My roof is dead.

mr tommo

mr tommo

mr tommo

Soldato
Joined
13 Dec 2004
Posts
5,398
Location
Stoke-on-Trent
Right guys, my roof finally died 2 days ago. Seems like the motor has gone.

Its a pretty massive job and I want to get it done as soon as possible.

Theres a family friend who is an ex BMW mechanic who has offered to take a look at the car tonight but Im unsure what to do. He hasn't done this job before but is best mates with the local BMW specialist and after speaking to him, he said the bill could be as high as £1400.

Now speaking to headrat, he got his done at BMW for £1000. How do I go about getting prices? Will they be able to plug something into the computer and know instantly what the problem is and be able to give me a price there and then?

Or would they charge to take a look at it, perhaps thake the roof off to find out the motor is corroded and then Im stuck with using them?

Confused :confused:


UPDATE PAGE 2 :D
 
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Diagnose it yourself then ask them to quote for the work, thats what I do. Makes using a dealer not THAT expensive.

Is the roof motor failure really that common? Z4's BMW warranty runs out next week and I've been considering not bothering renewing it.. however this thread is scary :p
 
How do I diagnose it myself?

Im tempted to go to BMW during my dinner break to ask what the price would be for the replacement of the motor (worst case scenario). Would they be able to just give me a quote like that?

Its seems a case of....Okay lets rip the roof off get to the motor, yep its corroded. £1000 thankyou please. :o

I've got to admit I've seen quite a few cases of this and all seem to be around the 2003-2004 age. Also somebody said that their BMW renewal quote was cheaper than Warranty directs own so I'd certainly look into that.

Anyway, back to me being depressed... :(
 
This thread is scary for someone looking to buy a Z4.. I want Headrat's one with the new motor..
 
Just phone them and speak to the service department, say you're pretty sure it's the roof motor and want to compare approx costs between them doing the job and local independents or something. No need to actually go there!
 
gord said:
This thread is scary for someone looking to buy a Z4.. I want Headrat's one with the new motor..
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I would if I was you :)

To be honest I got the car for what I thought was an extremely good price at the time so I'm not overly fussed and saved a lot more too buying it privately.

OllyM said:
Just phone them and speak to the service department, say you're pretty sure it's the roof motor and want to compare approx costs between them doing the job and local independents or something. No need to actually go there!
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Excellent, thanks. :)
 
mr tommo said:
I would if I was you :)

To be honest I got the car for what I thought was an extremely good price at the time so I'm not overly fussed and saved a lot more too buying it privately.
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I can't! He sold it to someone else already! But I've found another one, almost identical in spec and its basically on my doorstep so going to give them a call. Its overpriced, but they all are.. will get my haggle on.
 
[TW]Fox;14072700 said:
How can they ALL be overpriced? If they are all a certain price it rather suggests thats the going rate..
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Owners pricing because they know that a buyer knows
a) theres a recession on
b) its a buyers market
c) they will want money off

Thus, they are all overpriced so that the owner gets what they wanted for the car after the haggling.
 
Are you sure it's not just the roof markers in the boot? You might have knocked one of them when putting something in, stopping the roof from opening.
 
[TW]Fox;14073468 said:
Z4 doesnt have these? The roof doesn't fold into the boot, well I dont think it does anyway.
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Take another look because it does, which is why there's sod all boot space when you put the roof down...

There are two markers - one on the left, one on the right of the boot. They have to be in the correct position to take the roof down, otherwise the roof will not budge.

They are easy to nudge when you're loading the boot up.
 
The E46 has this but I'm pretty sure the Z4 doesn't. The roof folds into a seperate compartment so there are no boot space issues with it folded down?

Here is a list of a the conditions the system must meet before the hood will retract:

Preconditions for raising and lowering the soft-top
Before the soft-top can be moved, the following preconditions must be met:
1. Neither window detected as closed by the basic module
2. Vehicle stationary (road speed < 5 km/h)
3. No hardtop fitted
4. Ignition key position at terminal R at least (except for Easy Open/Close function)
5. System test reports no faults
6. No short circuit and no circuit break present
7. Outside temperature is above minimum limit
Preconditions 1 to 7 must be satisfied simultaneously.
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No mention of any marker positions? The Z4 has a soft top stowage compartment between the seats and the boot itself?

I might be wrong but I cant say I've noticed a boot full of roof before. And i never drive it with the roof up really.

Actually on further research it seems there is an adjustable stowage compartment base in the boot. I guess we've never moved it out of the 'roof down' position so had no idea you could make the boot bigger, lol
 
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NickXX said:
Are you sure it's not just the roof markers in the boot? You might have knocked one of them when putting something in, stopping the roof from opening.
Click to expand...

Yeah I checked them they were both down so its not that and I don't think it is the microswitch either.

I've just got back from BMW, drove past it so figured I'd go in. Basically asked them for the worst case scenario (biggest motor of the 3) and to replace they told me it would be £700 which seemed a little cheap to be honest :confused:

However in the two years that the dealership has been there they have yet to replace a single one of these hydraulic motors so I haven't a clue what to think. Was told it could just be the pipe had split or an electrical fault and wanted to book my car in for a diagnostic check which I kindly refused.

Having It plugged into a wonder computer tonight so fingers crossed:p


EDIT - Just to add they are not a cheap dealer, they just quoted me £480 for an Inspection II :confused:
 
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Oh I just meant one of the computers that tells you all the cars faults. :)

Hoping its just some minor electrical fault.
 
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[TW]Fox;14073549 said:
The E46 has this but I'm pretty sure the Z4 doesn't. The roof folds into a seperate compartment so there are no boot space issues with it folded down?

Here is a list of a the conditions the system must meet before the hood will retract:



No mention of any marker positions? The Z4 has a soft top stowage compartment between the seats and the boot itself?

I might be wrong but I cant say I've noticed a boot full of roof before. And i never drive it with the roof up really.
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Our neighbour has sold his one, so I can't get a photo of it.

Check your parents' one. I'm 100% certain the ones I've seen fold into the boot, which is why the z4 has a decent sized boot normally.

Maybe it has a spare wheel or something. Our s2k has a seperate compartment for the roof with a spare wheel which sits underneath it.
 
[TW]Fox;14073549 said:
Actually on further research it seems there is an adjustable stowage compartment base in the boot. I guess we've never moved it out of the 'roof down' position so had no idea you could make the boot bigger, lol
Click to expand...

N00bs - that's why you're meant to play with every dial and switch when you get a car :p
 
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