e30 cabriolet roof problems
Moderator: martauto
-
martynhomer
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:00 pm
hi guys. i am a newbie to bmw ownership as i sold my unreliable cosworth,just bought an e30 320i with 62000 miles on the clock that is mint with an electric roof. reading the manuals it said about 2 levers in the boot that disconnect the motors from the roof in the event that it fails so you can still put it up. unfortunately i decided to fiddle around and did this and now i cannot find how to re connect the motors. any one got any ideas of how to do this and how easy....please help
-
wubnut
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:00 pm
Hi i found this the other day hope it helps
Top motor re-sync procedure To the left of the motor that controls the top (far right motor) there is a black control box that has (4)relays (coils). Check these (4) coils with a 12v tester for power with the ignition key on. If all of these have power then it is possible to get power to the micro switches. If these relays do not have power, then you'll need to either swap out the control box or troubleshoot the wire harness by doing some continuity checks. The reason the top does not work is because there is no power to the micro-switches, I'll explain. Power to the micro-switches is controlled by the lid motor lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is controlled manually by the Allen wrench. When the lid is locked and the lid motor engaged the switches will have power (you'll notice that when you lock the lid, the lid motor assembly swings in and out slightly). When the lid is locked it swings the motor closer to the body of the car and completes the ground for the micro switch. The problem is, it is very difficult to get both the lid locked and the lid motor engaged. They must
be done simultaneously. If you have power to the relays, here is how to get power to the micro-switches. This is easier with two people....also make sure the ignition key is on Disengage all the motors (unlock the lid mechanism, disengage the lid motor and the top motor) Undue your top from the front window and push it up like your going to put the top down with the switch These have to been done in this order.Re-engage the top motor (far right) have someone slowly lift the back window until you can seat the top motor in. Now the hard part...You have to lock the lid mechanism with the Allen wrench and engage the lid motor at the same time. It took me several tries at this. Try locking the lid half way, then pushing in the motor half way and play with it until the motor pops in and the lid locks at the same time. If you were successful you can turn the micro switch adjustment screw (located to the left of the Allen lid lock point). When you turn the adjustment screw you'll hear a click when the switch turns on or off, you'll have to listen carefully. If you don't hear a click then you have to disengage the lid motor and unlock and try again. If you do hear clicks while turning the adjustment screw, turn the screw all the way to the left and slowly turn to the right until you hear a click. Then test your top,does it work? If not turn the screw all the way to the right and slowly turn to the left until you hear a click. Then test your top again, it should work and may require further adjustment using this adjustment screw. This is a difficult procedure to explain, but it is fairly easy to do yourself. The micro-switch will not get power if you are unable to lock the lid and engage the lid motor simultaneously. My dealer could not even do it. So it will take some playing around with until you get the feel for it. Once all the motors are engaged and there is power to the micro switches you just have to turn the lid micro switch to the position this tells the system the lid is down and locked. Then the top should operate normally.
Wubnut
Top motor re-sync procedure To the left of the motor that controls the top (far right motor) there is a black control box that has (4)relays (coils). Check these (4) coils with a 12v tester for power with the ignition key on. If all of these have power then it is possible to get power to the micro switches. If these relays do not have power, then you'll need to either swap out the control box or troubleshoot the wire harness by doing some continuity checks. The reason the top does not work is because there is no power to the micro-switches, I'll explain. Power to the micro-switches is controlled by the lid motor lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is controlled manually by the Allen wrench. When the lid is locked and the lid motor engaged the switches will have power (you'll notice that when you lock the lid, the lid motor assembly swings in and out slightly). When the lid is locked it swings the motor closer to the body of the car and completes the ground for the micro switch. The problem is, it is very difficult to get both the lid locked and the lid motor engaged. They must
be done simultaneously. If you have power to the relays, here is how to get power to the micro-switches. This is easier with two people....also make sure the ignition key is on Disengage all the motors (unlock the lid mechanism, disengage the lid motor and the top motor) Undue your top from the front window and push it up like your going to put the top down with the switch These have to been done in this order.Re-engage the top motor (far right) have someone slowly lift the back window until you can seat the top motor in. Now the hard part...You have to lock the lid mechanism with the Allen wrench and engage the lid motor at the same time. It took me several tries at this. Try locking the lid half way, then pushing in the motor half way and play with it until the motor pops in and the lid locks at the same time. If you were successful you can turn the micro switch adjustment screw (located to the left of the Allen lid lock point). When you turn the adjustment screw you'll hear a click when the switch turns on or off, you'll have to listen carefully. If you don't hear a click then you have to disengage the lid motor and unlock and try again. If you do hear clicks while turning the adjustment screw, turn the screw all the way to the left and slowly turn to the right until you hear a click. Then test your top,does it work? If not turn the screw all the way to the right and slowly turn to the left until you hear a click. Then test your top again, it should work and may require further adjustment using this adjustment screw. This is a difficult procedure to explain, but it is fairly easy to do yourself. The micro-switch will not get power if you are unable to lock the lid and engage the lid motor simultaneously. My dealer could not even do it. So it will take some playing around with until you get the feel for it. Once all the motors are engaged and there is power to the micro switches you just have to turn the lid micro switch to the position this tells the system the lid is down and locked. Then the top should operate normally.
Wubnut
-
orangecurry
- E30 Zone Addict
- Posts: 2518
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: West Sussex
it's very easy - but for the first time perhaps you should carefully remove the trim in the boot, then you can see what you are doing....
The levers simply click back into the mech - it's difficult to describe in words, and I don't have my leccy cab to take any pictures.
Someone else might have pictures, but it really is that simple.
The levers simply click back into the mech - it's difficult to describe in words, and I don't have my leccy cab to take any pictures.
Someone else might have pictures, but it really is that simple.
-
orangecurry
- E30 Zone Addict
- Posts: 2518
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: West Sussex
if you have simply disengaged the levers, I don't think you have to do what Wubnut describes - just push the levers back the other way, but getting the trim out of the way will make it easy to see what you are doing.
-
DaveD
- E30Zone Wiki Specialist
- Posts: 5129
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Sheffield
send me an email address and i will send you a pdf that MIGHT help