Z4 roof only closing half way - (NOT THE PUMP!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Well done !! There's great satisfaction in getting to the root of the cause ! :driving: :thumbsup:

Not too good at the picture loading myself..but I know you have to use http://www.photobucket.com, did it once, but I've forgotten the procedure

Edit:- just found the procedure..http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30
 
Resurrecting a very old thread but just wanted to say a big thank you to funandfree!

I had my motor put in the boot by Bowser (did a great job) and not long after had the same issues as funandfree. The roof has been in manual mode for months now and I had done all the poking around I knew how to. Decided to take another look on the off chance today and found the wiring loom from the latch motor and hall sensor heading down the side of the roof. Took it apart and one of the wires was completely split. 3 new connections on the 3 wires (to be safe) and hey presto, it works!



Now to treat myself to a gap tech I think.

Thanks again!!
 

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I just wanted to say that this thread was really useful and helped me fix my similar problem.

After changing the pump the roof would open and lock ok but would only close as far as the roll over hoops. I could get it to close fully by putting 12v to the pump so I knew the pump and roof were fine. Manually locking the roof with the allen key still resulted in a flashing red light by the roof switch.

I checked the wiring and removing the top latch cover I found a kink and break in the loom where it comes up the side of the roof to the top rail. It had been squashed by the roof mechanism somehow. It was fiddly but I soldered in a short length of wire, taped it up and made routed it clear of the mechanism.

Fixed !

Thanks to the poster, funandfree !
 
I had same problem. Thanks everyone for your input on this thread. I fixed it with your help.
Key things I found were the diagram linked by funandfree for how to take off the internal roof cover, to get to the wiring loom.
http://tis.bmwcats.com/doc1080897/
The two side screws can be accessed when the roof is slightly open, or almost fully open. Just open/close roof till you can see them.

The wiring loom has two connectors. Disconnect and detatch from the two clips under the roof. I cut the loom cover from the connector end toward where the loom disappears behind the window, using side snips. At first I thought I was wasting my time as the cable was OK, but then at the place where it would have gone through the clip and before it goes behind the window it was kinked and severed.

Once some new wire was spliced, the roof worked fine.
Thanks everyone for your knowledge in this post.
I made a brief video showing my damaged wiring loom.
https://youtu.be/p0BmK21ZuN0
 
Nice vid, thanks for posting. I think this will be an increasingly common problem on the E85 as they age. BMW should have used silicone wire there. #roof #wiring
 
Had this problem today with my 2003 z4 e85 thanks to the previous contributors I was able to quickly find the broken cable solder it back together along with another cable that looked a little suspect. I did put some shrink sleeving over the joints to protect them in the future so now it should last another 16 years.
Just one point I would make is that the two hidden screws holding the front cover on are only visible when the roof is in the 2 thirds closed position this allows the side mechanism to move out of the way. I had to enlist the help of my wife to stop it closing under its own weight.
Once again thanks for all the useful information. :D
 
You know how it feels when you find the perfect post that matches exactly your Z4 symptoms? Well this one is a dead ringer for mine. I’ve been fighting this roof thing for awhile now. I had been browsing this forum without registering. It didn’t show that some of you got yours to work until I got logged in. So glad I did. I’m going to check this out tonight. The video was good to see. I’m glad you posted that. I’ll let you know if my break is in the same spot. Thanks again.
 
Well no such luck. Very frustrated at this point. I started into removing the roof. As I removed the screws behind the drivers side and lifted up slightly I saw some pinched wires. I thought, “Could this be the miracle I’ve been hoping for?” I pulled back the braided covering to find two wires that had bare spots on them. They weren’t broken, but exposed. So I cut and spiced and soldered and shrink wrapped it. I was hoping that was it. I put it all back together and now I get nothing. I push buttons for up and down and nothing. So, I unhooked the battery and called it a night. I have no idea if some code has to clear or not. I am not sure if detaching the battery even does anything. I know it doesn’t if you detach and wait 3 minutes. So I will give it all night and go try in the morning. I’m doubtful it will clear codes. Not even sure if codes need to be cleared. I think if everything is working and all wires are talking to all their parts and not disconnected, the system should just work. If that’s incorrect, could someone please tell me?
 
Wi11Greg said:
Well no such luck. Very frustrated at this point. I started into removing the roof. As I removed the screws behind the drivers side and lifted up slightly I saw some pinched wires. I thought, “Could this be the miracle I’ve been hoping for?” I pulled back the braided covering to find two wires that had bare spots on them. They weren’t broken, but exposed. So I cut and spiced and soldered and shrink wrapped it. I was hoping that was it. I put it all back together and now I get nothing. I push buttons for up and down and nothing. So, I unhooked the battery and called it a night. I have no idea if some code has to clear or not. I am not sure if detaching the battery even does anything. I know it doesn’t if you detach and wait 3 minutes. So I will give it all night and go try in the morning. I’m doubtful it will clear codes. Not even sure if codes need to be cleared. I think if everything is working and all wires are talking to all their parts and not disconnected, the system should just work. If that’s incorrect, could someone please tell me?
Click to expand...

With bare wires touching, I’d be checking the fuses.
Rob
 
Rob, thanks for your response. Those wires were probably about to cause problems, but luckily I noticed them before they were problematic. Today was a big success. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I woke up in the middle of the night and remembered that everything stopped working after I pulled on the wire inside the roof above the drivers side window. Back when the roof was stopping about a 1/3 of the way up, The roof started to move after loving that loomed set of wires then stopped completely. So I went back and investigated further. I checked the wire near the clip because that’s where one of the forum members showed it in his video. My problem was further back from the clip. I cut the loom and about 3” before the wires dropped down into the frame, a broken wire revealed itself. Two other wires looked a bit kinked like they’d be breaking soon. I was so excited. For anyone reading. Make sure when you solder or put these wires together. Remember that solder will cause the wires to be much stiffer so they won’t flex as well. Just take care in how you mend them. I recommend being light on solder and maybe double up on the heat shrink. The goal is to keep the wires in tact. They will be in an environment where they can be pinched again obviously. Anyway, I was so excited that the roof is now working perfectly. I’d put in a lot of time before I found the break. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t find it. Yeah!!! Good day! Oh I wanted to mention that there is no reset required. Once all the wires are connected and sensors/limit sensors are working, the roof just works. I wasn’t sure about that while I went through this process.
 
I’ve attached a picture of the broken wires. Notice that two other wires have a kink in them. That’s what I felt when I was feeling along the loom (braided cable sheathing).
 
Hi all

Sorry for resurrecting this post but recently (just when we had a mini heatwave, my roof decided to stop working... Exactly the same issues as talked about in this post... The motor works, the hydraulic oil is at the right level and the roof will close half way before I have to complete the process manually (and the roof light remains flashing).

I had a scan done and had the error codes appear as per the image.

Having searched for the error code I've landed here!

Can anyone tell me if this is the correct replacement wiring harness I need? I see there is one like this but others are selling a braided cable too?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274412178107?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=beni-e3sSdm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=PJDrBE7lScm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Any help would be appreciated!
 

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Dr_Tripwire said:
Hi all

Sorry for resurrecting this post but recently (just when we had a mini heatwave, my roof decided to stop working... Exactly the same issues as talked about in this post... The motor works, the hydraulic oil is at the right level and the roof will close half way before I have to complete the process manually (and the roof light remains flashing).

I had a scan done and had the error codes appear as per the image.

Having searched for the error code I've landed here!

Can anyone tell me if this is the correct replacement wiring harness I need? I see there is one like this but others are selling a braided cable too?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274412178107?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=beni-e3sSdm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=PJDrBE7lScm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

Hi mate

I’ve had this and it was a loom break- easier to repair rather than replace?

Where you based? Happy to help if needed

I’ll find my how to thread I did when I repaired mine
 
bigwinn said:
Hi mate

I’ve had this and it was a loom break- easier to repair rather than replace?

Where you based? Happy to help if needed

I’ll find my how to thread I did when I repaired mine
Click to expand...

Hello mate

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear that it's a straight forward repair - I'm in Ipswich - the mechanic who normally works on the car is waiting for me to let him know if he can help (all credit to him, but by his own admission be would be going in blind), if you're able to help, even with some instructions I'd be grateful :thumbsup:
 
[ref]bigwinn[/ref], Thanks a lot... Sounds like quite a common issue and possibly towards the top end! So essentially I need to take the plastic tray off at the front to pull the lining back and with any luck, find that break...

Cheers Stuart, I'll have a look over this weekend :)
 
That’s the one- don’t be put off it’s not a big job just take your time

Message me if you get stuck
 
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