Z4 Roof Doctor Required! - E. Midlands

[RileyRennocks]

Help! (please)

We have had a few issues with our 2013 Z4 (S Drive 18 M Sport Roadster Hard Top Convertible). First one of the gate sensors went but lately, the roof stuck halfway through the process (nightmare!) and then after a lot of hassle, our local Automotive Electrical Company managed to get it down and then change what I think was the command unit in the roof but as they haven't worked on Z4's before, they had to go through a painful learning curve.

Trouble is, even though it's repaired, we now have no confidence in the roof (at one point they said it 'may' need a part that could not be bought on its own as it came attached to a hydraulic part that would be circa 2K (gulp!) but luckily it didn't - phew! Its of such a concern (we have hood anxiety) that we are now reluctant to use the hood.

So, to regain our faith in the hood, I was hoping that someone (company) who had good experience of Z4 hoods could give it a thorough going over and make sure that it gives us at least a couple more years of worry free use. Yes, things could go wrong in that period but I'd feel so much better if it was looked at by someone who genuinely knew what they were doing and any suspect parts were replaced.

Would anyone know of any company in the East Midlands area that they could recommend? We live near Loughborough/Derby/Nottingham but would be prepared to travel anywhere in the East Midlands. Hopefully someone on the forum could help point me in the right direction. Thanks!

Eric Riley

 

[PointedMarlin]

AnubisZed is based in East Midlands.

He might know a roof guy.

I’ll pm him to check this thread for you as you need 3 posts to send a PM

 

[RileyRennocks]

Thank you for the quick response! Any help you can give would be much appreciated!

 

[mr.tourette]

Not used them myself and a bit further north but Hoodtech in Chester get good reviews https://hoodtech.co.uk/

 

[Ole gits rule]

I would imagine most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof, gate sensor is that a microswitch?

 

[RileyRennocks]

Thanks for the Hoodtech link, they look impressive! In regards to the gate sensor, then yes, I think you are correct, it's a microswitch. As you say, most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof but I'm really after a recommendation of who to use and ideally, someone near the East Midlands.

 

[RobbiZ4]

I would imagine most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof, gate sensor is that a microswitch?

Interesting thought, but lightyears apart of the reality.

 

[RobbiZ4]

Thanks for the Hoodtech link, they look impressive! In regards to the gate sensor, then yes, I think you are correct, it's a microswitch. As you say, most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof but I'm really after a recommendation of who to use and ideally, someone near the East Midlands.

Hi Eric,
Is that near enough to the East Midlands? :wink:
https://www.staiger-neuffen.de/bmw-z4-e89-dach-notdienst/

Unfortunately your description is not that exact to get an idea, what could be missing or should be replaced.

 

[Ole gits rule]

I would imagine most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof, gate sensor is that a microswitch?

Interesting thought, but lightyears apart of the reality.

Master techs should be able to sort that out, there are three by me and would trust all of them with Forza GB being the best

 

[RobbiZ4]

I would imagine most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof, gate sensor is that a microswitch?

Interesting thought, but lightyears apart of the reality.

Master techs should be able to sort that out, ...

Are we talking about the E89 retractable hardtop or generally about BMW cars? The latter, I would agree.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Thanks for the Hoodtech link, they look impressive! In regards to the gate sensor, then yes, I think you are correct, it's a microswitch. As you say, most BMW specialist's would be able to go through the roof but I'm really after a recommendation of who to use and ideally, someone near the East Midlands.

Microswitch are £16 each and in all honesty mine went a few weeks ago and the garage said it was all sorted, on collection went to drive off and the red light was flashing and roof not working.

They spend 45 minutes realigning it and seems to be working ok now.

On the first failure which part of the process stopped?

 

[Ole gits rule]

Interesting thought, but lightyears apart of the reality.

Master techs should be able to sort that out, ...

Are we talking about the E89 retractable hardtop or generally about BMW cars? The latter, I would agree.

e89 - yes some will be useless but most should have a clue where to bloody start and should know the most common problems are microswitch and hall sensors

 

[RobbiZ4]

Are we talking about the E89 retractable hardtop or generally about BMW cars? The latter, I would agree.

e89 - yes some will be useless but most should have a clue where to bloody start and should know the most common problems are microswitch and hall sensors

OK, UK seems to be a paradise for E89 owners.
In Germany, hardly any of the garages as well as of the BMW palaces has any clue about roof issues and strategies to get it solved.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Are we talking about the E89 retractable hardtop or generally about BMW cars? The latter, I would agree.

e89 - yes some will be useless but most should have a clue where to bloody start and should know the most common problems are microswitch and hall sensors

OK, UK seems to be a paradise for E89 owners.
In Germany, hardly any of the garages as well as of the BMW palaces has any clue about roof issues and strategies to get it solved.

Absolutely not a paradise Robbi, never said that but still think most should have some clue if they have worked at BMW in the last 5 years.

 

[RobbiZ4]

e89 - yes some will be useless but most should have a clue where to bloody start and should know the most common problems are microswitch and hall sensors

OK, UK seems to be a paradise for E89 owners.
In Germany, hardly any of the garages as well as of the BMW palaces has any clue about roof issues and strategies to get it solved.

Absolutely not a paradise Robbi, never said that but still think most should have some clue if they have worked at BMW in the last 5 years.

Well, you are always using "should". I've got the complete different experience from all over our country.

 

[Ole gits rule]

OK, UK seems to be a paradise for E89 owners.
In Germany, hardly any of the garages as well as of the BMW palaces has any clue about roof issues and strategies to get it solved.

Absolutely not a paradise Robbi, never said that but still think most should have some clue if they have worked at BMW in the last 5 years.

Well, you are always using "should". I've got the complete different experience from all over our country.

Well that's fine - as I said should, if they have worked as a tech in BMW in recent years they should have some clue on the issues with e89 roofs, when I had mine done, first thing he said was microswitches and that was before running a diagnostics on it

 

[markplant]

You could try bmwman.com
Heanor off m1 jct 26 near the ikea
Call in have a chat

 

[RileyRennocks]

That's sounds great, I'll get in touch with https://www.bmwman.co.uk/ on Monday and see if they can help give me confidence back in the hood. Thanks Mark.

 

[SV8Predator]

Microswitch are £16 each and in all honesty mine went a few weeks ago and the garage said it was all sorted, on collection went to drive off and the red light was flashing and roof not working.

Sstill think most should have some clue if they have worked at BMW in the last 5 years.

If they have worked as a tech in BMW in recent years they should have some clue on the issues with e89 roofs, when I had mine done, first thing he said was microswitches and that was before running a diagnostics on it

You seem to be contradicting yourself here. You're praising all these BMW "techs" that "should" have have some clue, but report on your own case where you were told it "was sorted" and plainly it wasn't!

 

[Ole gits rule]

No it was sorted, he knew the likely root cause straight away the fact he had to adjust the microswitch is part of the job, he never told it was some hydraulic part that could cost £2k or leave me feeling the roof was going to fail again