Roof open halfway

estrizhok

Member
Hi folks.

I am having problems with my hardtop. It won't open and so far I have not been able to diagnose the problem, let alone fix it. Hoping you can give me a push in the right direction.

It goes like this: when I press the 'open roof' button, the rear shell goes on top of the front shell as it is supposed to, and when it is time for the trunk to open, it does not. I still hear the pump working for another ~5 seconds after which the car gives up and starts flashing red light.

It started a few years ago. First, it'd open on the second attempt, then on 3rd, then on 10th... Never had problems closing it though, either from fully opened position or from that position it gets stuck in.

I tried to get it diagnosed twice. The first guy believed it to be a battery issue. It sounded strange, as the car did not complain about low voltage or anything. However, he did show me how roof opens up easily if the car is connected a power grid. And I did have a pretty old battery at the time. Okay, I replaced it. Nothing changed.

And a week ago while doing TÜV I asked my usual service to check the roof. They said there wasn't any error in the computer and that it is a hydraulic leakage, and quoted me a 2500 euro price tag for the repairs (allegedly, the roof needs to be dismantled).

I checked the fluid's level in the pump reservoir and it was lower than minimal. I topped it up to the maximum level and tried opening the roof a few times. It did not open once, I saw no apparent leakages and the level did not seem to have dropped.

Any thoughts?
 
estrizhok said:
Hi folks.

I am having problems with my hardtop. It won't open and so far I have not been able to diagnose the problem, let alone fix it. Hoping you can give me a push in the right direction.

It goes like this: when I press the 'open roof' button, the rear shell goes on top of the front shell as it is supposed to, and when it is time for the trunk to open, it does not. I still hear the pump working for another ~5 seconds after which the car gives up and starts flashing red light.

It started a few years ago. First, it'd open on the second attempt, then on 3rd, then on 10th... Never had problems closing it though, either from fully opened position or from that position it gets stuck in.

I tried to get it diagnosed twice. The first guy believed it to be a battery issue. It sounded strange, as the car did not complain about low voltage or anything. However, he did show me how roof opens up easily if the car is connected a power grid. And I did have a pretty old battery at the time. Okay, I replaced it. Nothing changed.

And a week ago while doing TÜV I asked my usual service to check the roof. They said there wasn't any error in the computer and that it is a hydraulic leakage, and quoted me a 2500 euro price tag for the repairs (allegedly, the roof needs to be dismantled).

I checked the fluid's level in the pump reservoir and it was lower than minimal. I topped it up to the maximum level and tried opening the roof a few times. It did not open once, I saw no apparent leakages and the level did not seem to have dropped.

Any thoughts?

RobbiZ4 is the resident roof expert but a few other are pretty knowledgeable as well.

I am no expert but if the rear section is rising, then stopping but the motor running that sounds like a sensor of some sort but I could be wrong on that.

Mine was doing something similar where the roof was down and then the shell would raise but the boot would not close and I could hear the pump running and it was microswitches which are pretty cheap to buy and can be done by yourself if you are ok with the tools.
 
Need to check connector on the right hand boot lift cylinder.
On my car it had slightly pulled apart so system doesn't get boot lid fully open signal.
So many posts now, try to find my post on it.
Found it, check this, cost you nothing:
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=106166
 
flybobbie said:
Found it, check this, cost you nothing:
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=106166

Thanks! I will try that as soon as I can. Since newtis.info got taken down, instructions on how to strip the luggage compartment of panels are not so easy to come by. Downloading ISTA now.
 
Only a couple of pins to pull to get the side trim off.
BMW in their wisdom decided to use a Hall sensor with a short lead and connector.
On my car it was pulling apart becoming intermittent contact.
The replacement part removes the connector, just one continuous lead back to module, so i believe.
 
Same story as here without any feedback?
The whole Z4 world is guessing around. :rofl:
https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852140

Guys, I'd avoid any actionism without a clear diagnose!
And for that, a response is required from the double poster. :rofl:
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Same story as here without any feedback?
The whole Z4 world is guessing around. :x
https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852140

Yep, it is my post on that forum. Sorry about not replying. Seems that forum does not notify over email about new replies, so I missed them.
 
Question.
Can you ensure, that the lifting of the rear roof shell has not been finished?
Then it could be an issue with the hall sensor on the right hydraulic cylinder in the roof shell, that doesn't send the correct signal.


Or has the process of opening the boot lid already started? There is a short stop of the pump between both steps.

And finally, the same question about name and location as on the other forum.
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Question.
Can you ensure, that the lifting of the rear roof shell has not been finished?
Then it could be an issue with the hall sensor on the right hydraulic cylinder in the roof shell, that doesn't send the correct signal.


Or has the process of opening the boot lid already started? There is a short stop of the pump between both steps.

And finally, the same question about name and location as on the other forum.

Hello again,

I did reply in the other forum. I am in Munich and you call me Eugene, if you really have to know my name. :)
Let me go down to the garage and check whether there is a short stop of the pump.
By the way, I am willing to visit your werkstatt or whatever and pay for your expertise. Just hope it will be less than 2.5k :D

Cheers
Eugene
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Question.
Can you ensure, that the lifting of the rear roof shell has not been finished?
Then it could be an issue with the hall sensor on the right hydraulic cylinder in the roof shell, that doesn't send the correct signal.


Or has the process of opening the boot lid already started? There is a short stop of the pump between both steps.

And finally, the same question about name and location as on the other forum.

Okay. If the pump stops I could not hear it. Seems to be running without interruptions.
 
RobbiZ4 said:
It is not my "Werkstatt" (it's a friend of mine) and absolutely not my job to repair cars in general. But it's my diagnostic tool and my very special Z4 roof know how. And I can re-vitalize E89 retractable hardtops. :D

That is awfully nice of you! You might not be a mechanic, but looking the diagnostic tool you have come up with, it is pretty safe to say you aren't a history teacher either :D That is a really cool piece of hardware!

RobbiZ4 said:
We can meet this week as of Tuesday i.e. at your garage (or in Giesing, my home) and I can connect your car to my Y3 diagnostic system.

Sure. I will send you a pm here.

Cheers
Eugene
 
You can get the complete forum translated into your mother language by google:
https://www-zroadster-com.translate.goog/forum/forums/bmw-z4-e89.32/?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=be&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=ajax,nv,elem
 
RobbiZ4 said:
We can meet this week as of Tuesday i.e. at your garage (or in Giesing, my home) and I can connect your car to my Y3 diagnostic system.

Hey Robert,

I sent you a private message here on the forum yesterday asking for details for the meeting that you so generously offered. Did you perhaps missed it?

Eugene
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Got it and sent an answer right now. :thumbsup:

Hi Robert,

Any chance we can meet before Friday?
Today I received my Carly. No roof related errors. Now your magic diagnostic tool is more desirable than ever. :D
Also, I found out that this forum has email notifications turned OFF for private messages by default. That's why we keep missing them.

Cheers
Eugene
 
Ole gits rule said:
RobbiZ4 is the resident roof expert ...

Interestingly, I've seen his car parking in Munich last summer and placed my Z4 business card on it. So he already had my contact details, but missed it. :roll:
20200712_MUC_sm.jpg


With the new Y3 Roof Diagnostic System I was able to diagnose the following:
Messung04-5.jpg

Well, that was a very interesting fault I haven't seen before!

As written, the rear roof shell came up, but the pump didn't stop and tried to push it further.
After some checks, this switch in the rear panel was electrically fine, no broken wires or sth. else, but it did not change it's switch state. We gonna have it replaced soon.
 
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