Convertible roof will not go down (stops halfway!)

Share what the repair orders listed as to what they fixed. List parts.

Are you holding the button until it is complete?If I stop mine before it completes the cycle I have trouble getting it to go again

Yes, I do hold both buttons down during the process. To explain further... I took the car to 2 garages. The one replaced some sort of relay (located in the trunk). Sorry, I do not have a part number. Can tell you it cost approximately $200.00! It worked for about 2 weeks (at best) and stopped again. Took it back and they told me it must be an electrical problem (a relay) but, after waiting for a part for a month, they finally told me they could not get it in and would not be able to fix it. Basically, they washed their hands of it and did say that if they had replaced the relay and it still stopped working there would be no guarantees. By the way, this is a garage that specializes in BMW's. The second garage I took it to said it was a hydraulic problem which would be very costly to fix. They too said there would be no guarantees. Took it to a 3rd garage for price comparison. They did not try to fix it, but they did look at it ($100.00 later!) and told me they do not think it's a hydraulic problem. They said if it was an hydraulic problem then it would not work at all. Also, please note that if it sits for a couple of months without trying to put the top down, then it will work the first time. But when you have to put the roof back up then try a day or week later it does not work again. Weird!!!! Last Note: When we first got the car my husband was cleaning it and stopped the roof halfway down (don't have any idea why!!!) but my son seems to think that may have something to do with the problem now. Any feedback anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. As I said, I LOVE the car, but don;t have a lot of money to keep soaking into the roof without actually fixing it. And who wants a convertible whose roof doesn't go down?!? Thank you again for any help/advice you can give me.

You know there is a release to work it by hand sounds like its hydraulic to me I would take it to a BMW dealer and ask them for an estimate on repairs rather than letting other shops guess with your money

push the max window closer button up and down whilst pressing the open roof button it should activate the censers reverse this proses to close

I'm currently experiencing a very similar problem with my 325ci convertible.I have it at the dealership mow here in Charlotte NC.At 1st they told me it was the motor and the lines clogged up.Now they are saying it is the hydraulic motor that is bad.I'm waiting to speak with the sales rep I've been dealing with and have him explain the difference between the 2 motors(if there is any).

Sorry to say but BMW Z4is35 are nice to look at but the electronics are very, very poor. I will never buy another BMW again. They are so over rated................

there is two actuators and two hydraulic cylinder's to open and same for closing when you push the switch you activate the first one and the actuator activate the first cylinder (that's half the way up) in the end of first cylinder stroke the second actuator start work and activate the second cylinder (complete open) then start the folding and closing the trunk in the same principle now it open half the way then close ( all your electric parts are OK) some time work complete and some time not ( this will require removing some interior panels) 1- check your hydraulic fluid if it is ok level 2- check for hydraulic pump and see if putting enough pressure 3- check for any leak from opening cylinders 1-(check your electronic) end of stroke sensors and the control modular 2- check the first cylinder for complete travel stroke if not it could have internal leak which it Causes hydro lock and set the cancelation over ride on the body modular all data in the shop manual or you can call the dealer and talk to a technician. and if you decided to take it to a dealer or shop for diagnostic only and get estimate. ones you find what part you need you can do it for your self and in case if you let them do it you know is you paying for whit out wasting money. good lock