Ok, the summer gone an my roof dead. Interestingly, it is not 100% dead. It does go up, then stuck, then go another inch or so then stuck again, then go a little bit more and stuck and finally never close. I've operated it manually and managed to close the top. Called to nearest soft-top specialist and he told me this must be motor, which operates the pump. I am not 100% certain it is the motor, seems to me it could be something else as error read from the control module say: 1f switch cowl panel locked short circuit to ground. Any ideas?
Roof dead...
- Thread starter ppavuk
- Start date
Fixed! As I've thought it was purely electric fault. There is 2 hall sensors on the roof where it meets windscreen frame. Those talk to control module to stop roof right in place. There is wiring inside the roof, and look at the picture:
and here it is -
you can see a black duct tape on braided wire loom - that's the place where wire broke so I had to cut braided pipe to get wire sorted!
The garage wanted 4h @ £60 to diagnose the problem. It took me hour to diagnose and fix!
and here it is -
you can see a black duct tape on braided wire loom - that's the place where wire broke so I had to cut braided pipe to get wire sorted!
The garage wanted 4h @ £60 to diagnose the problem. It took me hour to diagnose and fix!
I saw this posted just as I was going to pop out and wash the car thinking I'd reply when I got back from the drive. Saved me the effort, well done on tracing the fault and getting it going again!
Did you had similar fault before? I've googled before starting to disassemble the roof - and did not found a lot of info. One guy in states had same issue but pictures gone from his posting so that was unclear where the wire broken.
Also, the quality of wires sucks. That sort of wires should not be used in moving parts, the insulation is too stiff. if it broke again in some unreachable area of the roof this would mean I'll have to remove roof from the car. If sort of this ever happens I'll replace the whole loom with custom one made of wires in silicone insulation, which is much more flexible.
it is not common, as google know little on this. I am lucky guy, if any crap can happen it would happen to me!
Actually, there is not so plenty of sensors in the roof to operate it. 2 hall sensors near latches, switch in the boot and that's it. Halls used to determine roof position (when one press open button it will operate motor until hall sensor detect a magnet in roof compartment, once close pressed - the motor will run till halls detect windframe. The boot sensor used to determine the position of shelf in the boot. But if this one fails - then you got the orange light. Me got red blinking light on the roof open\close buttons. So it was pretty clear that something wrong with halls - and as hall sensors itself are pretty indestructible I've assumed wiring, and that was right guess. I actually just started to pull wires of the braided tube and one just come out, so I found where it broke. Luckily it broke in the area where it can be reached without removing roof!
All good info for us Z4 owners mate, many thanks for sharing it.
Tony.
ps. In all fairness to BMW the type of cable insulation was probably what was available (cost dependant) when they started making Z4s 13 years ago.
Tony.
ps. In all fairness to BMW the type of cable insulation was probably what was available (cost dependant) when they started making Z4s 13 years ago.
Yeah, of course car makers only care their stuff won't broke under warrantyAll good info for us Z4 owners mate, many thanks for sharing it.
Tony.
ps. In all fairness to BMW the type of cable insulation was probably what was available (cost dependant) when they started making Z4s 13 years ago.
no one planned for 13 years surely... but it is still pleasure to drive zed, even if it gives those little glitches...Hi, I just joined the forum and have the same issue with my soft top. My scan tool states 1f switch, cowl panel locked, short circuit to ground.
How did you get to the wire you are showing had a break?
Was it towards the back of the soft top towards the rear window? The section where it turns toward a right angle right behind seat? The straight portion above drivers head? Any info would help. I already broke one of the soft top brackets and had to have it welded for $300.
Thanks,
Vito
How did you get to the wire you are showing had a break?
Was it towards the back of the soft top towards the rear window? The section where it turns toward a right angle right behind seat? The straight portion above drivers head? Any info would help. I already broke one of the soft top brackets and had to have it welded for $300.
Thanks,
Vito
You'd need to undo the plastic cover on the front of the hood, then just follow wire harness to the back of the car. The sensor is somewhere close to place where hood meet windscreen frame. On my car wire broke about halfway to the back of car.
Hi Vito, from looking back up the thread to post #2 I think Peter is showing the left hand side of the roof in his car which is a RHD model so, for you, that's the driver's side? @ppavuk ?
Tony.