Help with 2003 Z4 3.0i top

B

Backdoctor

Member
I've had my Z4 now for 11 years, finally the top stopped working. Only 35,900 miles on her. I had an oil change done at a local guy that "specializes" in german cars. He said he put hydraulic fluid in and it leaked right out. That it would take all day to take top off to see what is wrong. Since then called a second shop that does only german cars, he said that was nonsense, there is no way to put in hydraulic fluid and yes the top has to come off to see whats wrong. He also said it would need the new upgraded arms and other stuff, that other shops just drill out something but it never works as good. He was going to be more expensive due to more parts but seems like he was very familiar with the tops. I also figured if the top was coming off, I'd put a new one on. I had seen some online for around $625 for german canvas. Here is one place, I need Tan:

http://www.cartopsdirect.com/bmw-z4...cloth-w-heated-glass-window.html#.U3THkfldWo0

So... does anyone have experience with this? I tend to believe the second guy as the first one said the fluid drained all over the floor. I have NEVER seen any fluid in my garage under my car except water from the ac unit from condensation. Also when I got the oil change from the first guy, he said he would look at the top. Next thing I know he charged me an hour for time to look at it...

Also, if you guys have recommendations for other places to get a good top. If it is going to come off, might as well replace it. Mine is faded some, which I find strange as it lives in my garage..

Harris
 
nope.. you can't refill the fluid without the top off afaik!

I'd bet my last dollar on it being a dead motor. Massively common fault. about £300 for the part here in the UK
I'm not sure on replacement roofs tho..

Roof definately needs to come off tho... about four - five hours work I believe...
 
So there is NO way to check fluid level or fill without taking top off.... which means first guy was lying, second guy was right?
 
AFAIK know, no.. all the pipework is down in the gully behind the rear firewall.. inaccessible without removing the top.
 
See information and pictures of the top and the hydrolic pump

http://www.zroadster.com/forum/index.php?forums/verdeck-und-verdeckpumpenproblem-e85.130/

This guy changes the pump without removing the top, I want to do the same excersise on my pump, just as a precousion.
 
You might be able to change the motor without taking the top right off - someone on here did it recently - but it's still a long job and it doesn't sound like the first guy has a clue as you'd still have to partly dismantle it. The second guy knows more, but I have never heard of any 'upgraded arms' being required. It's nothing to do with the folding parts if the motor is dead. The drilling he refers to is making the drain holes larger at the top - this is part of the official BMW fix as is removing the rubber bungs at the bottom of the drains behind the wheel arch. This helps, and then regularly cleaning the drains if the car lives outdoors should prevent them getting blocked again.
 
http://www.zroadster.com/forum/index.php?threads/hydraulikpumpe-trockenlegen-und-sicher-in-den-kofferraum-verbauen.79900/

This is the post he is on about, this is a guy who does conversions, drops the pump into the boot and makes a cover panel for where it sits down in the boot. He says he doesn't need to remove the roof to do the work, which is interesting, I am guessing maybe he goes up from that front left corner of the boot into the roof swimming pool area and brings it down from there. I'm not sure. It's obviously his business so the actual instructions don't seem to be there.

BUT, it proves you can get some work done on the pump without taking the roof off... just need to work out how.
 
Thank you all for the input. Truthfully I am better at detailing it than taking it apart. It would be difficult even if the information was in english. This guys seems honest. The first guy lied to me, so he's done as far as I am concerned. I have had her for 11 years, all paid off so some repairs here and there are to be expected.

Here's and old photo of her, but she pretty much looks the same. I use Zaino show car polish on her once a year and keep her showroom clean...

original.jpg
 
Hi there just thought I would give you my take on this - I. Bought a 2004 2.5 last summer from a main jaguar dealer the roof motor was replaced by them. The roof still had problems and so under their warranty it went back four times during this time they to told me they had topped up the hydraulic fluid for the roof !!! But then on a different day different mechanic I would be told that this was not possible !!!!!. They addmited that BMW repairs were somewhat specialised and the last time sent the car to a soft top specialist. The roof was fixed and all was well until 2 weeks ago ! The roof became lazy and wouldn't operate properly - this time it went straight into a local BMW specialist ( not a main dealer) who have looked after the car for me recently, they inspected the roof via a camera to save stripping it out and found that the new motor had been badly fitted and was lose ! Also there was some hydraulic fluid which appeared to be leaking out !!!! So they are taking the car next week stripping the roof and repairing whatever they find -

1. Don't trust anybody but a BMW garage with trained mechanics who understand the cars !
2. Don't trust main dealers to do a good job
3. And if would appear that you cannot top the fluid up without stripping the roof !


Good luck with your repair !
 
id rather pay someone on this forum to replace a motor, chances are they are way better than even a bmw technician, someone who loves there car, will put more time and care into the job than someone on £8 an hour.
 
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