Z4 Z4 top does not go up all of the way

I have a 03 BMW Z4 where the top will not go all of the way up. It comes up about 1/3 of the way and stops. When I try to put it back down, nothing happens. I either have to release the red handle in the trunk or wait till it gravitates down. The motor works for 1/3 of the way so I assumed that it was ok, Thanks to the great intstructions posted by shipkiller I removed the top to inspect. The hydraulic fluid in the motor seemed low, so I added fluid but it is still doing the same things. My g/f took it to the dealer and they didnt even hook it up to the pc, I was willing to pay the $105 to see what it would say, they said they know it is an electrical issue because the motor is working to take it up 1/3 of the way. Any advice? I am stuck.

The motor is working but most likely it does not have enough grunt to get the top all the way up.... unless you have a hydraulic piston issue (very unlikely) then the motor it bad.

Originally Posted by shipkiller

The motor is working but most likely it does not have enough grunt to get the top all the way up.... unless you have a hydraulic piston issue (very unlikely) then the motor it bad.

+1
Have someone grab the top and give it some assist from the moment it starts coming up and see if it will go through full travel. If so, the motor or pump is not strong enough. Some electric motors have an internal circuit breaker that will cut out if the motor draws too much current. Try letting it sit for a few minutes when it quits and see if it will continue, or if you hear the motor try to run for a second. Not sure if these have an internal breaker or not, but you would still replace the motor.

I have tried to assist it, and regardless it always stops in the same spot. After letting it sit, it settles slowly and when I try to raise it again it always goes back to the same spot (1/3) of the way up. I have tried putting the top up manually and the using the motor to lock it in place, and that does not work either. The dealer stated that it had to be electrical since the motor took it up 1/3 of the way w/ plenty of power, I realize that they could be wrong.I'd hate to spend the money on a motor, and it still not work.

I replaced the motor and am still getting the same result. I also powered up the motor driectly from the battery, bypassing all sensors and it went up all of the way. Therefore I know it is not a motor or a hydraulic problem.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Just checking to see if you figured out the problem yet. My 2007 Z4 just started doing the same thing.

Using Shipkiller's instructions (thanks from a fellow bubblehead) I pulled the top out of the car. Motor and pump were perfect (I live in a desert), even bench tested strong. Checked roof compartment microswitch-works correctly.

Don't know how to test the Hall sensors but don't know how they could be the problem since the stoppage occurs midway through the travel length and the Hall sensors only kick in at the end of each direction in order to stop the motor at the right time.

However, something seems to know the position of the top since, like you said, it will jump back up to the 1/3 position after the hydraulic pressure bleeds off a bit and the top drops back an inch or two. This was repeatable many times when I continued to hold the "up" botton as the top slowly dropped and would jump back up to the 1/3 position.

I'm tempted to just get a new top control module, but hate to waste $300 to test a theory, especially since I don't know what device is telling the control module the position of the top midway through its travel length. PFM!

Kugamon - Beer is good food!

2007 Z4 3.0Si