Roof fault

[MikeyH]

Hi, I recently looked at a z4 near me, everything was fine, roof went up and down okay. Went back for a second look with the wife and to check over paperwork with a view to buy the car. Whilst siting in car tried roof with engine off and it got stuck and needed a push to go down. With engine on motor whirled happily but again roof needed push to work. Left dealer to put car through workshop and came back with the line that battery was flat. I’m not convinced as I have seen somewhere that this is caused by a failing hydraulic pump. What do you think it is and could a flattish battery cause this to happen and could this be an intermittent fault. The car at the time started okay.

 

[Number5]

If the car started then there should be enough power to supply the roof. And especially whilst the engine is running.

When there is a flat battery and trying to operate the roof, it will move but judder and move in inch or two at a time then stop completely. By this time the engine won’t start.

It sounds more like a weak pump. Especially if the roof will raise but not open or is stronger in just one direction.

Agree to take the car when the roof works smoothly. An open or close should complete within about 8-10 seconds

 

[MikeyH]

If the car started then there should be enough power to supply the roof. And especially whilst the engine is running.

When there is a flat battery and trying to operate the roof, it will move but judder and move in inch or two at a time then stop completely. By this time the engine won’t start.

It sounds more like a weak pump. Especially if the roof will raise but not open or is stronger in just one direction.

Agree to take the car when the roof works smoothly. An open or close should complete within about 8-10 seconds

Thank you number 5, that’s what I thought but he was adamant that they had checked the roof and it was working fine. I’m keeping an eye on the price and if it drops enough to make it worth doing myself I might go back and buy it.

 

[Number5]

If you do buy it, budget £350-£400 and that should just cover you for a pump and labour if one of the forum members here relocates it and replaces the hydraulic pump. (It sounds like the motor is ok)
However BMW would be looking for c£1200-£1500 if you really want to negotiate hard !

 

[MikeyH]

If you do buy it, budget £350-£400 and that should just cover you for a pump and labour if one of the forum members here relocates it and replaces the hydraulic pump. (It sounds like the motor is ok)
However BMW would be looking for c£1200-£1500 if you really want to negotiate hard !

Thank you, I don't think he will drop the price but we are moving towards November. I won't be using a dealer so it's nice to know there are people out there that can help if I get stuck.

 

[colb]

Since you are in Devon not a great distance from Number5 in Bristol to get the motor/pump sorted, lot of forum members on here have used his services with good feedback. If the roof motor is the only problem and rest of the car tic's all your box's go for it.

 

[MikeyH]

Since you are in Devon not a great distance from Number5 in Bristol to get the motor/pump sorted, lot of forum members on here have used his services with good feedback. If the roof motor is the only problem and rest of the car tic's all your box's go for it.

Yes colb, I agree with that, I have seen some good reviews for him myself. I'ts just that I feel the price is a little high and this has made it higher. Also I think that the only reason I'm still interested is that it I the only car within easy reach of me. But I will wait to see what happens with the price and if something else comes along in the meantime within a couple of hours drive, all the better. From what I have read on this and other forums it seem inevitable that if the roof motor/pump hasn't been done it will need to be.

 

[colb]

You didn't mention what year the car was or engine size, its worth mentioning that all the rubber hoses and plastics to some degree degrade over time mostly due to repeated heat cycles. Splits or holes in the rubber intake and vaccum system are a regular cause of faults cropping up on the forum. Water pumps and thermostats failing seem to be the other problems that crop up again down to age and high mileage. Oil leaks from Cam Cover gaskets and oil filter housing to the engine block gasket are the usual oil leak locations. Other than these points the engines are pretty good if looked after with regular oil changes. As to body and chassis condition just check the usual places wheel arch lips and sills, condition of the underside particulaly the rear subframe and the brake lines front and rear for corrossion, lines at the rear nearside are prone to bad rusting where they emerge from the plastic cover on the underside of the car into the wheel arch and split off to each of the rear wheels and calipers. Both flex hoses on the rears have a solid pipe between them that corrodes, best to change them for stainless braided hoses either as two flex hoses each side joined together or have single length stainless hoses made up so the oem hard line between the flex hoses is done away with. Good luck with your search for a suitable car.

 

[MikeyH]

You didn't mention what year the car was or engine size, its worth mentioning that all the rubber hoses and plastics to some degree degrade over time mostly due to repeated heat cycles. Splits or holes in the rubber intake and vaccum system are a regular cause of faults cropping up on the forum. Water pumps and thermostats failing seem to be the other problems that crop up again down to age and high mileage. Oil leaks from Cam Cover gaskets and oil filter housing to the engine block gasket are the usual oil leak locations. Other than these points the engines are pretty good if looked after with regular oil changes. As to body and chassis condition just check the usual places wheel arch lips and sills, condition of the underside particulaly the rear subframe and the brake lines front and rear for corrossion, lines at the rear nearside are prone to bad rusting where they emerge from the plastic cover on the underside of the car into the wheel arch and split off to each of the rear wheels and calipers. Both flex hoses on the rears have a solid pipe between them that corrodes, best to change them for stainless braided hoses either as two flex hoses each side joined together or have single length stainless hoses made up so the oem hard line between the flex hoses is done away with. Good luck with your search for a suitable car.
[/quote it’s a 2005 3.0i with just under 60,000 miles, £7,495.00, higher than I wanted to pay but it was close to me so I had a look at it. I liked the car a lot but the hood problem has pushed the price too high. There is a 2.2i se in Wales in my preferred colour combination, about 3 to 4 hours drive but thinking of getting the AA to do a ppc before going but will need to chat with seller first. It’s a long way to travel but Z4’s are a bit thin on the ground in my area at the moment. The mileage is almost 80,000 miles but the price is only £4250.00 and it looks good in the photos considering the lower price. I’m not concerned about the engine size as long as it’s a 6 cylinder engine, my days of being a boy racer have long gone. I just want a nice classic type roadster with a nice sounding exhaust to bring back memories of old. And I think the Z4 is the one.

 

[MikeyH]

[/quote) it’s a 2005 3.0i with just under 60,000 miles, £7,495.00, higher than I wanted to pay but it was close to me so I had a look at it. I liked the car a lot but the hood problem has pushed the price too high. There is a 2.2i se in Wales in my preferred colour combination, about 3 to 4 hours drive but thinking of getting the AA to do a ppc before going but will need to chat with seller first. It’s a long way to travel but Z4’s are a bit thin on the ground in my area at the moment. The mileage is almost 80,000 miles but the price is only £4250.00 and it looks good in the photos considering the lower price. I’m not concerned about the engine size as long as it’s a 6 cylinder engine, my days of being a boy racer have long gone. I just want a nice classic type roadster with a nice sounding exhaust to bring back memories of old. And I think the Z4 is the one.