Has anyone got a picture of how the emergency roof cable is supposed to look in the boot? My roof has stopped working (probably the motor i know) but i cant pull the cable its just kinda hanging lose and extended in the boot. I can pull and push the roof up and down but its a real struggle and takes two people to kinda wigle it (loads of resistance)...any help please.The roof lower swich keeps flashing when i activate it. Its booked into a BMW stealers in Nottingham on tuesday...so any advice before i get ripped off would be greatfully received.
Emergency Cable
- Thread starter Hunter
- Start date
I don't think you're looking at the right thing.
There is a white cable in the boot, in the middle of the panel at the back of the boot, this is the release for the storage compartment (in the cabin) in the event of an electrical failure. This does hang loose.
The roof release is a red handle located at the top at the top left of the boot opening. You pull this out to disengage the roof motor, there is some resistance to the cable and you need to secure it - it will not hang loose. Once the red handle is out you can freely more the up and down. Putting it back re-engages the roof motor. If you haven't pulled the handle out the roof will be very difficult to move as you are pushing against the roof motor / hydraulics. Which I think is what you're doing. You could damage the hydraulics if you are.
The roof motor is located next to the rear of the passenger door, if that's working you should be able to hear it turning when the roof button is pushed.
It's all in the manual - if you don't have one to hand there is a link in my signature to them... there should be some pictures too to explain the above better.
There is a white cable in the boot, in the middle of the panel at the back of the boot, this is the release for the storage compartment (in the cabin) in the event of an electrical failure. This does hang loose.
The roof release is a red handle located at the top at the top left of the boot opening. You pull this out to disengage the roof motor, there is some resistance to the cable and you need to secure it - it will not hang loose. Once the red handle is out you can freely more the up and down. Putting it back re-engages the roof motor. If you haven't pulled the handle out the roof will be very difficult to move as you are pushing against the roof motor / hydraulics. Which I think is what you're doing. You could damage the hydraulics if you are.
The roof motor is located next to the rear of the passenger door, if that's working you should be able to hear it turning when the roof button is pushed.
It's all in the manual - if you don't have one to hand there is a link in my signature to them... there should be some pictures too to explain the above better.
Yeah, thanks for that..the red one is just kinda dangling and doesnt seem to locate anywhere..the locking mech at the windsreen is working fine. Id just like to be able to disengage the hydrolics so that i can lower and raise the roof manually..which is why i need a bit more info on the red handle and where it is supposed to seat. 
The red handle locates in a little tube that the cable comes out of, to disengage the motor it needs to be held out at tension - against the end of the tube. If the cable is loose the motor will re-engage. If you put the red lever back into the tube (as shown in the picture in the manual) you'll see how it works and the point of tension where the roof motor disengages.
My red handle is not moving when I pull. Does this fail with the hydroulic too.
I know its the handle just under the left ridge top of the boot.
It used to free the hydraulic and now it feels like I'll brak a cable end off if I pull any harder.
I keep trying the pull daily just in case the routine persualion might free everything.
I know its the handle just under the left ridge top of the boot.
It used to free the hydraulic and now it feels like I'll brak a cable end off if I pull any harder.
I keep trying the pull daily just in case the routine persualion might free everything.