Hi all... typing this feeling thoroughly p****d off. came out of work today, sun shining and thought i'd drive home with the roof down. so, held the button down, roof moved about 6 inches then stopped!, i tried again and nothing happened.... after waiting for a minute i tried for a third time and this time it lowered perfectly fine to my relief but whilst driving home it occured to me, what if when i get home it won't raise again?.... it did. So i sat there playing with it, lowering then raising it and all seemed ok but i'm wondering why it got stuck initially when i came out of work?... is the first telltale sign of a problem starting?. I now need to swat up on everything roof motor related (i hope i'm just being paranoid). As most of you know on here by now i'm new to the z4 and was wondering if some guidance or advice could be steered my way? i.e roof motor prices, where to buy from, is there a decent diy guide somewhere and just how big a job is it?... like i say, i hope its just paranoia but theres no harm in arming myself with the knowledge..
First signs of roof motor failing?...
- Thread starter silverdevill
- Start date
Sounds very similar to what happened to me, played up for about 6 weeks before finally giving up the ghost (sorry).
Motors are around £300 from eBay, £350+ from a dealer. Fairly chunky job to change, so if you're competent there will be a guide on here, but if you're not, it's 5 to 6 hours work, so £250-£300 from and inde or £500+ from a main dealer to fit.
There is a guy on here (did mine) called Bowser134 (based in Hampshire) who'll do it for about £550, so worth a PM. BMW trained, did a great job on mine.
Motors are around £300 from eBay, £350+ from a dealer. Fairly chunky job to change, so if you're competent there will be a guide on here, but if you're not, it's 5 to 6 hours work, so £250-£300 from and inde or £500+ from a main dealer to fit.
There is a guy on here (did mine) called Bowser134 (based in Hampshire) who'll do it for about £550, so worth a PM. BMW trained, did a great job on mine.
Ok mate thanks for the info. Whats the deal with the drainage plugs (is there one or two?) Do most people remove them and leave them out and if so does it help at all?
There are two drains, the exits are located in front of each of the rear wheels, right up under the sill. They end in a black rubber bung with pursed opening to supposedly let water out. Just do a search and you will find lots of text and photos.
Check the bowden release (red pull in the boot up in the top left corner) this is to allow the hood to be manually operated, in the event of motor failure, by pulling out and turning to lock back. Worth operating the bowden cable a few times to ensure that it is not slightly stuck in a position that is not right in and fully engaged (unlikely but possible).
If it continues to play up, it is probably the motor on the way out. There is a very comprehensive 'how to do the job yourself' written up a few years ago by a life member shipkiller which is the best available imo containing a full picture report. I have it on pdf and will email it to you if you want it. Just PM me with your email address.
Dealer or specialist roof motor replacement varies from £ 750- £1500 depending on how much they want to rob you. As has been mentioned, the member Bowser is a BMW Senior Technician and has replaced several of these for other members at approx. £550-£600 all in. He is located in Hampshire, check out this thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73041&hilit=replacement+roof+motor+offer
Check the bowden release (red pull in the boot up in the top left corner) this is to allow the hood to be manually operated, in the event of motor failure, by pulling out and turning to lock back. Worth operating the bowden cable a few times to ensure that it is not slightly stuck in a position that is not right in and fully engaged (unlikely but possible).
If it continues to play up, it is probably the motor on the way out. There is a very comprehensive 'how to do the job yourself' written up a few years ago by a life member shipkiller which is the best available imo containing a full picture report. I have it on pdf and will email it to you if you want it. Just PM me with your email address.
Dealer or specialist roof motor replacement varies from £ 750- £1500 depending on how much they want to rob you. As has been mentioned, the member Bowser is a BMW Senior Technician and has replaced several of these for other members at approx. £550-£600 all in. He is located in Hampshire, check out this thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73041&hilit=replacement+roof+motor+offer
I don't think the roof motor is too easy to be dead even it looks being rusty.
The motor has a protect shell which has not a way to let the water out.So let it be dry itself if just be wet or drill a hole above on it and use sucker to let the water out.
You need not change the moter or take apart the roof.
The motor has a protect shell which has not a way to let the water out.So let it be dry itself if just be wet or drill a hole above on it and use sucker to let the water out.
You need not change the moter or take apart the roof.
soooo.... its working all well and good today, will test it out again tomorrow and see how it goes. Could it have just been having an off day?.. 
Mine had 'off days' on my last car for quite some time... And then on our very first proper trip up to Scotland, just before leaving to go out on a forum run, it failed 
However working it manually for a while was ok, just needs two people to put it up ideally as its heavy and best handled from either side to make sure you don't twist the mechanism. Easy down with one person though.
It sounds like the motor, but if it happens again check that the red light is coming on next to the switch if it's not doing anything - you may dodge a bullet and just find it is a dodgy connection in the electrics. Also, if you have a gaptech fitted it would be worth checking that none of the scotch clips have come loose where it's connected under the ashtray.
The official BMW fix when it fails is to replace the roof motor as well as dril the drain holes at the top slightly bigger, and to completely remove the rubber bungs at the bottom.
However working it manually for a while was ok, just needs two people to put it up ideally as its heavy and best handled from either side to make sure you don't twist the mechanism. Easy down with one person though.
It sounds like the motor, but if it happens again check that the red light is coming on next to the switch if it's not doing anything - you may dodge a bullet and just find it is a dodgy connection in the electrics. Also, if you have a gaptech fitted it would be worth checking that none of the scotch clips have come loose where it's connected under the ashtray.
The official BMW fix when it fails is to replace the roof motor as well as dril the drain holes at the top slightly bigger, and to completely remove the rubber bungs at the bottom.