Retractable top behavior

[MrAbody]

Hi All,

New to me 2014 E89 Z4s35i has some weird (I think) top behavior. It does go up and down but it stops halfway and I have release the up/down button then press it again and then it finishes.

Going down the top folds into the trunk and stops once it's in, I release, then press the down button again, the trunk folders over into position and is closed.

Going up, the top stops just before the windshield header, if I release , then press the up button again, the top meets and locks with the windshield header and finishes the up procedure.

I have no idea if this is normal, have searched for a similar post but haven't found one.

Any ideas what might be wrong if anything? no codes appear except for the top code when I release the button(s) halfway, and goes away on re-press.


Thanks!

[B21]

Sounds like one or more of the two micro switches on the hydraulic rams are faulty..our resident expert may have more insightful views..

[MrAbody]

Thanks,

Just stumbled onto a post on another forum which indicated my exact symptoms and it appears its one of the hall sensors on the boot hinge.

Those sensors are pricey, and happen to be slightly more than the warranty deductible so I will go through the dealer for them to fix.

[PuzzleBird]

Hi Abody, would you mind linking to the information you found? My Z4 was doing the exact same for a few months. This weekend graduated to a new roof error and the rear window gets stuck partway up and will not continue, so it's time to do some serious diagnosing

[RobbiZ4]

The hall sensors aren't the source of this behaviour.

Just follow the maintenance thread and every will be fine:

⌛E89: Retractable Hardtop (roof) Maintenance (and additional) tasks
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130932

[bigendbob]

Stopping in motion and restarting usually broken wire(s).
Even a "bong" in motion the same.
Need to scan get code see which one faulty.

[javis20]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Stopping in motion and restarting usually broken wire(s).
Even a "bong" in motion the same.
Need to scan get code see which one faulty.

A broken wire would not be so consistent. Do what RobbiZ4 said. I doubt the guy who designed the system knows as much a Robbi.

[javis20]

Originally Posted by B21

Sounds like one or more of the two micro switches on the hydraulic rams are faulty..our resident expert may have more insightful views..

Nope. Use this... https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...RoCU_4QAvD_BwE

[bigendbob]

Originally Posted by javis20

A broken wire would not be so consistent. Do what RobbiZ4 said. I doubt the guy who designed the system knows as much a Robbi.

Yes it can be, i have had this happen.
When the roof stops the wires relax enough to recontact.
Even temperature makes a difference.
Repaired wires a few times.

[ota723]

Hello All,

I have a 2015 E89 hard top that opens without any issues but when i try to close it the button starts to blink red and the top starts to begin the process to close and then freezes in place. I took it to a friend with a scanner and the (2) codes that popped up were:

A691 - Hall Sensor VSW5.2
A69E - Vehicle Velocity Too High

I was able to get the top closed by letting it sit for a few hours and then manually pulling the trunk up to the open position to allow the hart top to come out of the trunk and then the top works and it closes.

I want to avoid having to do this every time i drive with the top down.

Can you advise on what sensors I need to replace and their location in the car and the best place you recommend to buy them from.

[RobbiZ4]

Originally Posted by ota723

A691 - Hall Sensor VSW5.2
A69E - Vehicle Velocity Too High

Can you advise on what sensors I need to replace and their location in the car and the best place you recommend to buy them from.

The 1st fault code is the key to your problem.
The 2nd code is just a following one while driving the car with a potential unlocked roof. We don't have to care about it, as it's misleading.

At first, open the trunk lid. Then push both flippers in the locking system of the trunk lid (on the right end as well as on the left) with a small finger or a screwdriver. The 2 motors have to complete the softclose sequence. Lay down the lid. It won't close completely, but that is intended!

Now start to open the roof until the trunk lid stops vertically. Release the button and switch off the ignition.

You need access to the right hydraulic ram in the trunk:
Get the trunk panels removed on the right. Only 2 + 3 clips have to be taken off with a nail iron or similiar tool.


There are 2 hall sensors (HS) clipped into the hydraulic ram. One with a long yellow wire, the other with a short red one. Around the plug of the red one there is a zip tie. Cut it, but be very careful to not cut sth. else.

Pull both hall sensors out of the ram, start with the "yellow" one on the front of the ram. Inspect the front side, take a sharp photo and zoom into it.

If you see only one tiny orange point or even an orange line, this hall sensor has a rusty permanent magnet inside of it.

More details and pics:
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic...35307#p2035307

E88 HS:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=54347190735
Buy it original from a BMW dealer!

No discussion, no further tests, just replace it with a new one out of an E88, as these are much cheaper than the E89 parts.
Check the "red" hall sensor in the same way and get it replaced as well, if rusty inside.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic...21079#p1921079


After remounting both HS, place a new zip tie around the ram and the plug of the red HS. Don't ignore or forget it!


And please read the following thread:

⌛E89: Retractable Hardtop (roof) Maintenance
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130932

[ota723]

RobbiZ4
Are there any videos on youtube showing how this is done? can you share a link if possible
that shows the process?

[RobbiZ4]

Any news?

[ota723]

No news yet. I ordered the the hall sensors from BMW for the E88 model as was recommended and they are way cheaper then the E89 Hall Sensors.

I was hoping to watch a video that shows this process of getting to the hall sensors and soldering the new sensors in place.

Do you know if such video exists?

[RobbiZ4]

No video. But detailled descriptions in my linked posts.