Struggling with roof... Bowden cable maybe?

R

Rafaaq8

Member
Hey guys
I Have posted a few times and searched alot through the forums.

I'm a new z4 2003 3.0 owner , my roof is siezed.

Basically the roof unlatches electronically and then it goes stiff after a few inches.
I'm not too fussed I'm happy to use it manually.
Iv spent half an hour at different times releasing and and putting back and then re-releasing the Bowden cable (red cable in the boot) and then trying to pressure and push the roof down.

From reading the previous posts and other forums it seems like it is an issue with the Bowden cable not releasing.

How would I go about sorting that out.
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Rafaa
 
There are several members on the forum who are skilled in getting these working, or giving good advice on how to sort it yourself. Hopefully one will be along shortly to help.
 
I live in Australia, most of the z4 wizards live out in the UK.
Here's to hoping I can enjoy that wind in my hair soon. :driving:
 
Rafaaq8 said:
I live in Australia, most of the z4 wizards live out in the UK.
Here's to hoping I can enjoy that wind in my hair soon. :driving:
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Understood, but even if they can't help in person, the guys here are pretty good at giving the right advice, or asking the right questions to help with troubleshooting. I got my seized motor working with some help from forum members. Admittedly I'd already bought and fitted a new one, but at least I now have a working spare :lol:
 
hmmm... didn't realise you have two threads for the same subject on the go here - getting a bit confusing.
 
It will be the bypass valve sized on the pump head. Only real way to fix it is to get the pump out. However try this.

Remove the shelf and as you in you'll see the adjuster for the cable, it's a white plastic thing. UNSCREW the two halves as far as they will go without becoming physically detached, but before you do this make sure the red ring pull is in it's fully home position.

Doing this will remove any slack and then, hopefully you can give the red hoop a good tug and force the valve open.

Mike
 
enzed4 said:
hmmm... didn't realise you have two threads for the same subject on the go here - getting a bit confusing.
Click to expand...

I posted it up and didn't see it come up on the forum I waited a while before posting this one.my apologies. Is there a way to delete a forum post?
 
Found the clip, got too it from behind the passenger side seat. Undid the screw and then tried the bowden, which was super tight, pulled and yanked and it kept going back in to the clip wouldn't sit out, held it while pulled out and got my partner to try the roof. No luck .
Will try and take the motor out on the weekend.
Round 3 ...any tips
 
Do you have Shipkiller's guide to removing the soft top? This is an essential guide - I wouldn't have attempted mine without it. If you don't, then use Google and find a copy with pics. Any problems, I can PM you a copy.
 
enzed4 said:
Do you have Shipkiller's guide to removing the soft top? This is an essential guide - I wouldn't have attempted mine without it. If you don't, then use Google and find a copy with pics. Any problems, I can PM you a copy.
Click to expand...

Hey,
Iv heard about ship killers guide, but apparently his taken his website down, due to some issues.
I would love a copy of that manual. Thanks heaps
My email is [email protected] .
 
So it's done! Iv gotten to the motor and taken it off and the roof is now working fine manually.
Thank you enzed, for being super supportive.
I did it without taking the roof off. Anyone keen on wanting to know how I did can ask. More then happy to tell you how I did it.
The car feels transformed without the roof.loving it :driving: :driving: Can't stop driving.
 
Great news :thumbsup:

If you've got to the motor I suggest it worth spending a little more time and sorting it so it works from the button - can't be too much more work.
 
Rafaaq8 said:
So it's done! Iv gotten to the motor and taken it off and the roof is now working fine manually.
Thank you enzed, for being super supportive.
I did it without taking the roof off. Anyone keen on wanting to know how I did can ask. More then happy to tell you how I did it.
The car feels transformed without the roof.loving it :driving: :driving: Can't stop driving.
Click to expand...

Hey, no worries. Bladeowner provided the link to the roof removal guide, and Mike (ducklakeview) had the technical info - I just did the cheerleading from the sidelines :lol: . But, you're welcome anyway.
Are you saying you're happy to have it working manually now? As Crazy Harry said, you're most of the way there, getting the motor fixed/working again shouldn't be that hard. It's much nicer to have the roof working as it should do. But, as long as you can get out and drive it, at least that's a bonus.
P.s. can you pop over to my brother's in Sydney, kick his bum and get him to send my 224 wheels over? I've been waiting for ages now... :roll:
 
enzed4 said:
Rafaaq8 said:
So it's done! Iv gotten to the motor and taken it off and the roof is now working fine manually.
Thank you enzed, for being super supportive.
I did it without taking the roof off. Anyone keen on wanting to know how I did can ask. More then happy to tell you how I did it.
The car feels transformed without the roof.loving it :driving: :driving: Can't stop driving.
Click to expand...

Hey, no worries. Bladeowner provided the link to the roof removal guide, and Mike (ducklakeview) had the technical info - I just did the cheerleading from the sidelines :lol: . But, you're welcome anyway.
Are you saying you're happy to have it working manually now? As Crazy Harry said, you're most of the way there, getting the motor fixed/working again shouldn't be that hard. It's much nicer to have the roof working as it should do. But, as long as you can get out and drive it, at least that's a bonus.
P.s. can you pop over to my brother's in Sydney, kick his bum and get him to send my 224 wheels over? I've been waiting for ages now... :roll:
Click to expand...

Sorry for the super slow reply, I tore a ligament in my ankle and have been drugged up for the last week or so. Any who. Yeah sure I can hit your brother up for those tires. Anything for the community :rofl:
 
Rafaaq8 said:
enzed4 said:
Rafaaq8 said:
So it's done! Iv gotten to the motor and taken it off and the roof is now working fine manually.
Thank you enzed, for being super supportive.
I did it without taking the roof off. Anyone keen on wanting to know how I did can ask. More then happy to tell you how I did it.
The car feels transformed without the roof.loving it :driving: :driving: Can't stop driving.
Click to expand...

Hey, no worries. Bladeowner provided the link to the roof removal guide, and Mike (ducklakeview) had the technical info - I just did the cheerleading from the sidelines :lol: . But, you're welcome anyway.
Are you saying you're happy to have it working manually now? As Crazy Harry said, you're most of the way there, getting the motor fixed/working again shouldn't be that hard. It's much nicer to have the roof working as it should do. But, as long as you can get out and drive it, at least that's a bonus.
P.s. can you pop over to my brother's in Sydney, kick his bum and get him to send my 224 wheels over? I've been waiting for ages now... :roll:
Click to expand...

Sorry for the super slow reply, I tore a ligament in my ankle and have been drugged up for the last week or so. Any who. Yeah sure I can hit your brother up for those tires. Anything for the community :rofl:
Click to expand...
Thanks for the kind offer, but my brother says he'll try to arrange something this coming Tuesday. Obviously the thought of a forum member popping over to 'assist' with the process must have convinced him to get things rolling :rofl:
 
Kamuela said:
Any details on getting to the motor? I've seen Mike's posts, but any and all advice is welcomed.
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If you want to take it off while the roof is still on, you could try the following (BTW iv only done it once, by no means an expert)

1. Get into the boot with your back to the floor, look up and on the inside lip where the boot begins you'll see the hydraulic cables. Take them out of th3 clips to give you slack.

2. While the roof is still up, stand on the passenger side of the car (outside the car)(BTW that's where the motor is in for Aussie cars.) slide your seat forward and also tilt forward. Then slide your right hand down along the inside of the roof till you go low enough to be touching the motor housing. The plastic box.(btw most of this is done with just feel.
If you want you can crawl into the boot and have a look at the motor from there too, if you want a better idea or whatever.

3. Make a crow bar shaped tool or find one that roughly the size of a standard screwdriver.

4. Slide that tool down to the spot you've felt the box and try to wedge the curved end into the top half of the housing. (think of it as a awkward shaped lunchbox. And your trying to get that crowbar under the edge of the lid.) BTW it also has some tape around that section so either scrape It off with the tool or try you arm from the boot. I did both and had a bit of success from both ends.

5. Don't rush or panic keep feeling and keep trying to pry it, take ages,(took me about an hour) hopefully you're lucky and your done quick. Also just feel around to make sure there aren't any cables where you are prying.

6. The whole box should eventually pop out even if the lid doesn't.

7. Then you can get into the boot and deal with the soggy mess.
 
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