NI newbie - already need help!

O

Ormorond3000

Member
Hi all

Northern Ireland Z4 newbie.

We've just had several sunny days in a row, possibly our annual quota of summers for the next 3 years, and my roof has remained firmly shut. Can anyone recommend someone in NI who could help me with a roof issue?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Orm3000
 
What are the symptoms - flashing lights etc? First thing to check - is the shelf in the boot definitely in the right position? How long have you had it?
 
Thanks for the reply Wondermike

Complete novice - only bought it a couple of weeks ago & playing with things I don't understand (yet)! It's a 2003 2.5i if that makes a difference. Put the roof down and up no problem when I first got the car home. Can't really say whether it was slow/fast/noisy etc.

Since about a week ago the roof will only unlatch from the windscreen. Red light comes on when I press the down button. Shelf in the boot is in the lowered position. I haven't touched the release cable to disengage the motor (though I suppose I have had a dog in the boot so she could have done).

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
 
Ormorond3000 said:
well I'm not going to let the wife in the car.......
Click to expand...
:rofl:

You're going to fit in well here :thumbsup:

Can't help with the problem I'm afraid. Shame really because as you say that's pretty much the quota of sunny days gone for 2011 already...
 
2.jpg


Offending roof
 
Just a couple of tips to try before you are taken down the roof motor road, check the shelf if properly set in the lower position it's a common cause for roof panic. And put a bit of light oil on all the roof latches, windscreen head rail slots and as many of the roof mechanism hinges as possible (go easy or you can get oil dripping on your seats). Myself and several members solved similar problems. Other possibilities include the various micro switches or the dreaded roof motor of course.

If you search the forum you will find a lot of useful stuff on all of the above including experiences on prices should you have the worst case scenario - From memory I think members have had motors changed for between about £500 - £1500 depending on whether they went main dealer or Indi, good luck.
 
Hey mate- if roof has not been used for a while a bit of oil and a gentle push on opening for a few times should help you out!
Where in norn iron are you? I'm originally from sunny old Belfast!
 
Thanks for the advice. I have tried a bit of gentle persuasion, but I'm scared of doing damage. Will try a bit of oil today. Failing that I'm going to have to take it to someone. I've been reading up as much as I can on the forum and to be honest the mere mention of micro switches etc brings me out in a cold sweat!

If oil doesn't work I'll have to take it to someone. I've called Railway Auto Spares (Ralph Jess) in Ballynahinch, but he can't look at it for a while. I'm in Hillsborough, though work in sunny Belfast. Anyone recommend anyone else, I'd like to get it sorted as soon as I can?
 
Ill check with my dad as he took his z3 to a great place on the ormeau road ( he usually uses bavarian- always buys new cars and services there so when he bought a late z3 I expected him to do the same but he swares buy this wee man for his z)
 
If it must be stuck, better up than down I suppose...
If you've had it only a couple of weeks, it might be worth speaking to the dealer you bought it from (if it wasn't a private sale).
Btw, the wheels look great :thumbsup:
 
I work in sunny Belfast too. The roof on my previous Z4 2.2i (same year as yours) failed over the winter due to water flooding it. I only had it a couple of months when it failed:(

Fixed it myself by reconditioning the motor and it worked perfectly after that. It's a reasonably big job but you could definitely do it yourself.

If you want to meet some lunchtime I can have a look at it for you and see if that looks like what the problem is. I work near the City Airport.

Just send me a PM.
 
Tried it again this morning and now I'm getting the orange LED, not the previous Red, and no movement whatsoever. according to the manual this means the shelf isn't in the correct position or there is a problem with the micro switch. Strange - fingers crossed it is something simple and not the motor!
 
Update - so I fixed the microswitch - back to red light - bugger

and took it to an indie who changed the motor yesterday (motor was completely rusted) - so for the first time since I bought the car I got to drive it with the hood down - the sun even came out for the blast home :D

shame the fecking cd changer has started playing silly buggers.............anyone know someone who could fix my.....
 
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