Roof not working - roof motor changed. Stops halfway

S

Strayker270

Member
 USA
Hi All,

Unfortunately my roof motor has died and nothing else I can do to make it work again. I've read lots of threads on forum and tried everything. My question is which one to buy? Is it has to be genuine for £500-£600?

Found new for less then £300 not genuine but not sure if its "worth it" if u know what I mean.
Or maybe to buy used but genuine for around £250?

Any advice will be much appreciated.
 
You probably only need the motor part and not the whole pump.
Get a reconditioned one off ebay for about £125-£175 depending on type
 
OK, changed motor for new one. New ZHM oil. Opened and closed manually to get out as much air from the system. Roof started to working but only half way. Made a video what's happening. To open I need to help it a bit. Any ideas what's wrong?
Here is link to video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08uQchwOK7I&feature=youtu.be
 

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You have no hydraulic pressure - probably because the brass plunger on the pump (that the red release handle in the boot actuates) is stuck in. You need to make sure the brass plunger is free to move in and out.
 
It moves easy in and out. I also disattached emergency release that is attached to pump (the metal plate that push brass plunger in). I was thinking that maybe it's not fully out. I'll try again to move it.

Edit:
Roof without pressure can be easy moved up and down.

This moves easly in and out.
 

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On your video you show the roof collapsing by hand with virtually zero resistance - this can usually only happen if the fluid is free to flow around the bypass valve (which is activated by that brass plunger).
 
11 13 and 12 14 numbers are engraved on the pump housing so I’ve matched it with hoses.
On video car engine is started and to lower roof I have help it a bit (lift it and push back) and then pressure lowering the roof and tightens. When roof going up it goes only half way and than it looks like there’s no pressure at all even when pump is running. Don’t see any leakage of hydraulic fluid
 

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Strayker270 said:
Hi All,

Unfortunately my roof motor has died and nothing else I can do to make it work again. I've read lots of threads on forum and tried everything. My question is which one to buy? Is it has to be genuine for £500
Found new for less then £300 not genuine but not sure if its "worth it" if u know what I mean.
Or maybe to buy used but genuine for around £250?

Any advice will be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Got mine off ebay with "lifetime" warranty
 
Quick update:
Nothing has changed.
New motor, new ZHM hydraulical fluid, brass plunger moves in an out easly,
I've checked hoses - not folded nor bended nor crushed.
Banjo bolts ok, coopper washers ok.

Just before I'm going to buy whole hydro unit does anyone have a working pump that I could install on my Z to check if it's pump fault or something else. Looking someone as close to Leeds but I can travel. Bare in mind social distancing.
The idea is to put a 100% working hydro unit and checks if the roof going to act same or not.
Or to install my hydro unit on someones car and check if it's going to act same like my soft top.

I'm out of ideas what else might be wrong with it. I suspect hydro unit but before I'm going to buy it I want to be 100 % sure that's the issue.
 
Have you definitely got the small pin inserted between the motor wheel and the hydraulic pump? Otherwise the motor will spin but build no pressure
 
Number5 said:
Have you definitely got the small pin inserted between the motor wheel and the hydraulic pump? Otherwise the motor will spin but build no pressure
Click to expand...
Yes. Small pin with spring on it, round plastic with holes and a metal reactangle plate that keeps that round plastic firm on motor.
Pump builds pressure - roof going up and half way up it looks like it's loosing the pressure. Brass plunger - when roof completly down needs a lot of force to press it, when roof going higher I can press the plunger using only a finger and i can feel that only resistance is the spring on brass plunger.
 
Wortmanov said:
When you open it, does the motor keep running when it stops?
Click to expand...

Yes it does - it's quite apparent on the video.

OP - you seemed to have checked all the common stuff. I think if it were me I would be looking at changing the pump.
 
As you seem to have no loss of fluid it would seem the pump is not producing enough pressure and the brass bypass pin is not stuck. Looks like the pump needs changing as you have eliminated the other likely causes.
 
Just to confirm; when you changed the motor, you wrote 'new ZHM oil'.
Really stupid question no doubt, but did you put the right amount in?
 
Picture posted looks like the reservoir is half full judging by the shadow line, it should be around half full so there is room for the fluid in the rams and lines have room when it circulates. Just check there is enough fluid in there and raise and lower manually a few times to purge any air out of the lines. Once thqats done see how it performs under power again. If its still no better then pump will look like it needs replacing. Pelican Parts how to here, read through the posts to see what problems others have had https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/BMW_Z4M/167-BODY-Convertible_Top/167-BODY-Convertible_Top.htm
 
Thanks for the replies, very much appreciated.

Yesterday I got a new pump with new motor. Installed it today just about a half an hour ago and it's still same. So apparently it is not pump fault. Roof behave same way like on the video.

What else i can check? Hinges? Again hoses? Maybe some of the electric cables? Maybe I'm missing something? Any idea?
Recently I've installed RCH+ module with those supplied connectors but roof was operating normally.
 
Strayker270 said:
Recently I've installed RCH+ module with those supplied connectors but roof was operating normally.
Click to expand...

Did the roof start messing about after that was fitted then?
Surely the best thing to do is disconnect that and try again. Just in case that has introduced a problem.
 
Certainly pull the RCH & module out and see if that restores it to correct opening, too much a coincidence to ignore that as a possible cause.
 
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