Newbie After bit of Z4 advice and help

[Ole gits rule]

My car doesn’t have comfort access..I can do all the functions you’ve listed..the only thing smart top gives on top is the ability to remotely close the roof…

I don't have comfort access and all I could do was open the roof off the key fob - if I could do the rest then I would not have purchased smart top.

I think there was a change in software in 2012 or at LCI

Is this also 1 touch on the move

 

[Anonymous]

My car doesn’t have comfort access..I can do all the functions you’ve listed..the only thing smart top gives on top is the ability to remotely close the roof…

I don't have comfort access and all I could do was open the roof off the key fob - if I could do the rest then I would not have purchased smart top.

Was there a change in software at LCI?

My car was built August 2012 so well pre LCI…

AFAIK all E89s can be programmed to do the functions listed..power mirror retract / open does require extra hardware..no one AFAIK has shown the ability to code one touch roof close without a smart top after market product, in part because it’s illegal in all markets to have one touch roof close without trap sensing ..

Given the E89 roof is a Terminator class crusher it’s illegal..not that it stops Smart top selling it’s product..

 

[Ole gits rule]

My car doesn’t have comfort access..I can do all the functions you’ve listed..the only thing smart top gives on top is the ability to remotely close the roof…

I don't have comfort access and all I could do was open the roof off the key fob - if I could do the rest then I would not have purchased smart top.

Was there a change in software at LCI?

My car was built August 2012 so well pre LCI…

AFAIK all E89s can be programmed to do the functions listed..power mirror retract / open does require extra hardware..no one AFAIK has shown the ability to code one touch roof close without a smart top after market product, in part because it’s illegal in all markets to have one touch roof close without trap sensing ..

Given the E89 roof is a Terminator class crusher it’s illegal..not that it stops Smart top selling it’s product..

Just dug this quote out - All Z4s made in July 2012 and after will allow you to open the roof while moving, but there's no retrofit for older models because they're beefing up the supports to allow for this - no certain about the retro fit bit but I am not aware of anyone saying they have programmed an early car to have the same functionality as yours.

I agree its not good to have one touch roof close but smart top do it - I normally have two touches activated on the key, but one touch internally and no one really uses the car other than me and I hope I have enough sense not to stick bits of my anatomy where the roof is closing.

 

[Anonymous]

According to RobbiZ4 the ultimate doyen of E89 roofs that statement is incorrect..

There was a change in hydraulic circuitry from 3 valve circuits to 4 valve circuits but that had zippo to do with ability to open the roof at any speed..it was part of ensuring a more positive closing procedure..there was no roof stiffening..

AFAIK if your roof doesn’t move underway then it can be coded

 

[Nictrix]

I can confirm that pre LCI roofs could be opened and closed while moving, however when I say moving it is at a crawling speed, anything more would bring on a bong.
Dont think I would want to put any unwanted pressure on any part of the roof by operating it at any sort of speed

 

[Ole gits rule]

According to RobbiZ4 the ultimate doyen of E89 roofs that statement is incorrect..

There was a change in hydraulic circuitry from 3 valve circuits to 4 valve circuits but that had zippo to do with ability to open the roof at any speed..it was part of ensuring a more positive closing procedure..there was no roof stiffening..

AFAIK if your roof doesn’t move underway then it can be coded

Not a guru on the roof but the op has a 2011 23i so he either needs smart top or coding, no-one has mentioned coding but quite a few have said smart top is the way to go which is odd as I would have though coding would be cheaper :?

 

[Ole gits rule]

I can confirm that pre LCI roofs could be opened and closed while moving, however when I say moving it is at a crawling speed, anything more would bring on a bong.
Dont think I would want to put any unwanted pressure on any part of the roof by operating it at any sort of speed

Maybe that is what it is - I can move mine unto 40kph but never would as it seems strange to add in extra stress on the system, maybe the advantage of smart top is one touch open / close when moving

 

[ronk]

The Smarttop does allow the mechanism to operate at a decent speed but if the roof suffers any undue loading ie inertia from road bumps / cornering - the system faults and it freezes. I suspect this is a car feature rather than a Smarttop feature.
This feature was observed on my pre Lci 3.0l E89

 

[Anonymous]

Personally I think the smart top is largely a waste of time..the one thing it does that cannot be simply coded is one touch remote closing of the roof..which is technically illegal in most markets..

All other aspects and limits can be software coded AFAIK.

Technically the last thing you want to do after you’ve shut the engine down and maybe going to sleep for a prolonged period of time is induce a massive current drain with a smart top.

Not necessarily relevant on a NA engine but good practice on turbo charged cars is to let the car idle for at least 1 minute..that gives the perfect opportunity to power the roof up with the benefit of the alternator powering all systems to the last moment.

But people bang on about it like it’s a divine miracle..

 

[ronk]

Wait until your car is parked roof down and it starts to rain heavily :rofl:

On a more serious note without my smarttop fitted, I couldn’t use the car - unless you are in contact with someone who could perform a divine miracle on my spine?

Incidentally the battery problem has never ever been a problem in the several year of ownership and infrequent car use. The battery copes amply well with a closure after use and opening prior to its next outing.

 

[Marcoose]

Where are the bloody pictures? Don't make me reach back there! :lol:

Given how finicky and expensive it is to repair the roof, the wise woman said to only open and close while stopped. Unless posing, of course.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Personally I think the smart top is largely a waste of time..the one thing it does that cannot be simply coded is one touch remote closing of the roof..which is technically illegal in most markets..

All other aspects and limits can be software coded AFAIK.

Technically the last thing you want to do after you’ve shut the engine down and maybe going to sleep for a prolonged period of time is induce a massive current drain with a smart top.

Not necessarily relevant on a NA engine but good practice on turbo charged cars is to let the car idle for at least 1 minute..that gives the perfect opportunity to power the roof up with the benefit of the alternator powering all systems to the last moment.

But people bang on about it like it’s a divine miracle..

Well I bought my smart top cheaply used at less than £150 so for me probably no different to buy Carly and I am not ne to mess with vehicle software to be honest so it made sense to me.

I always open / close the roof off the key and have no issues with the battery at the moment, car is rarely used did 30 miles in One but it does get put on a trickle charger for a day every week which seems to keep it working ok.

I used to do that with my RS Turbo may moons ago, not certain its needed now but I would still do it out of mechanical sympathy for the car.

 

[Anonymous]

Ref Ronk..of course if you have a medical related issue then it would be churlish to criticise its use

There’s a world of difference between good practice and ‘well it never did me any harm’ comments..

Running a circa 500 watt motor albeit got a short period of time on a non charging battery just doesn’t help its life expectancy or its ability to cope with an extended lay up..hence why BMW stated originally that the roof should only be operated with the engine running..in part to avoid the potential cessation of the sequence due to insufficient reserve capacity in the battery.

Similarly the reason why many turbos had s countdown timer originally was the good practice of allowing the turbo to cool prior to shutdown to avoid cooking and coking the residual oil keeping the crucial bearing well.

Manufacturers attempt to ameliorate these issues but that’s a reflection on poor practice of the public rather than an endorsement of their behaviour :tumbleweed:

 

[Nictrix]

According to RobbiZ4 the ultimate doyen of E89 roofs that statement is incorrect..

There was a change in hydraulic circuitry from 3 valve circuits to 4 valve circuits but that had zippo to do with ability to open the roof at any speed..it was part of ensuring a more positive closing procedure..there was no roof stiffening..

AFAIK if your roof doesn’t move underway then it can be coded

Not a guru on the roof but the op has a 2011 23i so he either needs smart top or coding, no-one has mentioned coding but quite a few have said smart top is the way to go which is odd as I would have though coding would be cheaper :?

The Op has said he can raise and lower the roof using the fob, this would suggest to me that he possibly already has a Smarttop fitted or something similar.

 

[2k35is]

When I had the small contaminated bubbles on my aluminum roof repaired it than went into service for various warranty work to be done.
After collecting car roof stopped working in two different positions
1) Boot lid in vertical position just before/after change of direction for open/close -BMW mechanic gave it a gentle shove to move it to full extend of vertical travel -it then worked-but do at your own discretion
2) The boot lid closing against the plastic cover behind the headrest stopped with about an 1" gap before lock down position wide enough to put your f

He managed to get roof full close and took car back to dealers got a phone call in less than 2 hrs to Anyone else heard of the over max spped error.say it was fixed.
Reason - attempt had been made to open/close roof at above maximum speed -error code logged which gave date and time and allegedly whilst in repair shop for warranty work. Car had been driven about 12 miles so possible but I am very skeptical about date/time even if opening over max speed generates a fault code.
Its a 2009 35i and as other have said can be open/closed on move at very low speeds on in car buttons but only key function is to open roof when unlocking
Bit of advice he gave me both for roof or accident work is to get fault code read before any work is carried out. Roof had worked perfectly when taken in and from what was said about code reading sounds as if they read fault codes before work started.
I suspect roof fault was due to very slight misalignment or maybe dust contamination whilst in body shop-but. who knows
Anyone else heard of the over max speed opening/closing roof fault code

 

[Argyll Andy]

Anyone else heard of the over max speed opening/closing roof fault code

Yes, I’ve heard of it. I’ve read it on a thread(s) on here and iirc it was something that BMW check for warranty claims and can refuse a claim if this is recorded. It does create a time/date/speed stamp as far as I’m aware

 

[tiglon]

I didn't think it was even possible to open the roof over the 20mph - I imagined it would not let you?

Closed mine once at around 10-15mph and it makes more of a noise when it shuts so I assumed it wasn't a good idea and now only put it up/down while doing 1/2mph parking or completely stationary.

 

[Scharnhorst]

Thanks very much all, I'll add those photos now I have a few, the weather since the Z4 has been in commission with me has not been the best !

 

[Scharnhorst]

 

[Marcoose]

Those lesser objects in the background ruin the enjoyment of the main piece.