Odd Issue with the electric roof

[lalinsorinoco]

can someone help please, the electric hood comes up to the windscreen absolutely fine, but when putting it down, the section that connects to the wind screen (the top quarter of the hood) does not fully fold, but rest does. Now I've loosened the tap to operate manually. BUT, this is bugging me somewhat. Can someone shed some light please

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Short out the connector for the microswitch and see how it operates

 

[lalinsorinoco]

Short out the connector for the microswitch and see how it operates

Ok, but not sure where this Microswitch is Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Nodzed]

can someone help please, the electric hood comes up to the windscreen absolutely fine, but when putting it down, the section that connects to the wind screen (the top quarter of the hood) does not fully fold, but rest does. Now I've loosened the tap to operate manually. BUT, this is bugging me somewhat. Can someone shed some light please

Take some photos and add here so we can see the problem

 

[lalinsorinoco]

Take some photos and add here so we can see the problem

will do , thanks

 

[lalinsorinoco]

@Nodzed Here you are..

 

[Mike Fishwick]

The switch is above the passenger window, on the hood frame - follow its woring to the connector

 

[lalinsorinoco]

The switch is above the passenger window, on the hood frame - follow its woring to the connector

sure, let me give it a shot

 

[bertiejaffa]

The microswitch is on the passenger side above the passenger window as mentioned. When you manually lift the front at the beginning of putting the hood down, the microswitch is on that "elbow" of the frame - its job is to check that you have pushed that back first before it powers the rest of the hood down process. The micro switch is "always on" meaning that when the roof is down, the switch is actually "off" and therefore there is no circuit. As you manually lift the front, the switch opens which actually closes the circuit.

On my old M I had an issue with the microswitch* which I replaced (easy search for a replacement on web but might need a little tinker to make fit.) I then had an issue with the wire** leading to the microswitch which I had to replace.

*Microswitch - if you have a test meter check the continuity when open/closed or cut the wires and twist them together to make a permanently closed circuit to check.
** for the wire I cut the wires at the back of the roof end and twisted them together - again this works but you have to remember to always push the front up first otherwise you will bend the frame

 

[lalinsorinoco]

The microswitch is on the passenger side above the passenger window as mentioned. When you manually lift the front at the beginning of putting the hood down, the microswitch is on that "elbow" of the frame - its job is to check that you have pushed that back first before it powers the rest of the hood down process. The micro switch is "always on" meaning that when the roof is down, the switch is actually "off" and therefore there is no circuit. As you manually lift the front, the switch opens which actually closes the circuit.

On my old M I had an issue with the microswitch* which I replaced (easy search for a replacement on web but might need a little tinker to make fit.) I then had an issue with the wire** leading to the microswitch which I had to replace.

*Microswitch - if you have a test meter check the continuity when open/closed or cut the wires and twist them together to make a permanently closed circuit to check.
** for the wire I cut the wires at the back of the roof end and twisted them together - again this works but you have to remember to always push the front up first otherwise you will bend the frame

Ah! I see, so unlock the latches, PUSH the front of the hood back to `switch off` the Micro switch, then press brake and engage the motor?

 

[bertiejaffa]

Pushing the roof up actually closes the circuit in the micro switch - its been a while since I looked at it but when you raise the front of the roof you will see the microswitch and the little arm that moves up and down against the front part of the roof and youll quickly realise what I mean.

Microswitch in the right place + Brake lights + Roof button = circuit

 

[lalinsorinoco]

Pushing the roof up actually closes the circuit in the micro switch - its been a while since I looked at it but when you raise the front of the roof you will see the microswitch and the little arm that moves up and down against the front part of the roof and youll quickly realise what I mean.

Microswitch in the right place + Brake lights + Roof button = circuit

Great! many thanks, I'll give it a shot when the weather has improved. Really appreciate your time with this issue.

 

[Nodzed]

Ah! I see, so unlock the latches, PUSH the front of the hood back to `switch off` the Micro switch, then press brake and engage the motor?

Yes you have you push up the front of the roof hold it there then activate the roof

 

[GazHyde]

All you'd want to know about the microswitch

BMW Z3 Hood Micro Switch Replacement

BMW Z3 Hood micro switch Replacement Article Submitted by g8jka After having intermittent problems with the electric roof on my zed and identifying the problem to be a faulty microswitch, I decided I would finally cure the problem and replace...

zroadster.org

 

[lalinsorinoco]

All you'd want to know about the microswitch

BMW Z3 Hood Micro Switch Replacement

BMW Z3 Hood micro switch Replacement Article Submitted by g8jka After having intermittent problems with the electric roof on my zed and identifying the problem to be a faulty microswitch, I decided I would finally cure the problem and replace...

zroadster.org

awesome!! Thanks

 

[gookah]

if you can move the roof without pushing the front up, the microswitch circuit is already shorted or bypassed,

That means if you haven't pushed the front part up, and then continue, it will not fold correctly and the frame can be damaged (if it not already is.)
It already looks like that has happened from the photo, as it should not look like that

comparison:

the roof should never go beyond the level of the bodywork:

something is bent on your frame,
Shorting microswitches should be for testing only, and then the issue fixed or this happens

 

[AntStark]

@ZEDonist UK on here sells replacement microswitch kits if you find yours is duff

For Sale - Z3 Electric Roof Microswitch 54348407250

Hi All, Another product that we seem to have problems with is the Z3 electric roof microswitch 54348407250. I have made a microswitch which is practically identical to the original BMW microswitch. The fly lead is long enough to reach down behind the passenger seat following the route of the...

www.zroadster.org

 

[lalinsorinoco]

if you can move the roof without pushing the front up, the microswitch circuit is already shorted or bypassed,

That means if you haven't pushed the front part up, and then continue, it will not fold correctly and the frame can be damaged (if it not already is.)
It already looks like that has happened from the photo, as it should not look like that

comparison:
View attachment 200991

View attachment 200993


the roof should never go beyond the level of the bodywork:
View attachment 200995

something is bent on your frame,
Shorting microswitches should be for testing only, and then the issue fixed or this happens

Oh dear! this mean a new hood then?

 

[gookah]

unless you can visibly see something bent, remove and straighten it, then it might be worth getting a second hand one from @spurs fan in a coupe
it looks like it maybe bent at each hinged joint, they seen to be pointing outwards.

does it move without having to lift the front flap first?

 

[lalinsorinoco]

So to update, located the Microswitch, followed the sequence that @bertiejaffa suggested and the hood went down with no complaints. That's one worry out of the way. It turned out there were no problems with the electric roof, just me not knowing how to operate it properly. Once again, my grateful thanks go to all who shared their knowledge.