Hi. Can someone please advise whether the roof motor problems I read about on Z4s were corrected after a certain time. I.e. Fault corrected on all cars after 2005. Thanks. John.
Roof motor problems on Z4s
- Thread starter john1534
- Start date
No its not, fault persists on newer models , I know of it on 08 cars , but it can be remedied, ive just had my motor relocated to the boot
M
M
Ok. Thanks. Apart from the obvious in that it does not work is there a way to tell if it is 'on the way out'. Thanks
If you clear out the drains for the side"pod(s)" where the motor is mounted you should at least lessen the chances of the motor failing from what I have read.
Tony.
Tony.
Ok. Cheers
Just sluggish operation, then one time u press the button and nowt happens,
Tbh, now I understand the problem and remedies it wouldnt put me off,
Quite a few have been brought back to life by soaking in a bath of diesel, and hey presto ,
Luckily mines in good order but I had it relocated as a precaution,
M
Tbh, now I understand the problem and remedies it wouldnt put me off,
Quite a few have been brought back to life by soaking in a bath of diesel, and hey presto ,
Luckily mines in good order but I had it relocated as a precaution,
M
Thinking to do the same, scared by all this stories of dead motor. Did you did relocation yourself or got a specialist?
Mine worked just fine ,then one day just stopped .Didnt have a clue it was on the way out .Had the motor replaced only to blow the hydraulic hose on test before it went back into the car . On further inspection had all hydrauliclines changed and put back in ,£1024 pound later all fixed .
Sad story, indeed! Reading this I am just put myself in constant stress! Not I am saying this grand to fix bloody roof will ruin my life, but indeed I'd better spend it at pub!
Leave motor in situe, clean out drain holes and put plastic bag around motor. Easy Pezey!
Mike
Mike
Took most of the bits off myself, but got a chap just south of Durham to finish it,
But tbh he only charges £80. To move it to the boot, an at that price it aint worth fookin about ,
M
My roof motor failed and had it repaired at a BMW dealer. It was just over £1000 to replace it. The labour is the biggest part of it. Im just careful not to put loads of water there when I wash it now. I want to ensure the drain holes are kept clear but need to investigate more how to do that. "Better to spend£1000 and have the roof working than not be able to use it". Thats my understanding wife! Mine was registered in 2007 by the way.
I think I've worked out how to tell (or at least giving an indication) if the drains are blocked without dismantling anything. When washing the car (or if it's raining hard) water runs off the roof and down the gaps between the roof and bodywork. Under the car you see a definite stream of water draining out if the drain isn't blocked. Tell us if you see the same.
I will check that out and post next time i check. Thanks
Quite far from my location though... But maybe one day i'll drive there to get it relocated.
You sure it's not draining through the holes in the floor @Redline, only kidding, never noticed it on mine, but then the motor failed on that and I had to have it replaced. Thats how I know How to prevent it from happening.
Mike
I know it's a big problem even on cars that are supposed to have sealed motors. The draining water is quite distinctive when I've seen it, but not definitive proof that the drains aren't blocked. Am keeping my fingers crossed.
Maybe fitting a bilge pump should be considered
Ahoy there Capt. Pugwash. I'm going to check the drains on mine when I wash it Ian, you're probably onto something here I reckon.I know it's a big problem even on cars that are supposed to have sealed motors. The draining water is quite distinctive when I've seen it, but not definitive proof that the drains aren't blocked. Am keeping my fingers crossed.
Maybe fitting a bilge pump should be considered
Tony.
problem with the drains being cleared is the damage may already be done.
The motor sits in a plastic container that isnt sealed as good as it should be, and the container fills if the drains get blocked.
Think of it this way.... put a cup in a bucket, put your motor in the cup. If bucket has a drain hole which gets blocked. The bucket fills until water flows into the cup. Now clear your drain holes in the bucket and the bucket empties, The cup doesn't and that's what you motor sits in until it fails.
I changed my motor/pump myself and it is just over £300 from BMW.
Took about 5 hours because I just went steady, but there are far more complicated things to do on a car.
The motor is less than the cost of 2 tyres but no one complains about the "dreaded tyre issue" like the "dreaded motor issue".
There are a good few indies that do the job for about £600 all in, (4 tyres) and you will never have to change it again if you look after it, (unlike tyres).
Water will drain from under the sill just in front of the rear wheel if the drains are clear
The motor sits in a plastic container that isnt sealed as good as it should be, and the container fills if the drains get blocked.
Think of it this way.... put a cup in a bucket, put your motor in the cup. If bucket has a drain hole which gets blocked. The bucket fills until water flows into the cup. Now clear your drain holes in the bucket and the bucket empties, The cup doesn't and that's what you motor sits in until it fails.
I changed my motor/pump myself and it is just over £300 from BMW.
Took about 5 hours because I just went steady, but there are far more complicated things to do on a car.
The motor is less than the cost of 2 tyres but no one complains about the "dreaded tyre issue" like the "dreaded motor issue".
There are a good few indies that do the job for about £600 all in, (4 tyres) and you will never have to change it again if you look after it, (unlike tyres).
Water will drain from under the sill just in front of the rear wheel if the drains are clear
Can you access the drain tubes without removing the wheelarch liners? Or does anyone know how to access them from the wheelarch?