My BMW Z4 Convertible Roof Broke (So I fixed it)

[@utahraptorInRS]

You're a life saver. You cannot find any videos on these cars on the internet. I've had this issue for over a year, (my solution was to give up on it being a convertible car, as when the hydraulic pressure released, the car relocked the top.) Every now and then I'd hit a pot hole or something and my convertible blinking light would turn on. Discovered by wiggling the wires on the right side it would go away, and allow me to drive the car in peace. As it's begin to get warm again I've wanted to get brave and dig into the wires, but I am very mechanically stupid. And need video guides for everything. And here it is, my holy grail, I can now see what wires I need to attack. I've been to the dealer, and the dealership wanted to replace the pump, the top module.(which I allowed them to replace) that was almost a thousand dollars by itself. And the pump costs as much as the car, so I denied that. I can finally fix my car, ty. I'm not very electrically inclined either, what gauge wire did you use to repair it with?

[@SergeySemenovS]

I also had a problem with the roof. It is not related to microswitches, but it can help someone who finds this video. At one point, the roof stopped rising at all. No a try. The red LED flashed immediately. The dealer said that the problem is with the temperature sensor in the hydraulic unit and I need to replace all unit. I was not ready for such expenses thet time and missed the 2020 roof open season (but I periodically tried to open the roof). Then in the winter of 2020-2021 I did not use the car for about two months and the battery died completely. As wel as battery was already more than 3 years old - I decided to buy a new one. And something pulled me to try to open the roof and it opened! And so far everything is working great. As I turned out, this is not the only non-obvious problem that was solved by replacing the old battery at E89. I do not insist that the solution was to replace the battery, but at least before investing a lot of money you can try.

[@СергейНетылько]

Пока есть какие то проблемы с аккумулятором, зачем вообще дополнительно его нагружать?

[@SergeySemenovS]

@@СергейНетылько Видимых проблем не было. Заводилась прекрасно.

[@jakubkozlovsky230]

3:51 you took out the microswitch. How did you get him back? Please help mě. Thank you.

[@newbeginnings8566]

I've sold my Z4 now but these issues can be a real nightmare... I spoke to a German expert who repairs them... He said that as preventative measures certain items should be l replaced.. Of priority the wiring loom is on the list.. Over time the flexing etc will lead to failures... It may pay you to invest an full overhaul of the hall switches and the wiring looms.. Yes not an easy thing to undertake..

[@AudiophilMD]

I was watching and saying, bet he finds a broken wire at the first bend. 😀 My E89 had the same problem and I loosened up both sides of the wiring looms at that first bend. I removed about 4 inches of the brown BMW wiring from each side and spliced in 16AWG wires for each wire at the bend. Yes, 16AWG is overkill for the amount of current but I wanted something thick that would allow for many summers of bending wires. So far roof works like new! Thanks for the video!

[@kennylerstorp1993]

Super great! Same here in Sweden. Do you know how to turn off hydraulic pressure to move the roof by hand?

[@philafflack1298]

simply car guy! posting here since it is z4 specific!, just did top maintenance on my 2016 z4 35is with the products you recommended! and guess what? after a question I posted to you a while ago, wanting a tutorial, to clean the interior rear window, I think I have perfected it! in your original response to my request, it is a pain in the ass, yet I think I have an easy way!

[@jackelliott872]

Good work. I like your honesty and willingness to admit any mistakes.

[@chelseaguy70]

Thank you so much. There is little to no detail out there or videos for that matter in relation to a malfunctioning top on the E89. On mine I get the BMW sound of death half way through but keeps going after a second press of the button when opening/closing the top. For now I’m leaving it alone but I’m just bracing myself that one day it may stop altogether. Thank you for your continued great content. Greetings from sunny Spain.

[@kennylerstorp1993]

Had same problem with the HALL sensor cable. Got it fixed like this in a workshop. 900$. How do I turn of the hydraulic pressure to move the roof by hand?

[@gomnach]

Thank you man! Your diagnosis procedure is very useful. Ancel BM700 is really worth it

[@musicatto1]

Friggin amazing video! Your ingenuity is very impressive....I'm glad to have found your channel and subscribe!

[@shavalex]

Thanks for sharing, my roof won't open as well.. I will try this

[@jimmyk6336]

Great Video!!! In your case: Was the wire sheathing at the failure point torn from use or did you remove it because it's a known failure point? If torn would wrapping it with electrical tape help prevent the failure? The next time I get in my car I'm definitely going to look at it, thanks for the heads up...

[@minatormyth]

Hi and thanks. I am looking for a code reader like the one you have in the video. I screen shot and saw it was an Ancel bm700. I see them on line but my question is, do they all read roof code problems? Thanks

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Hi! I have a video on the Ancel if you'd like to see what it can do (although it's an older video), but basically you need one that will read ALL modules on a BMW. If the scanner says it reads Engine, Transmission, etc. but doesn't read all of them it won't work for you as the roof module is kind of obscure and not common. My favorite 'cheap' BMW scanner right is Elite LAUNCH (amzn.to/3ZAloPf link affiliated if you want to help the channel).

[@maestroh2986]

I had the same problem. I took it to my local BMW dealer and they wanted to replace the junction box and module (quote of almost $3000). I took it to an independent and they replaced 2 frayed wires and a micro-switch for a few hundred bucks. That was it.

[@z4dude131]

Thank you so much. I haven’t had any electrical failures, yet. I’m sure it will happen someday. Living in Michigan the roof on my Z4 doesn’t get as much usage as southern cars but time isn’t on my side.

[@lindsay5985]

Thanks. Some tips: 1) Get a $5 "piercing probe" so you can probe wires without making a mess of the insulation. 2) Microswitches can be tested with a multimeter on continuity (beep) mode. 3) I would not trust that liquid insulation for any job, let alone an automotive application that suffers continual bending stress during operation and vibration from the road.

[@filippotosoni]

1 year ago I had the same problem in my 2009 S-drive i23. wires went on breaking one after the other in that exact bend. there is no other thing to do than replace the wires when they break. It looks like they have a quite consistent ageing problem, since they started breaking all in the same period, when the car was 13-14 yo.

[@Tridk-iw6np]

Mine had the exact same problem 3 months ago - same wires, soldered it with a small piece, will replace the wire all the way once it is garaged for the winter - bought more flexible wires than the ones that was already there.

[@jjd8616]

Hey man, I’m trying to replace the same microswitch but I cant get the connectors to disconnect from each other no matter how hard I pull them apart. I’m afraid of breaking them. How did you disconnect the old microswitch?

[@SimpleCarGuy]

If it’s hard to take them apart, try a sharp pick and leverage it apart.

[@stevenmiller4840]

I have the exact same problem. How easy is it the find and disconnect the plug connector? Is it buried in the loom somewhere because I can't find it. If i could then I can fix it. Please let me know.

[@darrylmacdowall2991]

Thank you ; you are awesome .. I appreciate your videos . Thank you for helping the Z4nation !

[@fredarthur-art]

Well done. Can only imagine what that would cost at BMW. My roof has been rattling since I bought it 6 years ago - unfortunately didnt notice it during the test-drive which I mostly did top-down (mistake) - the BMW dealer could not fix it (or didn´t want to fix it?) after I bougth it. Apart from that, the car has been pretty flawless. (2009, 70tkm now)

[@ralphpolanco]

Help Please, unlike all the examples share, mine is stuck in the retracted open position. I put the reader on it, and was able to find a bad switch, however I cannot access it without moving it. Apparently there is tool you can buy to unlock some latch, that I cannot see. Got the tool and unless I am hodini have not idea based on the instructions.. Any help, links, advise will be appreciated..

[@n3307v]

Great video as always. So far, the roof on my 2016 E89 has been working just fine.....knock on wood.

[@bobellis2912]

So, I’m in this boat, went to close the roof and half way through the process it stopped dead. I’m waiting for my scanner to be delivered, so maybe I can see what’s up. Do you know, or does anyone know……. If the roof can be closed manually? In case I can’t figure it out, in the state it’s in, I can’t drive it to a shop.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

It can be lowered to a certain position, but it won't close or latch if there are errors. There is no manual way as far as I know.

[@bimmerfan6538]

great job on figuring that out! not an easy one

[@creamynoodlesslayer]

Love that blue.

[@jaysonnuera1222]

Same problem on mine almost 2 years now need to find solution on this

[@marcus_w0]

One little tip for all wire-harness work: Vaseline isn't conductive, but it's water repellent. Just dunk it in vaseline to prevent corrosion

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Great tip, thanks! I would have never thought of that.

[@petestanton1945]

or dielectric grease from spark plug change tune-ups?

[@thomasbell6655]

Great fix n video

[@jdbuscemi8181]

Good job! I want to buy a BMW Z4 but I'm afraid of roof problems

[@wayneclark6606]

My friend, I have the exact same problem 😂 where are you located?

[@Herrschorr]

bei mir war vor einem Jahr der Hydraulikschlauch geplatzt 😢….das war ein sehr großer Aufwand….komplett das Dach zerlegt und ein neuer Satz Hydraulikschläuche getauscht…hoffe, das passiert nicht noch einmal. 😅

[@flybobbie1449]

Broken wires on right side common fault. Fixed 3 times, last time i just replaced the wires with heavier gauge. No problems now.

[@flybobbie1449]

Also micro switches in boot, trunk lid actuators. Looks like some bad manufactured parts, continuity resistors fall off.

[@geno617]

How did you get that part of the roof loose so you could pull it up to work on it

[@Vgk36]

best looking z4 ever. Wish they just sold it as a coupe....non vert

[@bvc100]

Nice video as usual. At least will not panic when it happens to mine.