Roof broken again, only half closes

[Msport]

Roof broken again!!!

This time the roof opens fine, no problem.

But I'm stuck with it half closed, the procedure starts as normal but when it gets to putting the second part of the roof down the motor just wirs away and the second part of the roof is stuck ontop of the first - see pic! Windows won't go up either

Any ideas how I can at least get this closed to take to garage?

 

[Msport]

So an update, I went out to the car to have another look.

Bizarrely the flashing red light had gone off by its own accord!!!

The roof all closed perfectly this time.

But then as soon as it was fully up red light starts flashing again and I dare not try to open it again incase it gets stuck!

I then put the battery on charge, and the immediately the red light went out whilst it was on charge!

Could all this just be that my battery is dead? I'll charge overnight and see if it works ok when fully charged..

 

[Ole gits rule]

The battery will cause major issues but by the description it sound like micro switches - I am sure Robbie will be along to give better advice

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Yeah, not out of the woods yet.

When mine needed a new microswitch it worked sometimes, but then not at all.

If it’s just a switch, it’s not too expensive to fix.

 

[flybobbie]

Get obd reader, you can't do any maintenance on these cars without one.
For instance i just worked on the rear ebrakes, but wouldn't work until i cancelled errors, then all good.

 

[Msport]

I have an obd reader but it's a cheap rubbish one, won't let me do anything.

What is the most recommended one to get on here? I atleast want to be able to do stuff like change the battery (!) myself so I'll need one that can reassign and code a new battery.. any recommendations?

Seems rediculous to have to go to a garage to get it coded, might as well put the cost towards a good reader like you say..

Get obd reader, you can't do any maintenance on these cars without one.
For instance i just worked on the rear ebrakes, but wouldn't work until i cancelled errors, then all good.

 

[z4lincs]

The battery will cause major issues but by the description it sound like micro switches - I am sure Robbie will be along to give better advice

Yeah mine is currently under a cover in exactly the same state with the roof half up.. booked in for replacement micro switches next week to hopefully sort. Was intermittent for a few days and now won't budge.

 

[Ole gits rule]

The battery will cause major issues but by the description it sound like micro switches - I am sure Robbie will be along to give better advice

Yeah mine is currently under a cover in exactly the same state with the roof half up.. booked in for replacement micro switches next week to hopefully sort. Was intermittent for a few days and now won't budge.

Yeah mine was the same - switches were £16 each at that point prob around £25 now, labour was pretty steep on it at 2Hrs then the diagnostics, just glad mine was covered under warranty.

I think its pretty easy to do - few videos online on how to do it

 

[SteveNortham]

I have the same issue, managed to get it to work once and the roof back down and the windows up! I only have a basic ODB reader which doesn't tell me anything.. but seems a Foxwell NT530 is the one to get?

I am keen to self-fix if it's just a microswitch or alike swap. Motor/pump all seem ok and the CTM seems dry/ok.

All seems to work but then the last part of the roof gets stuck and the boot doesn't seem to finish its closing cycle when the roof is fully down - does this look like a sensor issue?

Video here of what it's doing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE67X7l6l7Q

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE67X7l6l7Q[/youtube]

 

[Msport]

Yes that is exactly the same fault I have!

I replaced my battery today but the fault is still there, having read this thread I think we need to replace microswitches 4 and 5 for our particular fault... Full details in this great write up:

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=95385#p1402669

Mine is now booked into the garage, but not for another three weeks. Might also see if I can do it myself as don't want to wait that long.

Is your fault Intermittent? Mine is there sometimes but not others.

I have the same issue, managed to get it to work once and the roof back down and the windows up! I only have a basic ODB reader which doesn't tell me anything.. but seems a Foxwell NT530 is the one to get?

I am keen to self-fix if it's just a microswitch or alike swap. Motor/pump all seem ok and the CTM seems dry/ok.

All seems to work but then the last part of the roof gets stuck and the boot doesn't seem to finish its closing cycle when the roof is fully down - does this look like a sensor issue?

Video here of what it's doing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE67X7l6l7Q

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE67X7l6l7Q[/youtube]

 

[SteveNortham]

Mine was intermittent for a few days but now seems to do it every time, I managed to get it back down and windows up after a few tries and left it like that for now - ill check out the fix thread and see if can solve

 

[SteveNortham]

Ordered left and right microswitch ring buckle couplings - shall keep posted on if that solves

 

[Pondrew]

Mine was intermittent for a few days but now seems to do it every time, I managed to get it back down and windows up after a few tries and left it like that for now - ill check out the fix thread and see if can solve

Classic symptoms of bootlid microswitches. They do seem to be the most common ones to fail due to internal corrosion (not sure why TBH).

There is a really good thread on here on where they are located, and a step-by-step guide to changing them, along with BMW part numbers. I did mine last summer (as had exactly the symptoms described here). It is a very simple job and cheap, as long as you do the right things like marking the bolt positions otherwise everything can go out of whack and it will then be a nightmare.

Sopers of Lincoln BMW (if in the UK) are really good on price for parts, very helpful and give a discount to forum members (usually free postage too IIRC).

 

[Msport]

Sounds just like mine- it's getting more and more frequent now on mine too.

Like you I have also managed to get the roof and windows all back up for now (after trying to run the opening/closing cycle multiple times).

Definitely keep us posted on here as to how you get on fitting your switches - where did you order them, direct from BMW?

Mine was intermittent for a few days but now seems to do it every time, I managed to get it back down and windows up after a few tries and left it like that for now - ill check out the fix thread and see if can solve

 

[SteveNortham]

I'm in UK, down south near Winchester - I did notice the outside of the switches looked to have surface rust on them, so thought that may be an issue - ill get them out over weekend and post some photos.

 

[Pondrew]

Just make sure you mark the bolts on the hinges when you undo them. They need to go back in exactly the same place they came from otherwise the bootlid will be wonky and a world of pain.

 

[SteveNortham]

Grabbed them off a seller on Ebay, £29 - no idea if thats a good price? but for £60 fix then its worth a punt!

Sounds just like mine- it's getting more and more frequent now on mine too.

Like you I have also managed to get the roof and windows all back up for now (after trying to run the opening/closing cycle multiple times).

Definitely keep us posted on here as to how you get on fitting your switches - where did you order them, direct from BMW?

Mine was intermittent for a few days but now seems to do it every time, I managed to get it back down and windows up after a few tries and left it like that for now - ill check out the fix thread and see if can solve

 

[SteveNortham]

Noted and thanks!

Just make sure you mark the bolts on the hinges when you undo them. They need to go back in exactly the same place they came from otherwise the bootlid will be wonky and a world of pain.

 

[Msport]

Thanks for all that, is this the thread you mention;

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=95385#p1402669

You have given me the confidence to have a go myself, worst case I can just give the indy it's booked into in a few weeks time the new switches if I order and can't fit myself.

Mine was intermittent for a few days but now seems to do it every time, I managed to get it back down and windows up after a few tries and left it like that for now - ill check out the fix thread and see if can solve

Classic symptoms of bootlid microswitches. They do seem to be the most common ones to fail due to internal corrosion (not sure why TBH).

There is a really good thread on here on where they are located, and a step-by-step guide to changing them, along with BMW part numbers. I did mine last summer (as had exactly the symptoms described here). It is a very simple job and cheap, as long as you do the right things like marking the bolt positions otherwise everything can go out of whack and it will then be a nightmare.

Sopers of Lincoln BMW (if in the UK) are really good on price for parts, very helpful and give a discount to forum members (usually free postage too IIRC).

 

[Pondrew]

Thanks for all that, is this the thread you mention;

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=95385#p1402669

No there is another one (or more than one actually as it has been discussed many times) which gives detailed instructions. I seem to remember another thread quite recently (end of last year?) where someone did it and made a youtube video.
They will all be in the E89 problems section, or maybe the E89 discussion section.