Roof motor problem ( or is it )

5

59custom

Member
The roof motor was done on my Z4 3 years ago by the previous owner with receipt for £600 that was one of the main reasons I had the car. I use it as a second car so in the last year of the 3 years since motor was done has never got wet and its garaged apart from the 2 x I washed the roof.
Fours weeks ago was taking the roof down and it just stopped half way, I found an independent BMW garage recommended from off a BMW forum local to me when I got there he said he was to busy and would have to book me in but said he would have a quick look. He sat in the car and pressed the roof up down and the window buttons on and off for a minute or so and it just started working again the roof was open and closed about six times. He then with out asking drove it in to the work shop and said
I will have to plug it in there is only a small charge he plugged it in and went off to work on another car for 5min he come back and said yes I thought it was it’s the hull sensor in the front part of the roof will be about £300. He said see how it goes if it fails again bring it back and will fit the sensor so just £40 for plugging it in he said. So all was ok for 2 weeks then it stopped again I booked it in to same garage he had the car over night and said he can not find any fault so must be the motor or wires going to it. To fix would be over £800 can’t remember the exact amount.

I have found a garage that someone on here has recommended in Earlswood (AutoKraft) so its now booked in with them over the phone they have said if it’s the motor its £280 + vat and £60 + vat for the motor surround labour will be £250. So will see what they say next week.

So the car has never got wet in the last year
Had a new motor 3 years ago
No fault showing when plugged in
Roof unlocks first stage with windows down
Guy from AutoKraft said they have never changed a motor in the same car twice.
Have looked at the how to do and thought of doing it my self but if I get the roof off only to find the motor is ok will be in the s**t as what to do next :headbang:


So before I found out next week what is your guess !!!!!
 
Given the new motor and relative lack of use I'd suggest it's one to work through methodically before splurging cash. Firstly when it stops is the motor running, does it sound wheezy? if it's running OK - then stopping, I'd firstly lubricate all the hinge points on the roof frame mine stopped 2 or 3 years ago giving me heart failure but it tuned out to be dry hinges and the latches on the top rail and has been A1 since. Then work through the micro switches, from the diagnostic it sounds like part 12 on the last compartment schematic on realoem, although there are others listed on the various images. Good luck and let us know what the fix is, hopefully not a motor :thumbsup:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&hg=54&fg=10
 
I can't hear nothing from the motor at all just unlocks at the front windows go down then nothing
I looked at the drain plugs today and they are 100% free the water ran down like a tap so if it is the motor
It must be an electronic fault rather than a water one. I will have a look at the hinges but when I manually
Open close the roof it's very free, and up until the day it stopped working was always a 10 second open close :wink:
 
Assume you also get a red/flashing red light whilst trying to lower the roof/whilst it is unlatched as normal? If so, it does sound like the motor. Mine stopped a few times and then came back to life over a couple of weeks before giving up - so your pattern fits.

Mine started to sound tired before it broke tho, unlike yours - so as has been suggested, I'd try and rule out other things first. I believe the wiring and the control module for the roof can also break. The roof module can be got at behind the passenger seat, its the white box behind the plastic grill thing. Though no idea as to how you'd actually test it. Wiring for the roof is a roof out job like the motor.

Guessing it's not a fuse?
 
Hi, just joined the forum, so hello to all. We picked up our 05 3.0l roadster on Saturday. Getting it was a marathon. We saw it about ten weeks ago, agreed to buy it, but when went to get the garage said it now had a fault with roof. The garage were very good, slow but good. At one point after trying everything else they could think of, they took it to local BMW. They said motor was flooded and was knack'd. Garage took it back and stripped out the roof. The motor was perfect, like new. Garage then sought help from on-line but drew a blank. Car went back to BMW, now to be told it was a control module. Estimate to replace £900. So £902 later car was fixed. They said there had been something like Coke Cola spilt on it! How's that possible.
So after a dodgy start Z4 ownership begins. I haven't half learned a lot about BMW Z4 roofs though!
 
Yes I get the red light as you say but when yours went I bet it was the first time it had been changed
That's what makes me thin its not the motor, as I think every post on here about motors are wet ones
With blocked drains,
When I picked up the car after they was trying to find the fault he was just putting the passenger side grill
Back on from behind the seat so that must have been looked at,
Am less than happy about getting a bill for around £650 but will keep it as a manual roof than pay £900

I just hope this garage has some better software so I can get some answers rather a massive bill just to find the problem.
 
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