roof stuck halfway

N

neilbolton1478

New member
Hi I bought this for my wife and took delivery yesterday

when the dealer dropped it off he demonstrated the roof fine. but the first time i tried it went down but the windows did not go back up

then on trying to put it back up it became stuck with the rear section staying up. here are a couple of vids for the issue

https://youtu.be/HVQce38M7Rw

https://youtu.be/zSU2edKuCkM

I notified the dealer but he seams to think i broke it! I just wondered if anyone could diagnose so i can give him more information - he is 100 miles from me.

many thanks for reading :)
 
Smartbear said:
You’ve had the car a day & it’s gone wrong, take it back and ask him to fix it.
Rob
Click to expand...

Exactly! Cheeky git.
I'd worry that he won't honour anything else either.
 
It would say it’s a faulty micro switch to show the boot is closed, it won’t raise the windows or lower the rear shell until the boot is showing shut, see if the dealer will pay for it fixing locally
 
Do a baseline check.

Empty the boot completely. Make sure the internal frame is clicked shut. Look for any obstructions anywhere. (The sensors will detect very small objects.) Drive to your nearest petrol station. With the engine running and the doors shut, try to open/close the roof.
 
Busterboo said:
(The sensors will detect very small objects.)
Click to expand...

What "sensors" are you talking about? Please explain the technical background, as I did not yet find any hint on it. Is there a cam in the boot?
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Busterboo said:
(The sensors will detect very small objects.)
Click to expand...

What "sensors" are you talking about? Please explain the technical background, as I did not yet find any hint on it. Is there a cam in the boot?
Click to expand...
The boot contains sensors that detect anything which BMW thinks will prevent the boot opening or shutting properly. These sensors are remarkably sensitive, which is why you have to check carefully for objects in the 'forbidden' parts of the boot, for anything hanging down from the garage ceiling or for leaves and such from trees over the drive.

For example, a plastic shopping bag handle sticking out an inch above the 'frame' in the boot, a length of thin (now dead) cable hanging down in the garage or, in my case, leaves from ivy round a brick column in the car port. Anything.

The reason for using a petrol station forecourt for a test, by the way, is because it'll very probably be flat and the area above & around the car unobstructed. E89 roofs don't like uneven surfaces.
 
Busterboo said:
RobbiZ4 said:
Busterboo said:
(The sensors will detect very small objects.)
Click to expand...

What "sensors" are you talking about? Please explain the technical background, as I did not yet find any hint on it. Is there a cam in the boot?
Click to expand...
The boot contains sensors that detect anything which BMW thinks will prevent the boot opening or shutting properly. These sensors are remarkably sensitive, which is why you have to check carefully for objects in the 'forbidden' parts of the boot, for anything hanging down from the garage ceiling or for leaves and such from trees over the drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this extensive explanation.
Do yo have some technical details as well, how this detection is working?
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Busterboo said:
RobbiZ4 said:
What "sensors" are you talking about? Please explain the technical background, as I did not yet find any hint on it. Is there a cam in the boot?
Click to expand...
The boot contains sensors that detect anything which BMW thinks will prevent the boot opening or shutting properly. These sensors are remarkably sensitive, which is why you have to check carefully for objects in the 'forbidden' parts of the boot, for anything hanging down from the garage ceiling or for leaves and such from trees over the drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this extensive explanation.
Do yo have some technical details as well, how this detection is working?
Click to expand...
No. I've been lucky and have always been able to trace the cause of any roof problem without difficulty. There are technical details on the Forum, though. So, do a Search.
 
Ok, thanks for your feedback!

Please let me explain my level of knowledge to avoid further rumours and guesses. :wink:

There are 3 different technical solutions in the trunk:
  • 1 hall sensor in the floor to detect the closed luggage compartment cover
  • 2x microswitches for the trunk lid on the right and on the left coupling lock
  • 1 microswitch for the stored roof package
There are NO sensors, that monitor the trunk content ("that detect anything").
There are NO other built-in sensors ("These sensors are remarkably sensitive"), that are sensitive in any way.

There are only microswitches/hall sensors that generate an activated / not activated signal.
E.g.
  • Trunk lid open / closed
  • Roof package stored in the trunk or not
  • Trunk lid locked or not

But there is no trunk monitoring. Only a detection by the CTM, if a planned end position is not reached (i.e. by an obstacle).

In summary:
You are responsible for whether something is in the wrong place in the trunk. Otherwise your luggage will first be crushed and then the roof can be damaged by an inclined run, before it will be stopped by the CTM. :evil:

ymy2ct
Robbi
 
The only sensor i am aware of is the hall switch on the left lug the roof protector sits on. A bit of fluff there might stop it seating properly, but be surprised if the protector popped up as the roof was being raised. Anything bulky in the boot would have stooped the roof opening to start with, unless of course you had an inflatable object in the boot.....inflate. :P
 
Busterboo said:
RobbiZ4 said:
Busterboo said:
The boot contains sensors that detect anything which BMW thinks will prevent the boot opening or shutting properly. These sensors are remarkably sensitive, which is why you have to check carefully for objects in the 'forbidden' parts of the boot, for anything hanging down from the garage ceiling or for leaves and such from trees over the drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this extensive explanation.
Do yo have some technical details as well, how this detection is working?
Click to expand...
No. I've been lucky and have always been able to trace the cause of any roof problem without difficulty. There are technical details on the Forum, though. So, do a Search.
Click to expand...

I think it's fair to say that the 'search' will provide you with all the information you need......................90% of which has been supplied by RobbiZ4 :D
 
Tinker15 said:
I think Mr Busterboo may have over inflated his explanation a bit! 😀
Click to expand...
No, not at all. Roof 'problems' on the Forum fall into two categories. The 'technical' ones, best summarised by
RobbiZ4, for which the OP can do a search, and the 'Check these things first', which others have suggested and I have here, too. When a car's new to you and you need a solution NOW, either category that works will do just fine.

I've been lucky and never had a 'technical', Hall sensor-type problem. I didn't think that, though, the first time my roof stuck, with the boot lid vertical, 80 miles from home, a couple of weeks after I'd bought the car. I had visions of it being AA-ed back under a very big tarpaulin. Then the panic subsided and I realised I'd stopped to raise the roof with the nearside wheels on the pavement. I drove onto the flat and ... the roof worked. (This was why I suggested to the OP that he try the roof of the car that's new to him on a petrol station forecourt, most of which are dead flat.)

I never raise/lower the roof at traffic lights. OK, it takes only 19 seconds, but like many of us, I'll bet, I've had the experience of the roof starting and then stopping, because something's shifted in the boot and been 'sensor-ed'.

Key fob opening on my car works well, but it needs constant firm pressure and, if it doesn't get it, the roof will stop, at which point there's that sudden 'Oh, f...' feeling.

So, I sympathise with the OP and hope he finds a cheap, non-technical solution.
 
Something i have noticed, when using key fob slight lack of pressure and roof stops, ok, but press again and it's a b***er to get going again. Few times resorted to the in car button. I think sometimes might be limit of range and if other objects around you can act as a temporary aerial.
 
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