BMW e89 z4 Roof Stuck Close or Open Repair Troubleshooting DIY Repair Guide

[@SaifBinAdhed]

I wish we are friends before you dived into this, hahahha, I would have told you beforehand that the wires on the z4 roof is so bad, I fixed mine 4 times, I am the 1st owner, no one drives it but me, I have it since Dec.2011, it is not the best handling, but it is stupidly powerful (I have the 35is) and is very enjoyable with the roof down. I will take it again for the 5th time now, on the 4th time we realised that the wires were gone, so I just told them to fix it at the spot and ill bring it later for a full harness change, I will use a better wire than what BMW uses in it, hopefully it goes smooth. Thank you for putting out this video and your car looks lovely ! enjoy driving

[@Makhnovets]

Thank you for sharing, I figured that this is pretty common problem, but no one posting any videos on that topic, it was a little headache to do that while i had no idea of what I’m dealing with and the weather was suck, and my roof was open 😅🤣. Honestly it was a shit shows… Thanks for the comment! Hopefully you dealing with this problem for the last time!)

[@SaifBinAdhed]

@@Makhnovets cheers mate

[@LambertBrady]

Like the original Jaguar Lucas Electronics garbage. Sad as I thought this was a good investment.

[@chiawildy563]

It is damn insanely powerful for a 10 year old model. Unfortunately, comes with plenty of quirks that manifests with age.

[@SaifBinAdhed]

@@chiawildy563 it is indeed.

[@utahraptorInRS]

These Z4s are a true nightmare to own. I've had mine for two years and it's favorite hobby is to "gong" at me, and alert to me something new in the convertible top has broken. Dealerships, and OEM replacement parts for the convertible tops will outright bankrupt you.

[@Makhnovets]

Yeah, It's not my first convertible, but based on how the harness looks, the previous owner sold the car probably because the roof problems.

[@flybobbie1449]

I just replaced the right side wires with heavier gauge. No problems now. Switches are generally reliable. If you can't do yourself find good auto electrician to do it.

[@bridgetrobertson7134]

Thanks again, bro. Had to revisit this since I just got to this part after finally getting it to move at all. Motor>Motor Harness>CTM all water damaged and sat under water for two years and I've rebuilt this car from the ground up. I just have to figure out which codes go with which micro switches and hall sensors. I have three different ones with errors. After that it can get painted and it's back to new condition.

[@Makhnovets]

Glad I could help some how. Also, that is a-lot of work) Good luck!

[@YOU7U3E]

🎉 Finally a video of details for this situation 🎉 Well done buddy

[@Makhnovets]

Yeah. the was quite a project, I was really frustrated, trying to fix it before the big storm. Thank you for your support!

[@peterscheffer4521]

Have my 35is now 8 year. 232.000km on the clock. Had 1 end switch replaced. Had one wire replaced. Knock wood....

[@PetrSTRansky]

Pros and cons are exact. Thanks for video, just dealing with similar problem. By any chance, does anybody knows how to adjust the roof? It is sitting on one side of trunk lid an hammers it (the sound is really hard) on every road bump. Other side is fine for now, but the gap between roof and trunk lid is getting smaller. I adjusted both rubber stops for roof and screw on trunk lid. It was lifting the trunk lid as it is oppose to the huge bar in luggage area, somewhere behind lights. It helped for a while :(

[@cjmadura]

I'm torn between an E89 and an E86 coupe. I fear the complicated roof on the E89, though I prefer it's nicer cabin. Being I don't really need a drop top, videos like this push me towards the E86. I've had my share of finicky cars and the solidity of the coupe is very appealing.

[@Makhnovets]

I still would go for an e89, even if it's a bit more complicated, bit as far as you got all the things straight out, you be pleased to own an e89. E 86 isn't perfect in comparison, and it still has lots of different problems. So they would be somewhat similar, with a slight edge to E89 being with a bit more complicated roof structure, but it wins when it comes to driving experience!

[@cjmadura]

@@Makhnovets I appreciate the feedback. I've eliminated the E86 M coupe, preferring the more robust reliability of the 3.0 engine. If I REALLY feel the E89 top is too fragile for me I could always simply leave it up - at least until I gain familiarity and confidence in the particular car I find. Again, I think as far as engine choice I again would look for an E89 with the N.A. 6cylinder, avoiding the turbo engines. Cheers!

[@Makhnovets]

@@cjmadura the N52 engine is definitely safer option, plus the roof in 90%cases have similar problems which is broken wires, sometimes micro switch itself but it’s a bit more rare, if you ended up getting an E89, i would suggest you to replace the roof harness, if you don’t feel like digging it yourself, just find more than less knowledgeable person and replace the wires that on the elbow of the roof hinges, so you won’t be worried, as if you do regular maintenance to roof it would less! Sometimes in the future i will post an update video related to e89 roof that covers all you need to know about. Good luck and subscribe!

[@bridgetrobertson7134]

Nice of them to put "1 stuck piece" right on the bag.

[@Makhnovets]

Yeah. F*top. It’s simple but designed is pretty bad…

[@izzetdarendeli1306]

Hi man! Thanks a lot for the great video. My situation is the top is closed, lock, the battery is drained and I can't open the trunk to access to the batter + start fixing the top. I downloaded the manual but can't find the 5437290 HARDTOP EMERGENCY OPENING procedure. So, my question is how do you open the top manually if it is already closed and trunk is not opening? Thanks

[@Makhnovets]

you need to open the trunk and have the power to test the roof to check for the codes or so. you have 2 options to open the trunk, the first one is to jump the battery from under the hood, and the second is to get there true ski bag opened to emergency relise. as for the roof itself, I only did the manual release on the e93, and it's easy. e89 unfortunately not so, will need to dig true the manual... did you check the codes? do you know the reason the roof is stuck?

[@izzetdarendeli1306]

Here is the issue- we can't open the trunk because of the hall sensor error code. It does not unlock the trunk. Do you know the procedure to open the trunk from scanner?@@Makhnovets

[@wellybobs4403]

so eventually you discover the "overide" in Bimmer software the hall sensor can be over ridden.

[@Makhnovets]

I seen that on forum, but the solution is pretty simple, Just replacing all the wiring harness, simple but not really...

[@salsolis3529]

Tutorial on the BD2 software? 👀

[@jackenmarieke]

Hello same problem here, but does anybody know how to open the trunk if the roof has a problem and the trunk won't open?

[@Really10801]

I have had constant problems with my Z4 including several issues with the roof, I will never buy another BMW.

[@joeynewport1900]

BMWs arent bad cars. however their convertibles are horrible cars. never ending issues with the roof

[@flybobbie1449]

Poor wire quality, just splice in some heavier gauge wires around the bendy parts.

[@stevenmiller4840]

I have this same problem. I need to get the roof in the position so I can get to the wiring / microswitch. At the moment the roof looks like it's in it normal up position but it is not latched. An added complication is the boot (trunk) won't unlock.

[@hunterweaver488]

Hey Steven, I am having the exact same issue. I went to put the top down a few days ago and it got stuck after the rear windshield piece lifted on top of the main roof piece. It is currently sitting with the roof looking normal, but it is not latched down. Trunk will not pop, so I had to go through the ski bag hole and hook the emergency trunk release to open it. Sounds exactly like what you described. Any update on your situation?

[@stevenmiller4840]

@@hunterweaver488Hunter, no not really. I managed to unlock the boot with a Foxwell scanner though. UK models don't have a manual boot release. Have you pulled the error code?

[@Makhnovets]

Repair Manual BMW E89 z4 (N54 engine) - drive.google.com/file/d/1vfcY-X3cPXGjwzr5DMtQ-_NmounR7k8b/view?usp=sharing The PDF File is over 200Mb. Don’t ask me where to find a specific section.

[@Makhnovets]

Repair Manual BMW E89 z4 (N54 engine) - drive.google.com/file/d/1vfcY-X3cPXGjwzr5DMtQ-_NmounR7k8b/view?usp=sharing The PDF File is over 200Mb. Don’t ask me where to find a specific section.

[@Makhnovets]

the roof section will have explanation on how to manually Cose or open the roof. there lot's of pages, but it's there! Repair Manual BMW E89 z4 (N54 engine) - drive.google.com/file/d/1vfcY-X3cPXGjwzr5DMtQ-_NmounR7k8b/view?usp=sharing The PDF File is over 200Mb. Don’t ask me where to find a specific section.

[@flybobbie1449]

7:21 that brown wire looks like the rear glass heater. My car was broken when bought, came off screen. Looks like yours has been messed with.

[@Makhnovets]

it is from the rear window heater, but it wasn't me who previously mess with it, there lot's of stuff about that car that fixed but not quaite as I wanted...

[@LambertBrady]

Where are you located. The dealership tech here is an amateur at best.

[@konstantinosfanaropoulos3180]

My hardtop doesn’t works and windows too for like 3 months now and no one can repair it in my country not even BMW ,it’s the 4th time in 2 years I have problem with the top and I really don’t use it ….

[@AutoSia]

I tried ignoring that top issue by not ever opening it again. But the trunk open light started flashing, and now I have to fix it cuz driving over 15mph, it'll start cursing me.

[@jakubkozlovsky230]

6:42 - Hi man, you really could get rooftop shell to this position manualy? Only with power of your arms? You dont need to drain the oil/hydraulics pump? I must do exactly same thing, but Im afraid, if I push the force on rooftop shell, I destroy it… Thx

[@Makhnovets]

I didn’t force it, I don’t know when ant what exactly happening, but at some point after shutting the power off, roof opens the hydraulic valves, but you will feel it, when you push you can sort of say that is different resistance, like the fluid start moving when you push it on, if it feels like a spring it won’t go, in that case you’ll brake it. I don’t know if i was lucky or that’s the way this car roof operates, but i did it twice.

[@ismailucak3709]

Thank you, you help me💪

[@Makhnovets]

Happy to help!

[@flybobbie1449]

Next will be the broken wires in trunk lid lock mechanism, when broke make trunk cycle up and down. Fixed that.

[@Makhnovets]

it already was) lol

[@flybobbie1449]

@@Makhnovets Was wot?

[@cristianperez2005]

I have a 2012 bmw z4 and my top won't close all the way so it shows a " roof movement impaired" message on my screen... any idea what it might be?

[@flybobbie1449]

Broken wires on the right side usual cause.

[@Makhnovets]

both sides are similarly bad) lol

[@Makhnovets]

start checking the wires, usually in the areas of the sharp angle, or where the roof hinges. hop you find the problem already! sorry for late responce.

[@flybobbie1449]

@@Makhnovets Not had problems on the left.

[@flybobbie1449]

@@Makhnovets Wires tend to break on straight sections.

[@flybobbie1449]

Something i added was switch to open boot in any position the roof is. I put wire to the boot solenoid switch, so when power applied i can open the boot/trunk with roof any position. Need this to get at the brass screws to drop hyd. pressure.

[@flybobbie1449]

Actually i put diode in wire just stop any signal going back to it's module, just in case.

[@Makhnovets]

Pretty clever way, like the approach)

[@Makhnovets]

Pretty clever way, like the approach)

[@flybobbie1449]

Most roof problems are broken wires. Poor quality wires.

[@Makhnovets]

%100, will have a recap soon, had it happened 3 times already, and all of them was the wires, they just brakes.

[@flybobbie1449]

@@Makhnovets Yes i have replaced 3 breaks now, but should be reliable now. I threaded through much stronger wires to existing switches.