Z4 roof not working

[TheCadd]

Hi.

The roof on my z4 soft top has given up.

I press the button and the latches release and I can here the motor trying to move the roof but nothing happens.
Time to replace the motor or could it be something else?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

M.

Edited by TheCadd on Tuesday 12th July 15:56

[steve_bmw]

Do the windows go down when you press the button?
if not i suspect a micro switch fault. Usualy if its the motor that's gone the windows will go down and it will unclip from the front then stop.
check the load cover in the boot is all the way down

[TheCadd]

Thanks for the reply Steve,

Yes the load cover is all the way down in the boot.

The windows drop when the button is pressed and then the latches release.
Following that I can hear a sustained motor noise from behind me but there is no sign of any movement.

[steve_bmw]

What year is your car? Early ones suffer water trapped inthe motor housing. Sounds like your problem.
Common issue, i check mine every few weeks to make sure the drain holes are not blocked.

[TheCadd]

It's an 05 plate.

It's parked outside so it does get a lot of rain and leaf debris so sounds like a winner, I'll go explore now and get back to you...

Wish me luck.

[steve_bmw]

I check mine by pouring a small amount of water down the side of the rubber moulding when the roof is down, the water runs out of the drain holes as fast as I pour it in so all is good. If you get no water or just a few drops then the drain holes will be full of leaves ect.
The outlet is under the car, just in front of the rear wheel, its a rubber nozzle, if its blocked up remove the rubber nozzel and poke something up it to free of the blockage, then once the water has drained out, put something slim onto the end of a hoover and suck all the leaves and dirt out from the top!

[TheCadd]

Sounds like a good tip.

I'm trying to find some photos on line to help me but not having any luck.

[playalistic]

Try here:

http://68.98.245.115:8008/SofttopToubleshooting.ht...

And here:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&a...

It's quite a common problem.

[TheCadd]

ok... RHS is done and was clear.
LHS is harder to see, i've removed the arch and the plug and no obvious sign of build up.


Am I being too optimistic to think that if there was a blockage and I cleared it the motor would start working again? Or is this more of a preventative maintenance tip?

To reprise, there is definitely the familure sound of the motor working, just no movement other than the latches unlocking and locking.

[steve_bmw]

preventative maintenance is making sure that the water in not trapped in there, if you can hear the motor turning it should work? strange problem.
Mot sure how the pump is geared, maybe the pump has siezed and the motor is just spinning and not driving the pump, just a guess there as i am not sure what the problem could be.
Maybe time to take it to bits and have a look.
If you use the emergency release can you operate the hood manualy? if it still wont move maybe something is jamming it?

[NikM123]

TheCadd - my friend has the same problem. Did everything as advised above; was it the motor on yours or something else? Just want to be clear if they are other options before they go to the stealership

[GaryThomlinson]

I had this issue on my prior Z4 which was an 05. Water sits around the motor and eventually corrodes it. Usually, once its gone bang, its gone for good (though some have resurrected them by removing and cleaning but they still don't last that long. You'll likely have to replace the roof motor/pump.

[Sortie 10]

Motor on my 2003.
Tip, if the warning signs are there do not under any account push your luck - leave the roof up.
My roof motor gave up the ghost when it was down, after it had been slow for a few weeks. I covered it with an OEM outside ('waterproof') cover until the weather was dry & returned to find a couple of inches of water in the footwells. The repair at an indie came to close to £2k (possibly with a service) - seats & carpets had to be removed & dried. Oh the amp in the boot blew because of condensation (O/T anyone know of a Carver amp for sale? Missing the sounds....)

Further problem was that the interior condensation found its way into the door membranes & destroyed them. Another £370.

[steve_bmw]

If it fails when it's down there is an emergency cable you pull in the boot this allows you to lift the hood like a manual one, then using the Hex key in the tool bag remove the cover in the centre of the roof and manually lock it shut.

No need to leave the roof down.

[Sortie 10]

Steve, I was/am aware of the emergency procedure but I was fighting a losing battle against a seized motor (probably under water & caked in crud). The procedure did not work because I didn't want to exacerbate the damage by bending struts or possibly tearing the hood. Even gently teasing the hood up using manpower on each side did help such was the strength of the motor's resistance.
I remain disappointed at what I see is a design fault, compounded by the apparent absence of drain channel checking on the official service schedule (& a main dealer not having the initiative to carry it out).
I know that at this level of vehicle (& its new price point) an electric hood is de rigueur but the simplicity and speed of operation of the manual hood on my Z4's immediate predecessor, an MX-5, has much to commend it.

[Gerald-TVR]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&am...

[Friar911]

steve_bmw said:

Do the windows go down when you press the button?
if not i suspect a micro switch fault. Usualy if its the motor that's gone the windows will go down and it will unclip from the front then stop.
check the load cover in the boot is all the way down

Lifesaver... that was it for me. Had to access the battery sometime before Xmas when it drained and forgot to lower the load cover tray. Roof wouldn’t work.

Saw your post and voila! Working again, phew
Thanks!