Roof, is it the motor?

C

Chuck86

Member
 Cheltenham
Hi all,
Had the car for just over a year now and it has been great!

However, friday the weather was nice so I put the roof down, it went back up first time as normal when I parked. Due to me Parkin in a residents bay I moved it to a secured underground car park which had a load of pillars, so top went down for visability. When I eventually parked it, went to put the roof up,it came up around a foot and a half but was really slow! I put it back down to try again, went down ok, then would not move! There didn't seam to be any noise coming from the motor! I got it up by hand eventually, and used the button to lock it in place.

I have read similar threads (and fear the worst) so would like someone to confirm in their opinion whether it is:

A) the motor needs replacing
B)the microswich is broken
C)mech needs lubrication
 
If it's an orange light when you press the roof down button then you're microswitch may have gone.

Otherwise you might be right with the roof motor failure :(


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If it's a red flashing light and no noise, sounds like motor failure.

I'm not an expert by any means so there may be another explanation


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This is what I'm thinking, thanks for the response though.

I had it serviced 2 months ago with gloucester BMW, I asked them to clean the drain holes and they said they did! Think I can complain?
 
Chuck86 said:
This is what I'm thinking, thanks for the response though.

I had it serviced 2 months ago with gloucester BMW, I asked them to clean the drain holes and they said they did! Think I can complain?
Click to expand...

When I did my motor in the summer my drain holes were clear too. The pump housing can manouvre itself into a position partially blocking the drain that at least slows the water release and if you have a deluge, such as a carwash, that water level can rise so it get in the pump and once its there, no amount of drain cleaning will save your pump.

One thing to check before you have your dealer take the roof off - just occasionally the electrical cables that run from the pump across the roof under the fabric can get caught in the framework and wear through. Its a lot rarer that just the pump failing but worth checking.

P.S.- Im afraid your symptoms are, with the possible exception of th cable failure mentioned above, pretty typical for pump failure.
 
pog451 said:
Chuck86 said:
This is what I'm thinking, thanks for the response though.

I had it serviced 2 months ago with gloucester BMW, I asked them to clean the drain holes and they said they did! Think I can complain?
Click to expand...

When I did my motor in the summer my drain holes were clear too. The pump housing can manouvre itself into a position partially blocking the drain that at least slows the water release and if you have a deluge, such as a carwash, that water level can rise so it get in the pump and once its there, no amount of drain cleaning will save your pump.

One thing to check before you have your dealer take the roof off - just occasionally the electrical cables that run from the pump across the roof under the fabric can get caught in the framework and wear through. Its a lot rarer that just the pump failing but worth checking.

P.S.- Im afraid your symptoms are, with the possible exception of th cable failure mentioned above, pretty typical for pump failure.
Click to expand...

Definitely sounds like the roof motor
 
Thanks for the feedback, shame though it is :(

Does anyone know how much to expect to pay for a second hand motor? And what part number I should be looking for?
 
If you're prepared to give it a go yourself this job can be done for nothing. The motor can be cleaned up, dried out and reused. I did it with my previous car and it worked perfectly afterwards. I know others have done the same.

The motors are very robust they just don't work well under water!
 
Hello, i have to loan this thread..!

What is wrong with my Z roof..? when i press the openig button, NOTHING happens.. no windows go down, and cerntaily no movement at all on the roof. Also, there is no any light in those leds between close/open buttons?

help mee ! :cry: :cry: I read user manuall, and i spotted that i might have been pull the cord in the trunk witch are located on the back panell of the luggae comparment (while i tried to look that does my z have bluethooth.. If this causes the broblem, how to "unpull" it. the roof have been working fawelessly until this come along :o

Any adivce is good!
 
Check the parcel shelf is lowered and that the micro switch located in the boot works :thumbsup:

Are you seeing an orange light by he roof lowering button?


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Finisterre said:
keevo

have you checked the fuses?
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i did just check those. only that i didn't manage to get out the huge 40A fuse (nr 55) but the two other were fine.. i have to try get that out somehow. (does someone know 100% the fuses that i have to chek, sinence my Z is from italy, the fusemap is written in italy. Capota = roof :D

The compairment shel is lowered and i think the microswiths works proprely, atleast it moves and makes an "klic" sound

There was no orange light to my see.

I don't know how good my battery is, could the roof stop operating, if battery voltage is too low??
 
Hi Chuck check my thread on how i fixed my roof motor.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32052
May be of use to you
 
I think I have had the roof not move due to low battery, but not 100% sure.

If the engine is running though this will not be the cause.

Dig out the manual for the fuse? Doesn't sound like a motor if the windows don't drop.

I once had an issue with the switch being dead & traced it back to where I'd been installing speaker cable, I loosened a plug behind the passenger seat (your drivers seat) behind the access panel.
 
Yea, it is'n dropping even with the motor running.. Yes it feels like the panel is completly dead, and when i turn the key on the driver side lock and hold it in open position, it activates the windows go down, but not the roof(when the system worked it also activated the roof ).. Yes, i do not think that this is about the motor, because the system feels completly dead..

I check that plug soon, feels weirdo altough, haven been touched any wires inside cockpit :?

And yes, tired diggin out the fusemap, with skinny results

thx for the quick answers. Altought i bought this vehile on the shop, so i got the 6month warranty.. So, it will not cost me monay if there is something terrible wrong.. but i need the car as my daily-driver so i try firist to manage the broblem by myself :thumbsup:
 
Keevo
There will be plenty of electric power if the engine is running.

Mine did unlatch at the front even when the roof motor failed

So It might not be your motor.

Can't help you with the fuse map, the Mrs is out in the car.
 
Keevo said:
Finisterre said:
I don't know how good my battery is, could the roof stop operating, if battery voltage is too low??
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
While I was repairing my roof motor I had a situation where the whole car freaked out when I turned the ignistion - lights flöashed, relys clicked, all sort of weird s**t except the starter motor. In ym case I had actually run the battery down (testing teh roof). A night on a chrger and allw as well (I was scared id fried a controller somewhere) so try charging first.
 
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