Oh No! Broken Electric Roof!

[IRISHD M3]

Hey all, just joined and already i'm looking for help! I have agreed to buy a beautiful 2001 Z3 2.2i Auto with hard top and electric roof. Part of the deal was that I would inspect the roof once we removed the hard top. So last night, with much fuss I managed to get the seller to bring the car to my place and we removed the hard top. Having removed the hard top I climbed into the car, closed the doors, started the engine and lowered the windows. I then put my foot on the break and tried the button to raise the stowed roof to the sound of - absolutely nothing! The roof didnt move, there is no noise at all from the pump/motor and no sign of it operating.

I have studied the forum looking for an answer and can see that there could be many potential issues. In order for me to buy the car I am keen to get someone to advise me on a WORST CASE scenario to repair the roof. I know it could just be a fuse or something small but has anyone ever had to do a complete overhaul on their electric roof and if so can you tell me what the associated costs were? I am thinking if the seller cant get it fixed I will make him an offer for the car less the cost associated in fixing a completely broken roof. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also has anyone given up on a broken electric roof and just used it manually? My own current Z3 has a manual roof which is fine and while I would prefer to have the car working as it should i'd be interested to know if there is an option to totally disconnect the electric function and operate it manually on a long term basis without any ill effect?


Anyway all help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

DAN

 

[peterandjenny]

We used our electric roof manually when the micro switch failed There is a bypass valve on the fluid reservoir in the boot it looks like a brass radiator valve key. Still stiffer than having a manual roof though so be careful.

 

[Mint]

Hey all, just joined and already i'm looking for help! I have agreed to buy a beautiful 2001 Z3 2.2i Auto with hard top and electric roof. Part of the deal was that I would inspect the roof once we removed the hard top. So last night, with much fuss I managed to get the seller to bring the car to my place and we removed the hard top. Having removed the hard top I climbed into the car, closed the doors, started the engine and lowered the windows. I then put my foot on the break and tried the button to raise the stowed roof to the sound of - absolutely nothing! The roof didnt move, there is no noise at all from the pump/motor and no sign of it operating.

I have studied the forum looking for an answer and can see that there could be many potential issues. In order for me to buy the car I am keen to get someone to advise me on a WORST CASE scenario to repair the roof. I know it could just be a fuse or something small but has anyone ever had to do a complete overhaul on their electric roof and if so can you tell me what the associated costs were? I am thinking if the seller cant get it fixed I will make him an offer for the car less the cost associated in fixing a completely broken roof. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also has anyone given up on a broken electric roof and just used it manually? My own current Z3 has a manual roof which is fine and while I would prefer to have the car working as it should i'd be interested to know if there is an option to totally disconnect the electric function and operate it manually on a long term basis without any ill effect?


Anyway all help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

DAN

Dan, when you tried to open the roof did you raise the front manually by about 6 inches? You have to do this and press the brake pedal to provide power to the pump. HTH.

 

[Brian H]

Worse case is a whole new eletro-mechanical setup however this will not be the case, the roof mechanism is relatively simple, brake light switch springs to mind, the microswitch circuit can also be trouble some but that is not too difficult to fix. It is difficult to guide you without you having the car.

As peterandjenny states the t-bar on the hydraulic motor is a bypass valve which allows you to operate manually.

 

[Brian H]

Dan, when you tried to open the roof did you raise the front manually by about 6 inches? You have to do this and press the brake pedal to provide power to the pump. HTH.

I think the roof is in the down position already as the Hardtop has just been taken off.

 

[Low Rider]

Dan, when you tried to open the roof did you raise the front manually by about 6 inches? You have to do this and press the brake pedal to provide power to the pump. HTH.

Dave. He was trying to raise the soft top

 

[Davyhoogy]

I took my hardtop off the other day after a month or so and it took about 30 seconds or trying before it moved.
If it's had the hardtop on foe a while maybe it just needs time and persistence

 

[Mint]

I think the roof is in the down position already as the Hardtop has just been taken off.

Oops, yes should have realised that

 

[IRISHD M3]

I would hazard a guess that this hard top has been on for a long time. Guy selling it is a motor trader so hasn't any experience in using the roof or the hard top. I'm keen to buy the car, and will tailor my offer to allow for a repair, but want to know what the potential cost might be. If its €500 or less i'm not concerned, if I buy it for the agreed price it will still be good value but if its €1,000 or more it would make the car very expensive.

 

[colb]

Shouldn't be a deal breaker, more important is the condition of the hood and the rear window.
The Hood pump and electrics are easily put right, plenty of used spares available to replace anything that needs replacing and load of threads on here and elsewhere to guide you.

 

[Davyhoogy]

As above. Doubt it will cost more than €100 really. If the hood and window are bad condition a new one could be about €500.
So knock 500 off the price and take it ha

 

[hard top]

As peterandjenny states the t-bar on the hydraulic motor is a bypass valve which allows you to operate manually.

As above, have you checked that the t-bar on the hydraulic motor is not in the 'Off' position and also the amount of fluid in it is at the right level?
It might have been turned off because of the hardtop being on the car.

 

[lowliferoadster]

I never expected my roof to work when I got it so got hasty pulling it out, for complete free running of the roof simply pull the struts off and leave all the rest alone, I pulled mine out and removed all brackets but it's a bit extreme, just disconnect struts and let the next owner investigate. Also I would challenge any electric roof to a race with my manual

 

[oldcarman]

Do a deal with a much lower price. The dealer wants to move this car on and will not want to invest time and money fixing it. Consider yourself lucky to get a car with HT for a steal of a price and smile as you put the good up manually. My granddaughter has no trouble lifting mine into place! JIM

 

[mwpe]

It shouldn't cost too much to fix, I would raise it manually and check that it is OK, then do a deal and buy it. There are a few people on this site who break cars for the spare parts.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I disconnected my power roof when I fitted my hard top fixing kit and I never got round to re connecting it again. I have operated it manually for the last three years without any great hardship.

 

[hard top]

My granddaughter has no trouble lifting mine into place! JIM

Yeah right, and you also said on here that you took your hardtop off and on, on your own......

 

[hard top]

Also I would challenge any electric roof to a race with my manual

Yep, me too. My roof was manual but I had to watch out for my paint work when doing it on my own, as you tend to lean up against the car while pulling the roof up, belt buckles etc.....

 

[oldcarman]

Yeah right, and you also said on here that you took your hardtop off and on, on your own......

That would only be because I have, several times actually! I also put it on by myself, simply a matter of necessity! And Trinity always puts the top up when we get home from a drive, mind you haven't had her try it with the new top yet! Just because you can't handle doing it doesn't mean I can't!! Jim

 

[hard top]

Just because you can't handle doing it doesn't mean I can't!! Jim

Haha...its a two man job mate if you do not want to damage the paint work.
How do you do it then at your age then, unlatch it, sit in the car and push it off, oh sorry forgot you are a redneck.