £30 to £40 and can be done with some basic DIY knowledge although a little fiddly, dealer will charge you for diagnostic and fix so around £250 to £300.

I would check with a few others on here such as Robbie Z4 who is pretty good with the e89 roof.

I would look at RBM - Ross is pretty good (ex BMW master tech) and he is in Hook so about an hour from you

https://www.rbmhampshire.co.uk/contact-us

 

[WayOfTheGinja]

Thank you - very reassuring that it probably isn’t a £thousands job, even at the dealers.

Cycling it a few more times the back window has gone into place but the windows still won’t go up and the error is still flashing. With the cover on it is at least vaguely weatherproof - fortunately no rain forecast for a few days either.

I’ve got a day off on Wednesday - might be able to make it to Hook to meet Ross. Is it safe to drive it like that?

 

[Ole gits rule]

Thank you - very reassuring that it probably isn’t a £thousands job, even at the dealers.

Cycling it a few more times the back window has gone into place but the windows still won’t go up and the error is still flashing. With the cover on it is at least vaguely weatherproof - fortunately no rain forecast for a few days either.

I’ve got a day off on Wednesday - might be able to make it to Hook to meet Ross. Is it safe to drive it like that?

I should be wrong, there a multitude of things that can go wrong, but it sounds like what mine was doing when the microswitches failed - could be halal sensors but needs a diagnostics to find out the East cause.

Think you have to drive it, I drove mine like to a local specialist when it was like that - just take it steady and hope its not raining

 

[Argyll Andy]

Thank you - very reassuring that it probably isn’t a £thousands job, even at the dealers.

Cycling it a few more times the back window has gone into place but the windows still won’t go up and the error is still flashing. With the cover on it is at least vaguely weatherproof - fortunately no rain forecast for a few days either.

I’ve got a day off on Wednesday - might be able to make it to Hook to meet Ross. Is it safe to drive it like that?

could be halal sensors

Does that require a visit to a specialist butcher rather than a BMW Indy??? :rofl:

 

[Ole gits rule]

Thank you - very reassuring that it probably isn’t a £thousands job, even at the dealers.

Cycling it a few more times the back window has gone into place but the windows still won’t go up and the error is still flashing. With the cover on it is at least vaguely weatherproof - fortunately no rain forecast for a few days either.

I’ve got a day off on Wednesday - might be able to make it to Hook to meet Ross. Is it safe to drive it like that?

could be halal sensors

Does that require a visit to a specialist butcher rather than a BMW Indy??? :rofl:

You sen the state of some of the indy by me buddy - Hall sensors and I keep saying I should read before I push submit but never do :headbang:

 

[flybobbie]

I think we should start putting roof symbols on the car door to show how many roof fixes we have done, bit like swastikas on the side of Spitfires.
So far i'm on four.

 

[WayOfTheGinja]

Update -

Left it overnight, went down to check it this morning, unlocked it and the flashing red light on the roof switch had stopped. I also tried the boot and it opened, put the key in and the windows closed. Very strange. Either a sensor has shifted with a temperature change or some sort of system reset with the power off overnight - beyond my understanding.

I dug out my OBD reader and got the following codes:

A6A2 Soft close automatic - I know that the garage I bought it from fixed the boot soft close so that could be a residual code from then
A690 Microswitch, rear - end module closed, left
A698 Rear - end module open during driving
A6A4 Hardtop operating unit

I suppose that confirms microswitches (good shout Ole gits rule!)

Now I can drive it (although with the roof up what's the point ) and hopefully a specialist can fix it based on those codes.

A quick google found me Mark Purcell (BMW Specialist) just up the road from me - I'll give him a call on Monday and see if he enjoys puzzles!

For anyone interested - the half cover kept the morning dew off nicely and looks like it would have kept out moderate rain - https://www.everycarcovered.com/products/bmw-z4-e89-2009-2016-half-size-car-cover - Peace of mind for £50 - folds up very small and will now live behind the passenger seat!

 

[Ole gits rule]

Update -

Left it overnight, went down to check it this morning, unlocked it and the flashing red light on the roof switch had stopped. I also tried the boot and it opened, put the key in and the windows closed. Very strange. Either a sensor has shifted with a temperature change or some sort of system reset with the power off overnight - beyond my understanding.

I dug out my OBD reader and got the following codes:

A6A2 Soft close automatic - I know that the garage I bought it from fixed the boot soft close so that could be a residual code from then
A690 Microswitch, rear - end module closed, left
A698 Rear - end module open during driving
A6A4 Hardtop operating unit

I suppose that confirms microswitches (good shout Ole gits rule!)

Now I can drive it (although with the roof up what's the point ) and hopefully a specialist can fix it based on those codes.

A quick google found me Mark Purcell (BMW Specialist) just up the road from me - I'll give him a call on Monday and see if he enjoys puzzles!

For anyone interested - the half cover kept the morning dew off nicely and looks like it would have kept out moderate rain - https://www.everycarcovered.com/products/bmw-z4-e89-2009-2016-half-size-car-cover - Peace of mind for £50 - folds up very small and will now live behind the passenger seat!

No probs, issue sounds like mine, was intermittent so will need to be sorted.

I saw Mark list in the dealer feedback area as well.

 

[Zed Baron]

I think we should start putting roof symbols on the car door to show how many roof fixes we have done, bit like swastikas on the side of Spitfires.
So far i'm on four.

One more and you're an Ace :cpilot:

 

[Pondrew]

Update -

Left it overnight, went down to check it this morning, unlocked it and the flashing red light on the roof switch had stopped. I also tried the boot and it opened, put the key in and the windows closed. Very strange. Either a sensor has shifted with a temperature change or some sort of system reset with the power off overnight - beyond my understanding.

I dug out my OBD reader and got the following codes:

A6A2 Soft close automatic - I know that the garage I bought it from fixed the boot soft close so that could be a residual code from then
A690 Microswitch, rear - end module closed, left
A698 Rear - end module open during driving
A6A4 Hardtop operating unit

I suppose that confirms microswitches (good shout Ole gits rule!)

Now I can drive it (although with the roof up what's the point ) and hopefully a specialist can fix it based on those codes.

A quick google found me Mark Purcell (BMW Specialist) just up the road from me - I'll give him a call on Monday and see if he enjoys puzzles!

For anyone interested - the half cover kept the morning dew off nicely and looks like it would have kept out moderate rain - https://www.everycarcovered.com/products/bmw-z4-e89-2009-2016-half-size-car-cover - Peace of mind for £50 - folds up very small and will now live behind the passenger seat!

Sounds like a classic example of just one of the bootlid microswitches partially knackered. If one is fine but the other is intermittently not making, the control module doesn't understand so can do all sorts. I would put money on it being the offside one, but you always change both so probably won't find out.

The rear window section in the video won't lower because the 'puter doesn't think the boot is shut properly (cos a switch hasn't made cos it's knacked), so won't lower it to avoid any damage. Same with the windows not closing; 'puter doesn't think everything is right so won't raise the windows.

The fact that you can get it to close after several attempts is a sure sign of corroded/damaged contacts in a switch, as it is intermittent.

The switches are £16 each and if you have a socket set, a white pen, a small torx set and a broom handle (the most important tool), it is a very easy DIY job. There are step-by step instructions on the forum (thanks to Robbi).

 

[flybobbie]

I think we should start putting roof symbols on the car door to show how many roof fixes we have done, bit like swastikas on the side of Spitfires.
So far i'm on four.

One more and you're an Ace :cpilot:

Actually i forgot the fifth fault, the door switch wouldn't raise windows due bad connector and roof wouldn't open.

 

[Ole gits rule]

6 weeks into ownership and unfortunately the roof has thrown a wobbly. It did it a couple of times the other day but turning the engine off and on fixed it. Tonight it won’t close, and when reopened it won’t put the windows up. Red roof error and bonging at either extreme.

Video of it in action (apologies for commentary!)

https://youtu.be/ixpNOr1Sydc

I don’t have a garage but thankfully bought a half cover in case this happened so that is on tonight.

My local dealer opens at 11. I think I’ll head over there unless anyone has any better ideas?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Did you get the car to a garage off so what was the diagnosis?

 

[WayOfTheGinja]

Resolved!

I rang Mark Purcell on Monday - nice chap but said he doesn’t do hoods (fair enough!) He recommended Grosvenor BMW specialists in Reading so I called them and they gave me an appointment for Wednesday (which is much quicker than main dealers, I’m led to believe).

Dropped it down on Wednesday and they quickly confirmed it was the micro sensors that confirm boot closure had failed (as suspected). £35 in parts, £300 in labour and £80 diagnostic fee later and it’s all fixed. I would have loved to take the project on myself but without a garage to work in, or another car to use, I just felt that I didn’t have the confidence in case I got stuck - but a garage is in the 5 year plan

Grosvenor appear to know what they’re dealing with, they said they do a lot of BMW roof repairs and I can happily recommend them. https://bmwspecialistreading.co.uk/

Interestingly the roof is now cycling much quicker - I suspect the dodgy connection was causing hesitancy even when it did work.

Thank you everyone for your help and advice - definitely helped with my frayed nerves!

 

[Ole gits rule]

glad its resolved - what is their labour rate as £300 is appears steep?