electric roof probs

[Bally]

had the cloth changed on my e30 conv, before the winter, put the hardtop on straight away, took the hardtop off and the roof will not work the front lifts but the back of the roof will not lift to let the stowage falp up, taken it to BMW main dealer told i need a new motor and linkage arm !!! cost #1004 =VAT.company that fitted roof are not interested, lesson 1..always chweck work fully straight away, 2., because someone says they know e30s inside out does not mean they do. 3. always ask for refferal before having anything done, having the roof done as can not really argue BMW saying rod is bent and motor was loose and become damaged..... for future I live in slough does any one know anyone within an hour who knows electric roofs , also any good garages/mechanics who know e30s its a 325. thanks

[DaveD]

why not try a rewind place and get the motor serviced...the link rods are pretty thick so it would take some force to bend them..but if the motor is working why does it need replacing...

I wish someone would write an article to show How the thing operates and what we can do if it stops functioning properly

[DaveD]

ps yours must have worked properly at the time for yours to go back down last year

[Bally]

yeah it worked, unfortunaterly did not use the roof for 24hr (to let mastic seal around front rubber , then put it down once and put hard top on, did not operate the roof to close or test several times, I am sure the roof operation can not be that difficult ,I think most people tend not to experiment and mess about with it because of the cost to rectify,maybe next time it buggers up I may have a little play, doe anyone know of any lit or info I can get on roof operation

[DaveD]

have only seen the parts breakdown but am getting hold of a bentleys guide and will see if more info

[E30cabalan]

If you take the top boot lining out you can get at the motor. There is a release handle which drops the motor out of the drive gear. Do this and then gently rock the roof mechanism back. Now gently lift the rear of the soft top and this should release the operating rod to move with the roof and allow you to lift the rear bit (depending on how bent or not the rods are). The next trick is to try the operating switch to open the roof. If it is still ok the stowage lid will open ok but only operate it until it is vertical.
You can now get at the motor and operating arms.If this does not work the stowage motor also has a disconnection lever. Operate this and manually rotate the gears until the lid catches release and lift the lid manually.
You can now see what is broke hopefully. Disconnect both operating arms and check the motors. If they both work you have saved Ԛ£1000.
The main operating arm can be straightened using a bit of heat, workshop job. Otherwise the alternative is a manual hood.
I have done all this in the past, it is a bitch of a job but worth it if it all goes well and you have all the bits.Good luck as you can really b***** this up if you force anything.

[DaveD]

thanks very much for the info...my roof works intermitantly ...lots of clickjs ..so I will have alook inside and see if anything is out of sync or have you any solutions

[Bally]

Thanks for the info, fortunately dealers are not as good as they should be, car went in Mondat 8am for service roof and oil leak (could not see where it was coming from, called them twice in the afternoon onlt to be told at 3.30pm that it had not gone in to the workshop and I should collect it and rebook it , already waied 2 weeks ,had a go they then got it in to do servise ,service showed needed brakes so it had to stay ,Tuesday told needed motor and rod ,they had to order so could not have the car till wed, wed told motor is here rod is not wait till Thursady, phone call today fitted new motor not working at all ,they have been sent a faulty motor, would reorder and sort out Friday ,have requested they now stop messinfg about replace old motor leave the roof and I will collect,
I do not think it is the motor as they have put a new one in and still not working , I will try the above and see if I can take out the old motor manually to check , even if any one has diagram of breakdown of parts would appreciate it, will let you know how i get on ,will put the hardtop back on and try in the warmer weather.