Intermittent electric roof issue.

[dt7734]

Morning everyone.

Can anyone help me trouble shoot an intermittent issue with my electric roof please?
Sometimes it works off the buttons and then it decides not to.
I've tried spraying the micro switch in the roof with WD 40 contact cleaner and have cleaned the terminals up on both pink relays next to the pump but am still getting the same issue.
I've priced up replacement relays from my local BMW dealer and was gob smacked at the price (£48 each)
A mate of mine who is a sparky says that these relays from Amazon would be an ideal replacement:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004Z0WMQQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Your thoughts please, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Richard29]

As long as thet are matching relays they will do the job.

 

[colb]

Worth a punt at that price, if as a sparky he says they would do the job then go with his reccomendation you wont break anything they will work or they won't.

 

[Ianmc]

A thought. Our E36 convertible has a fully automatic roof and had a similar intermittent issue. The problem was with the switch itself; replacement of the switch fixed it.

 

[elky]

A thought. Our E36 convertible has a fully automatic roof and had a similar intermittent issue. The problem was with the switch itself; replacement of the switch fixed it.

Where do you find a replacement switch? I've also experience intermittent issues after this winter and I was not sure if it was related. But I should still measure my relays just in case.

 

[Nodzed]

Where do you find a replacement switch? I've also experience intermittent issues after this winter and I was not sure if it was related. But I should still measure my relays just in case.

Try @spurs fan in a coupe

 

[Ianmc]

Where do you find a replacement switch? I

Ordered from Sopers. Cost £149.48. Not cheap, but at least we can still get most OEM parts for 1997 cars.

 

[dt7734]

Replaced both pink topped relays this morning with two of the attached relays from Halfords.
They both have identical pins and the pin numbers are in the correct order.
However there is now a delay (3-5seconds) before the pump engages.
I guess there must be something significantly different with the OEM pink topped relays ?

 

[AntStark]

Is the brake switch ok ? Also equally likely to be the wires that route through the frame rather than the switches

 

[elky]

Is the brake switch ok ? Also equally likely to be the wires that route through the frame rather than the switches

I am all up for DIYs but this sounds painful to trace and replace, if the fault is in the wires through the frame then I will live with a manual roof

 

[elky]

Ordered from Sopers. Cost £149.48. Not cheap, but at least we can still get most OEM parts for 1997 cars.

I guess we should be grateful that we can still find 20year old parts But what is the part no. ? Thanks.

 

[AntStark]

Z3 Roof Microswitch - 54348407250 | ZEDonist

The Z3 microswitch 54348407250 is a small but important part of the folding roof mechanism. If you have a roof that is temperamental it is quite likely that the roof switch is failing.The microswitch supplied is practically identical to the original BMW one. It will fit into the existing housing...

www.zedonist.com

 

[Ianmc]

I guess we should be grateful that we can still find 20year old parts But what is the part no. ? Thanks.

I can look the part number up if you wish (BMW E36 convertible), but not sure its the same for the Z3. My Z3 has a manual roof, which on balance I much prefer!

 

[Nodzed]

BMW Parts Catalog

Welcome to RealOEM.com! This site can be used to look up BMW part numbers and approximate part prices.

www.realoem.com

All part number are here.