E88 roof won’t open

[j7jrt]

Hi
New to the forum and done a bit of searching and was hoping there would be a similar issue.
Just got the wife a 2009 m sport.
The roof does not open and was hoping to trouble shoot it myself.
Story so far
1. Push roof open and red flashing light
2. Checked tray in boot and pulled down
3. Push roof open and all 4 windows drop then other button roof opening? Goes green.
4. Push green button windows go back up.

Next steps and help needed
Fuses, micro switches, motor in boot and fluid check, motor in hood near windscreen.

Can anyone help I will do a write up if I sort it to help others unless there is one?
I find it strange YouTube isn’t full of fixes they must not go wrong much?

Update 1
The motor on the latch assembly working as proved it with Alan key in and it spun around.

Went in boot and found the motor and it was very damp and a bit rusty so looks like that is the problem. Any good places for replacement other than eBay?
Also why is the boot on drivers side wet is it common issue?

Update 2

Ordered a new motor and fitted for £100
Roof now opens all the way, the last bit where convertible top box comes down sticks open.

Looks like nobody has any advice as it’s been on a week and not one response. I’ll keep going and updating

Update 3

I have now found the hall sensor has broken away from the frame behind the drivers side under the roof cover. Does anyone know where to buy one? Has anybody else had this or know of which hall sensor does what. Does this sensor stop the roof cover from closing?. It closes back down when the roof goes back up but won’t do the final part when the roof goes down.

One reply would be nice as I feel like I’m talking to nobody!

Thanks

[j7jrt]

I honestly can’t believe after 126 views not one reply. The roof on these must be very reliable for no experiences of problems.

I will post my journey in the hope it helps someone in the future.

1. Fault was roof would not open red flashing light windows did not move.
2. Changed 20 amp fuse no 25 top right in fuse box
3.windows now dropped no roof
4. Stripped out boot trim all across and located roof motor, motor was sat in wet sponge.
5. Dried it out and ordered and fitted new pump motor off eBay £99.
6. Fitted pump roof now opens all the way to the boot compartment closing.
7. Inspected and found no 3 hall switch had become detached.
8. The roof frame was so close to sensor it snapped it off frame.
9. Moved frame with large screw driver away from frame operating roof inch by inch.
10. Fitted new sensor from bmw, £15 and connected up.
11. Roof now opens and closes fully.
12. I also ordered 2 salmon relays whist the pump was out.
13. Refitted all trim and job done.

Hope this helps someone in future unless of course nobody ever has a roof fault

[blue135]

Thanks for the summary. Good to know, hope I never have to refer to your experiences.

[WindUp]

I dread the thought of my convertible top not opening. I hope you get it squared away.

[Josh-PA]

Appreciate the info. I've got nothing to add, as my top has been flawless since 2011, but these posts are great references for us whenb we inevitably need them. Thanks for taking the time to document.

[fotontom]

Just catching up with your post. Thanks for the info and write-up!

[early_ML_crisis]

Does anyone have a sense of how much a potential convertible roof replacement would cost if the worst were to happen? Not sure if it would differ for:

1. Just the cloth/fabric (in case it tears or something)
2. The whole mechanism including motor, sensors, etc

Has to be in the $1k+ range for #1 and $3-5k+ range for #2 right?

[blue135]

Don't know about #2 but I was quoted $2200 for BMW fabric and $1600 for replacement fabric (is definitely lighter, but has held up well for 18 mos). My top is down most of the time and I rarely take car out if it is going to rain, so it works for me.

[Gray_Panther]

Thank you! My parent's E88 only had issue with glue failing on rear window but my dad sealed it back up. Been holding up fine for two years and no other issues. They open/close the top a lot, so it's nice to have these reported problems and fixes handy in our search history!

[MarinerZ4C]

J7JRT,

Thanks for your posts, the statement of problem, and your solutions.

I have owned my 2008 128i convertible for just a few weeks now. It's a base model with an N51 engine and about 67K. I am getting ready to do water pump/t-stat, OFHG (w oil & filter), valve cover gasket set, and a 3X ATF drain/fill with new gasket and filter. The top functions fine, but a thirteen year old car is going to need things, and the convertible top is a item for which I have a very small knowledge base.

Glad you were so persistent - both in your posts and in following through on the troubleshooting and repairs !

[JHZR2]

Thanks for the info. Knocking on wood no issues, always a user error thus far....

[Rarely]

Originally Posted by j7jrt

Hi
Update 3

I have now found the hall sensor has broken away from the frame behind the drivers side under the roof cover. Does anyone know where to buy one? Has anybody else had this or know of which hall sensor does what. Does this sensor stop the roof cover from closing?. It closes back down when the roof goes back up but won’t do the final part when the roof goes down.

One reply would be nice as I feel like I’m talking to nobody!

Thanks

How did you find this sensor? Would you be able to link me a part no. / website where you got one? I have this exact issue - Have been looking for something like this for 2 weeks!

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am also in the UK

[lvfb]

Originally Posted by j7jrt

Hi
New to the forum and done a bit of searching and was hoping there would be a similar issue.
Just got the wife a 2009 m sport.
The roof does not open and was hoping to trouble shoot it myself.
Story so far
1. Push roof open and red flashing light
2. Checked tray in boot and pulled down
3. Push roof open and all 4 windows drop then other button roof opening? Goes green.
4. Push green button windows go back up.

Next steps and help needed
Fuses, micro switches, motor in boot and fluid check, motor in hood near windscreen.

Can anyone help I will do a write up if I sort it to help others unless there is one?
I find it strange YouTube isn’t full of fixes they must not go wrong much?

Update 1
The motor on the latch assembly working as proved it with Alan key in and it spun around.

Went in boot and found the motor and it was very damp and a bit rusty so looks like that is the problem. Any good places for replacement other than eBay?
Also why is the boot on drivers side wet is it common issue?

Update 2

Ordered a new motor and fitted for £100
Roof now opens all the way, the last bit where convertible top box comes down sticks open.

Looks like nobody has any advice as it’s been on a week and not one response. I’ll keep going and updating

Update 3

I have now found the hall sensor has broken away from the frame behind the drivers side under the roof cover. Does anyone know where to buy one? Has anybody else had this or know of which hall sensor does what. Does this sensor stop the roof cover from closing?. It closes back down when the roof goes back up but won’t do the final part when the roof goes down.

One reply would be nice as I feel like I’m talking to nobody!

Thanks

im with you i cant fucking stand when i dont get anything. checking in to see if you have any updates on your top.

do you have any pictures?

I am having a similar issue. crazy rain came through town and now top will un latch and thats it. cant get it to open. any info would be good! thank you!

[RandyMakDaddy128i]

My 128i will unlatch and will not open as well. I can hear the motor running like it’s trying open it for a few seconds while holding the button but the roof won’t move after unlatching. If I hold the close button it will latch locked. It was all working fine when this started. Any help would be appreciated.

[lvfb]

Originally Posted by RandyMakDaddy128i

My 128i will unlatch and will not open as well. I can hear the motor running like it’s trying open it for a few seconds while holding the button but the roof won’t move after unlatching. If I hold the close button it will latch locked. It was all working fine when this started. Any help would be appreciated.

i fixed mine and maybe it will help you as well!!!




as usual with this forum i had to figure it out myself....



took to bmw shop and they said it would be entire new pump and would cost 6300usd. Told them to fuck themselves and started digging. Bought this pig from ebay



https://www.ebay.com/itm/23496930260...&segname=11050



and replaced my oem one because when i disconnectd the oem one and ran direct power to it i got no movement or anything so i knew it was fried. installed the ebay replacement and it started working.



I also had a hall sensor error which eneded up being these 2 cables that had damged over the years of opening and closing so many times. (located at the folding part of the top passenger side see photos below)

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by lvfb

i fixed mine and maybe it will help you as well!!!




as usual with this forum i had to figure it out myself....



took to bmw shop and they said it would be entire new pump and would cost 6300usd. Told them to fuck themselves and started digging. Bought this pig from ebay



https://www.ebay.com/itm/23496930260...&segname=11050



and replaced my oem one because when i disconnectd the oem one and ran direct power to it i got no movement or anything so i knew it was fried. installed the ebay replacement and it started working.



I also had a hall sensor error which eneded up being these 2 cables that had damged over the years of opening and closing so many times. (located at the folding part of the top passenger side see photos below)

Nice great job. Thank you for sharing. Cant really see the motor you replaced from your photos.

Yeah me to, when I had to replace side slide door covers on the convertible top i had no luck finding the fix. I had to figure it myself. I found then on eBay too and replaced them myself.

[lvfb]

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

Nice great job. Thank you for sharing. Cant really see the motor you replaced from your photos.

Yeah me to, when I had to replace side slide door covers on the convertible top i had no luck finding the fix. I had to figure it myself. I found then on eBay too and replaced them myself.

the motor is inside the foam enclouser in this pic and is removed by two allen key screws

https://www.redlineautoparts.com/bmw...xoCwaUQAvD_BwE

[Finneganistan]

I used to have a Boxster and the softtop motor on one side went out. $1400 repair bill. They helpfully offered to do both sides for only $2600! I love convertibles, but, yikes.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by Finneganistan

I used to have a Boxster and the softtop motor on one side went out. $1400 repair bill. They helpfully offered to do both sides for only $2600! I love convertibles, but, yikes.

Thats why we need to enjoy them while we can 🚙😂🤙

[ejm3]

I've had my 20123 135 convertible since new.
I was worried about the top from day, knowing they are complicated and expensive and its a BMW so you know it will break eventually.
So for all this time i put the top and and down as little as possible to save wear and tear on the top and the mechanicals.
I put it down in early May and the top stays down until mid-Sept.
It may go up and down a few times here and there but not much.
It helps thyat its garaged and not my DD.

[Wazowski]

I’ve assumed my top has served me well because I use it all the time! In 15 plus years and 196k miles, I’m guessing conservatively it has gone through 4k up/ down cycles.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by Wazowski

I’ve assumed my top has served me well because I use it all the time! In 15 plus years and 196k miles, I’m guessing conservatively it has gone through 4k up/ down cycles.

Nice. Do you have a garage? That probably helps a lot.