Roof wont go down..

Daveyzz

Member
Wonder if anyone can advise... checking my z (stored for winter in a garage)... tried to drop the roof , windows went down and roof unlatched and moves about 25mm back ... if I repress the roof down button I can hear a relay click..but no movement of the roof. It happened last year and post a couple of presses of the button it started working again. Noticed before I tried the roof, I took the battery off trickle charge and removed charger.. ignition on noticed clock had reset which I thought was strange also .. while on charge the boot had been left fully up ...
wonder if all is linked ... or is it the roof motor / pump... any checks or actions to prove out what is causing the fault ..
 
It sounds like the first half of the process is working. i.e.
1. Windows Drop, 2. Roof Detaches from Windscreen, and then part 3 is failing, whereby the hydraulic roof motor pulls the roof back.

Try keeping your finger on the button and giving it a gentle helping hand, which may get the motor running, but long term it sounds like your roof motor has/or is failing after sitting over winter. Time to investigate and relocate it I'm afraid.
( I assume that you dont have the flashing orange light on the switch, which would indicate the parcel shelf is in the wrong position?)
 
Thank you for the response ... i will double check the lower roof button led wasnt orange .. I believe is was red ... getting prices for motor and pump refurbished unit around the 250 mark .. supplied and fitted plus relocted to the boot around the 750 mark. Also informed to check drains first ... before progressing motor exchange ... funny thing is BMW dealer who I purchased the car from informed me that they changed the roof motor due an issue with it dropping / didn't go down straight and mark roll over hoops purchase purchase which they fitted. since then the car has only been washed and never used in the rain.
 
Is there any warranty on the motor they replaced that you can pursue ?

Dont go spending £750 at a dealer. There are people on here who will help you sort it for about £150 cash and usually if the motor has only just stopped working, its salvageable.

Where about's in the country are you ?
 
Not clear if your engine is running when you are trying this. I assume you are sure it's not a dying battery?
 
Thank you for the replies guys .. I'm in Essex and did have the engine running when I tried. The car was an approved BMW about I purchased 3 years ago, all warranties have ran out. :-(
 
Daveyzz said:
Thank you for the replies guys .. I'm in Essex and did have the engine running when I tried. The car was an approved BMW about I purchased 3 years ago, all warranties have ran out. :-(

Roof motor can be fixed and relocated at the same time. I normally charge £60 for that.
 
Wow...that is a good price :thumbsup:

Speaking from experience doing it myself, I highly recommend letting a professional carry out the job :)
 
I have a 2003 and I have to push and hold the down button for the whole prossess of top down and up. its not a 1 touch button like the windows. try holding the button down
 
rapidroy said:
I have a 2003 and I have to push and hold the down button for the whole prossess of top down and up. its not a 1 touch button like the windows. try holding the button down

Same as :headbang:
 
Roof isn't one touch as standard as it doesn't have anti trap like the windows do, it can be made one touch with a gap Tech module
 
markplant said:
Roof isn't one touch as standard as it doesn't have anti trap like the windows do, it can be made one touch with a gap Tech module

Is that a straight swap out module ??
 
It's a add in , goes under ashtray an roof switch buttons , comes with horrid connectors but most people solder them in
http://gap-tech.co.uk/rchp.html
 
Thank you for all for posts and offers of assistance .. tackled issue yesterday by removing roof - not a bad task to do just over an hour remove it. Normal story motor seized... dryed the unit out, sprayed lube spray to free it .. bench tested motor in both direction for 1/2 hour .. seems good for refit..
 

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Great work,it did not come across in your first post that you had the technical ability to do this yourself.
You make it sound a doddle ,I know its not.
Now get it in the boot before it gets submerged again :thumbsup:
 
First BMW so don't know much on how things are done / located however have good engineering background plus the information / help on here is great and well prep'd before I started it . I think the key is to ensure you release the u hoop clips at the rear leaving 2 of 4 torx lose on the side mounts just prior to lift. I bet trying to release them with roof loose would cause issue.
 
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