taking roof off

[domsz4]

Ive read a load of posts and the guides about removing the roof and putting it back on and it doesnt seem too complicated just fiddly and time consuming.

one thing i have been told by several places is that the roof is sprung some how and getting it back on is really difficult. can anyone enlighten me on this. i need to get the motor fixed and am contemplating doing it myself.

 

[PaulG]

There is a metal bar that runs round the back of the frame and clips onto the side of the car. This is a bit fiddly to get seated properly in places due to limited access but is not difficult. The hardest part I found was to get the rubber weather strip off the bodywork without damaging the paint or the strip. It has been sat in place for years and doesn't want to come off. Getting it back on you really do need the silicon grease as recommended by Shipkiller.

It can be frustrating, but so long as you take care its not difficult. I did mine single handed (apart from lifting the frame out) in under a day.

 

[domsz4]

so the diagnostic i had done today said the roof motor was likely to be goosed, which we know as the roof doesnt go up/down but it also threw up a problem with the little latching motor. they thought it might be simply down to the fact the roof doesnt know where it is so will be fine once the main motor is sorted.

they reconed the problem getting it all ack together is getting the roof staight in the car and getting some screws back in on the sides?

 

[Scooba_Steve]

If the word problem is coming up at this stage find someone else / DIY

 

[PaulG]

Don't know where you are but there are a few recommendations around here for people to do the motor. If you have any doubts, go to someone who knows what they are doing. Sounds like your garages don't really fancy the job.

 

[domsz4]

Don't know where you are but there are a few recommendations around here for people to do the motor. If you have any doubts, go to someone who knows what they are doing. Sounds like your garages don't really fancy the job.

oh no on the contrary they will do it just yesterday they gave a ball park figure of £1900 im waiting for them to call today with a quote. hopefully less. the diagnostic was only £40.

i don't mind doing stuff like this just i like to know what i'm getting myself into first. i had no problems launching myself into building my westfield with no experience or idea but the difference with that is when something doesn't fit or i cant figure it out i can just shut the garage and walk away for a bit. the Z lives outside so i will have to do it in one go.

anyone know any places in liverpool/area that will do this job?

 

[PaulG]

Replacement roof motor and fitting should be £800 tops and probably less. £1900 is taking the p***.

If you have built a Westy then you should be able to do it yourself. It can certainly be done in a day.

 

[bowser134]

I charge £550 to replace the motor but based down south

 

[wegras]

MY BMW Dealer has just replaced the pump, casing, wiring for £1009 .That is BMW prices as already said anything higher is xxxxxxx

 

[domsz4]

I must have misheard him ... I hope so anyway. 550 would be great if I were closer

 

[domsz4]

so i didn't miss hear the price. got a call today that is £1500 -£1900 ... holy s**t!

plan B do without a folding roof till i can find some where cheaper?

 

[PaulG]

Search on here for Autotech in Telford. They have a good reputation. It would pay you to go down there or even to bowser134.

 

[domsz4]

Search on here for Autotech in Telford. They have a good reputation. It would pay you to go down there or even to bowser134.

lol i could probably send a taxi for bowser and his staff and stuff and still have change.. thanks for the heads up.

Dom

 

[wegras]

so i didn't miss hear the price. got a call today that is £1500 -£1900 ... holy s**t!

plan B do without a folding roof till i can find some where cheaper?

My BMW Dealer just replaced pump, wiring and casing £1009

 

[domsz4]

ok so ive been proper looking at the ship killer guides, thanks whoever it is thats hosts all these, and i have one question. do you need to top up the hydraulic fluid? if so how do you do it?

 

[maxman]

so i didn't miss hear the price. got a call today that is £1500 -£1900 ... holy s**t!

plan B do without a folding roof till i can find some where cheaper?

My BMW Dealer just replaced pump, wiring and casing £1009

Autotech Performance Telford is not that far from you ,also they have a courtesy car.
I would not attempt this job unless I had access to a large garage/covered work area

 

[domsz4]

so i didn't miss hear the price. got a call today that is £1500 -£1900 ... holy s**t!

plan B do without a folding roof till i can find some where cheaper?

My BMW Dealer just replaced pump, wiring and casing £1009

Autotech Performance Telford is not that far from you ,also they have a courtesy car.
I would not attempt this job unless I had access to a large garage/covered work area

just waiting for them to send a quote back.

 

[ryan]

I have the same problem and am based down South. Bowser - I've sent you a PM if you're still accepting work of this nature?

 

[andywils31]

oh no on the contrary they will do it just yesterday they gave a ball park figure of £1900 im waiting for them to call today with a quote. hopefully less. the diagnostic was only £40.


anyone know any places in liverpool/area that will do this job?

Who was that?
I've always had excellent service from Autotech on Regent Street down the road from the dealership.
Possibly try Trenics just outside Chester as well.

 

[domsz4]

Trenics.

And that was ontop if a full diagnostic where they said they couldn't tell what the problem was. So they would start with the roof motor but reconed the locking motor might be goosed as it wasn't responding. They said chuff all about the fault codes in the ecu.

I know I'm not a specialist and all I have is the 30 quid eBay obd plug but if you ignore the time it took to install software and figure it out it took 30s to find the code reset the ecu and have another go. The software will power the roof up/down too. It took them an hr to come back with nothing just a massive quote. I guess they probably didn't want the work so quoted high.

Now I'm back from Myanmar ill start chasing my roof again as it still stops 1/2 way up.

Anyone wanting to do their roof and live near enough to me ill come and give you hand. It is not that difficult just time consuming. You need a decent space and a helping hand.