Roof Lock Motor Rebuild / Gear Swap on convertible roadster top for BMW Z4 and E46
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- čas přidán 20. 10. 2017
- The lock motor for the convertible roof on BMW fails over time. The key reason for failure is a gear breaks inside the housing. This affects both BMW Z4 roadsters and BMW E46 convertibles as they use the same part. But it is very easy to replace. You can purchase the new gear separately which is generally cheaper, or in my case I swapped the gears from a different used motor, to my existing housing. Both process are the same and easy to do.
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Mr. BMW made that part to fail after manufacturer's warranty goes out. So sad. Great videos brother... Thank You!!!
You are welcome Bruce!
Out top was working perfectly, then after arriving home we pressed up and top went up 1/3 of the way then stopped. Further inspection, appears pump and cylinder are fine as we are able to feed power directly to motor and make top go and and down with no biding issues etc. So we tested holofex sensors and they seem to work well. Took top module apart and there are no smells or burnt circuits. Trunk tray sensor bi passed and switch tested all works well. We can press the down top button and it goes down, then windows roll up as always, but when we press up it goes up smooth then stops 1/3rd of the way up and blinks red on switch. Press down and town goes down again, then up and it goes up again. LOL lubed all joints, car running while testing, etc. Again we are able to complete the top up with direct 12v power to motor and back down. We also direct 12v to lock motor and it does work fine, locks and unlocks. ANY IDEAS? HELP, I am about to trade this car in next weekend and this happened.... HELP. Thank you in advance. We did check all wiring in top going to sensors for pinching damage etc but all looks good even inisde headliner.
Cheers for that, great help 👍
Thanks! Glad to assist.
Recently found your video and it really helped me replace the top locking gears, thanks for making it. I own a 2004 BMW Z4 and it seems like alot of the plastic parts have gotten brittle and cracked. The black plastic cover that has 6 screws over the roof locking gears has cracked at the end and I have been looking but I have had no luck at finding a replacement cover. Do you have any suggestions or have you seen where that part can be purchased separately. Thanks
TANYOU
Youre welcome. Glad this helped.
Great video man. One question: The two cables that connect to the motor and twist to unlock the latches-- how to I detach these from the motor?
Thanks, appreciate your time
Good question, I wondered the same when I started. The answer is that the cables slip on and of on splines. The do not screw on or off. Once you have the motor free, you will be able to pull the cable off by pulling to the side. Sort of like taking a cap off of a pen. (except with splines). One thing that will help you visualize it is I have a video of my install and below is a link to it. At about the 5 minute mark I show the splines and ends up close so you can tell how to remove them. czcams.com/video/otCbHnwZ-Ig/video.html
Hope it helps.
so the e46 motor is the same? because I can find replacements for the e46 really cheap, but fotr the e85 is super expensive!
Do you have a link where i can buy the gears?
There are several places you can purchase them, but here is a link off ebay. www.ebay.com/itm/03-04-05-06-07-08-BMW-Z4-E85-Convertible-Top-Latch-Motor-new-REPAIR-GEAR-SET/222443066594?fits=Make%3ABMW&hash=item33caa3d4e2:g:tcMAAOSwd~RZVAVF&vxp=mtr
HOW REMUVE PANEL
There are 4 screws on the leading edge of the front of the roof top. You can see them when you open the roof just a bit and then look at the part that meets the windshield. I actually have some video of me taking it off. I will try to post it for you.
Rene, I posted this video just for you. It shows me taking off the trim panel to access the roof lock motor. I hope it helps. czcams.com/video/otCbHnwZ-Ig/video.html
plastic replacment: www.wholesalepartsexpress.com/product/1999-2006-bmw-e46-convertible-latch-gears-repair-kit/
metal upgrade:www.wholesalepartsexpress.com/product/1999-2006-bmw-e46-e36-e64-convertible-latches-repair-kit-part-number-67618370816-67-61-8-370-816-all-metal-gears-2/
coupon code CBB 5$ off from this link