This is the best video explaining how to maintain the z4 roof mechanism and seals. Very clear and simple details about what to do, which products to use and how to apply them. Straight to the point - no waffle. Thank you!
Don't forget to change out the two salmon colored relays in the trunk that power the hydraulic pump. One is for raising the top and the other is for lowering the top. The top pulls 40 amps and the contacts in the relays tend to get burnt. My top was very slow to operate because the relay contacts were burnt. After replacing the relays the top operated much faster and smoother.
Its important to know that WD-40 is neither designed nor useful as a long term lubricant. It is a Water Displacer, cleaner, and temporary lube. Please consider using a light oil instead, preferably with a spout dropper not a spray that gets all over everything. Thank you for an excellent video. I know WAY more now about how to do this service. Thank you!
Would you recommend using WD-40 Lithium Grease Spray lubricant? I would not use regular WD-40 for the reasons you already described, plus it attracts dust over time.
WD40 spray grease is fine if you don't mind the overspray going everywhere (which attracts dust, too). i personally prefer non-aerosol, drip oilers. Much tidier and environment friendly.
I did the same 2 weeks ago, but you did it more advanced, good job ! It's also interesting to have this video and topic, because in bmw community forums, i don't see so much talking about this.
I tried to do as thorough of a job as possible so it can be a good reference in the future. I agree that not a lot people are focusing on this, but it's an important maintenance to do if you don't want water, rust and other issues with the roof. Once something goes wrong, you pretty much have to take it to a dealer and that's going to be pricey. Thanks for watching!
Personally I would use the grease & 3 in 1 oil not WD40. As mentioned already below WD40 is kit a lubricant. Once you’ve applied it I’d motor the roof a couple of times so the lubricant gets where it needs to & then remove the excess oil & grease from anywhere you see it. Both will attract dust & debris especially the grease. If you’re doing this every year you won’t need a lot to do the job. Keep both away from plastics & rubbers & obviously leather.
Well that DIY roof maintenance was a workout, I'm beat and Thanks Again for your tips and video!!! I need to know what the dealer charges for this service so I can convince my wife to take me out to dinner (favorite restaurant Angelina's in Lake Havasu) with all the money I saved us... I used that Gummi Pfledge on all the rubber seals and that stuff is the bomb. To date (this old guy) it's the best product I've use on rubber seals. I took this step a bit further and did all the seals under the hood. Don't forget, when done clean the foam applicator with soap and water. I'll have to admit there is a ton of joints that need lubrication on the Z4 so I tried to ease the pain with something a little different. WD 40 has a new product line called Specialist and has a spray lithium grease so I thought I'd give it a shot. I covered the areas with a towel and went real light on the trigger to minimize over-spray while spraying the joints. This stuff is easy to use, minimal mess and works pretty good. Clean off excess with a towel and you can see the lubricant in between the joints just where it belongs. I also sprayed some of the lubricant into a towel (to minimize mess and cleanup) and squeezed the lubricant into some of the joints, hooks and latches. I know this stuff isn't what BMW recommends but oh well...
Such a great video. I watched it several times and just completed it in my E89. Tomorrow I’ll take it for a test drive to see if it solved the squeaking problems. I suspect it will. Thanks so much!
The best long term maintenance is to clean all those rubber seals with a clean damp micro fiber towel. The dust and gunk that builds up is what ages the rubber . Wet the tower under the tap then wring it as much as you can, you want it damp, not wet.
WD-40 is water displacing and long term use causes it to turn into a glue like substance that attracts dust and dirt. 3 in 1 oil also attracts dust and dirt. A quarterly (periodic or at least bi-annually) dry lube like graphite will solve your lubrication needs but it doesn't really last long. Not trying to throw stones, just trying to offer better alternatives to WD-40. Even penetrating lube is better than WD-40.
Thanks for the info! I've seen it recommended in many places and I haven't had issues so far myself, but if there are better products for this, I will definitely try them in the spring.
You are completely right. I can also inform you that the other parts that you filled with lithium grease (besides recommended by BMW) are fully maintenance free and should not be lubricated/greased at all, because they can attract dust and other stuff as well. So in fact it is rather a bad idea than a good idea. I work at the roof manufacturer (Webasto). Most roof noise problems come from the boot-lid rubbing where the rollover Bars are. You can use felt there. Another area is where the center nose goes into the Lid hole. You might want to use grease or felt there as well. Most of the operating problems (roof stops while operation) come from broken cables at a bend.
This video has been so helpful. Is it ok to leave the roof half open while i clean/service with the engine off or should i leave it running the whole time?
Yeah, you don’t even have to run the engine to open and close the roof if your battery is good. In fact, I just had to fix an issues with my roof and the roof was half open for a couple weeks without any problems. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks a lot for the quick response! I just bought a 30i and started servicing the roof. It looks like one of the seals right between the boot lid and right rear quarter panel is going out so need to replace that. I just hope i don’t ever have to deal with water ingress issues so trying to take every precaution. May i request you to please video all maintenance/service work you perform on your car? Your videos have been tremendously helpful! Thank you!!
I think your issue with not getting enough voltage from the reverse wire was because you used T-tap wire splices. You arent guaranteed a good connection and they actually damage the wires when squeezing them down. Better to cut and splice wire in using heat shrink solder sleeves or standard crimp connections. Interesting that you wouldnt have tried that before adding a relay to the system. Also, the left hand side of the trunk has the harness with the actual grommet to access the license plate light. Great vid though!
i was obsessed with getting a fairly new 218i f22 model, but the z4 is quickly becoming my new obsession! funny thing is some z4's have twice the hp of the 218i yet the insurance of the z4 is halved!
Didn't know that about insurance, it seems to not matter what car I have when comes to insurance. The 2 series is a lot of fun, but the Z4 is definitely a head turner!
Best of luck on the restore, I hope you get to drive her this summer. I've been looking for an sDrive35is, but I just can't find one that isn't outrageously out of my price range. They are a beast!
@@SimpleCarGuy thank you, it took me some time to find one as well! Honestly the e89 chassis is so beautiful. If you don't min, where did you buy your m4 wheels at? I currently have m wheels, but run flat and they are very thin (potholes worst enemy).
@@DR_socal I agree with you on the e89 chassis being of the best looking BMWs (without being super aggressive). Fun fact, it was designed by women designers! I found mine on Craigslist. Guy was taking them off his M4 for some aftermarket ones. Sold the tires and got the ones that fit the Z4.
@@SimpleCarGuy hey i just found your video at the right time i just got an 09 s35i and its my first bimmer and convertible car and im loving it my main concern was the rooftop i keep getting blinking rooftop up buttons when the roof is down. any indication as to why? would this help fix this?
@@tristansacotte6937 I've got an '09 3.0si. I had some odd blinking and non-blinking lights on the roof up/down buttons. Ran an OBD2 code reader and it came up with faults on the roof open/close...cleared the faults and all has been happy since. Good luck with your car, they are head turners for sure.
Well as promised you delivered a video that surpassed my hopes... This is great... I must admit you are a generous man with the lithium grease... I have to check and see if I can get those products... During these difficult times your videos are a real pleasure.. I download them for later reference.. Can you give us a taster of your next video?
Thank you kindly! I was generous with the lithium grease. I figured, I would operate the roof a few times and let it spread in the spots it needs to be in and then wipe off the extra. Unfortunately, my state is on a lock down, so there aren't many places to go and I don't want to just open and close the roof purposelessly. I might do a "year review" on my auction Mini Cooper S. I really appreciate you watching!
Hey, thanks for all the helpful info on the Z4 E89. Well done. My question is regarding the lift support shocks for the roof top. You didn't make any comment or suggestion for those. I assume they help on the full open and close mechanism. How important are they? Is it convenient to replace them? How often? Thanks my friend.
I have a 2020 430i and it’s NEVER been quiet when opening/closing. The dealership doesn’t fix anything. after a year, it’s now leaking water. Before, the problem was the roof was creaking like crazy, and they lied about fixing it.
Thanks for the tutorial my friend! Need to get the Z4 ready for summer! I have a question, for seals that have become brittle and dried up, any recommendations of where I can get replacements for a good price?
I would go on RealOEM website and find the part numbers for which pieces you need, then Google that part number and see which places sells them for cheapest. That's how I usually shop for parts for my cars. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy ah, perfect! Much appreciated! I took the Z for a wash today and noticed a drip of water on my headrest. Probably time to change, previous owner didn't maintained the seals.
I conditioned all my Z4's roof seals, I checked some lube points and found a Hall sensor in the wind shield right side hook latch. I'm not going to grease this latch, but oil the mechanical parts. I fear the grease will foul the sensor.
Great video, mine is turning 12 years I have no idea how to do this maintenance. I'll appreciate any video o tips how to glue back the roof liner. The rear felt down and I have no clue how to put it back. Any ideo how to do it? Thanks
I never even thought about doing maintenance on the roof, so that was on eyeopener. Would be nice though if you could put up links to where you can order these products as they are not available in my country. So far your videos have made me buy the Autel AP200, the side light reflectors and now I would like to get my hands on these lubricants as well :) Btw, Gummi pflege stift means Rubber care stick. Thought you might like to know...
People don't usually think about the roof until something goes wrong.. which is normally too late! It's definitely worth getting this done once a year at the very least! Are you from Germany? I posted links for US and UK, but I don't really know what's available in other countries. Really appreciate you watching! I thought it mean rubber conditioner, so close enough!
SimpleCarGuy I see now you had included links already. Overlooked the whole introduction as it was collapsed. I am from Norway, but ordering from US is fine. Once again, appreciate your channel.
Great video. I bought an F33 which has a few more moving parts but gives me a good idea for routine preventive maintenance. Thanks for links for material used. Cheers
Hi !! I bougth one 3.0 and Im thinking to use white grease Ipon to lubricate the hinges, it comes in spray mode and is easy to apply.Is no dangerous for the rubber too.Thanks for your tips !!
Hello my fiend, I just bought a 2012 BMW Z4 and the roof doesn’t work can you help me what could be the problem maybe a sensor or something else you could know
I used 3 and 1 RV rubber seal oil instead of the gummi fledge seemed to work fine. Anyone use this also? I’m having a hard time finding that white lithium grease on Amazon. Any other good substitutes? Thanks for the video!
I own a 2013 Z4 same color as yours. At 2.00 mark in this video, there is a part in the trunk behind the manuals, can you please tell me what that is for? I have sent you an email regarding this also. Thank you.
2:50 why was your finger wet after you checked the unit ? What is the correct level for the fluid and why did you not show us ? Good tips about the car, but detailed information...like having that bar removed prior to the video was needed so you could pull the unit out and shows us, seeing how you researched and checked with your friends and all before doing this video.
There is a bit of moisture in the foam around it, but the level was correct. I didn't want to pull it completely out as it wasn't the main point of the video and more of a mention so people can research into it more. Thanks for watching!
@simplecarguy the roof sounds very quiet but can you hear the pump/motor working or should that be quiet too? I hear mine and am wondering if that’s a concern… just the pump working sound
Great Video! I don't have a Z4 but an SLK r172. Maintanance should be similar. One question: how happy are you with the german pen? Is it good? Thanks and regards from germany :)
At my garage they use silicone remover on the rubber parts as these silicones which are in car shampoo attach to it and create squiking noises since some of these rubber parts are not really rubber. At least that was what they told me 😀. Do you use any product that contain silicones ?
Great tip! I haven't heard of using silicone remover on the rubber parts, but after conditioning it with the product I showed in the video there are no more squeaks. I will look into it for the next time I do this. I don't use any products that contain silicone, but who knows what the car wash I go to uses. Thanks for watching!
It really depends on where you live and how you store/keep the car. I do it once a year, if you live in Arizona and keep the car outside, moisturize the rubbers twice a year.
It would have been nice if you had also shown us how to get the roof sections in the partially open position in order to get to the seals and hinges. All I know is which button will fully retract the roof and which button will close the roof.
WARNING! I did the lube as suggested and the rear panel actually collided with the top part of my roof, leaving 4 tiny indentation marks/chips. this only happened the first time after the oiling. not sure why, but if you do this please put a carpet or thick towel on the roof panel as the rear panel is coming down in case it happens to you. - Pappy
HI! I have a problem with my E89 z4 roof. The rear part of my roof is being locked too close to the car after having my top up, causing the two pointy angles to bump with the plastic trim and creating dents on it. Do u have any idea how to fix it?
Great video... to get the roof in all those positions, are you just hold the Up/Down button and then turning the car OFF to hold it there (I've never tried that, I know the car gives you a "hint" when top is not fully up or down).. THX Looks like something to do on a nice Spring day.
I would use the key and just stop at the position I wanted the roof to be at. No need to shut the car off etc. it’s a fun little project when it’s nice out, for sure! Thanks for watching!
I don't believe these cars have drainage like the previous generation Z4s. If they do, please post more info, I'd be happy to dig in more and make a video about it.
Nice video! Can I ask where you got those diagrams at 03:00 in the video? Also I have a question. I think you live in the mid-west of the USA so you get cold weather? I live in France near Geneva so I get the same. I bought my E89 Z4 last summer and it is in superb condition. I never noticed any noises in the hard top. Now that the weather is cold, I am hearing a very slight noise now and then, which sounds like lateral movement where the hard top mates with the top of the windscreen. I am wondering if the cold weather could cause the metal to contract very slightly, allowing this lateral movement. If that is the case, should I just leave it alone? I am afraid that if I start tightening it down, without any proper documentation, I might have worse problems when the weather gets warm again. Have you had experience of this, or am I talking nonsense? Thanks! Irish Louis living in France.
I found the diagram in a repair manual for the car. Don't have a link, but enough googling should yield some results. I haven't had any issues with noise in colder weather and I definitely would not recommend tightening anything if it was fine in the warm. I would guess that the rubbers have shrunk some and now allow some movement. First step would be to lubricate those and put correct pressure on the sills and other metal parts. I would do that twice if you haven't had anything done to the rubbers in the past year or two. You should see some results after. Let me know how it goes and thanks for watching!
By any chance have you had issues with your convertible top not working? Mine was working great. Just randomly, It opened slightly then got message saying "movement impaired". Buttons stopped responding so i turned the car off and hardtop closed on its own but did not lock. So i started the car, pressed the button to lock and i heard locking mechanism locked it. I tried opening again same thing happened..Next morning, I moved the cable slightly on passenger side seat and all of a sudden, convertible top button started flashing red, i guess that slight touch made it worst. Now when i drive past 2 miles...I get the annoying bmw gong alert nonstop saying top not locked. Any tips would be appreciated.
Press and hold the button to open the roof and then let go at the point where you want it stopped. Wouldn’t recommend stopping it in any position where there is pressure on the framework. (Like second panel hanging in the air.)
This is lovely video! I just purchased my first convertible (3 series 2009) and I can see some bronze “oil” all over the hinges. I have been driving for around a month now and putting roof up and down even few times a day. It doesn’t make any sound and seems quite smooth, but it’s not a new car so do you recommend me doing this maintenance just to make sure all is done properly? Also, should I do valet first to clean it all, and won’t they do all this for me then at the car wash? Hope you can advice!
Thanks! If you have ‘bronze oil’ then someone has been taking care of the car! That’s good news. The bronze stuff is similar to the silver anti seize compound I used so you are good there, no need to mess with the hinges until maybe next year if you use it a lot. I would recommend just getting the gummi pflege (link in description) and going over all the rubbers to make sure they are properly conditioned. A good detailer should be able to do this for you, but a regular car wash will most likely just wipe it down and that’s it.
If it's bad enough and the steps in the video don't help even after multiple application of moisturizer, you might want to replace the rubbers. This is why this maintenance should be done at least once a year.
Very nice content. I just want to ask where did you find the instructions that you claim that they are on the manual of bmw so you detailly followed different steps in each part?
@@SimpleCarGuy Hi again, today i decided to maintain my hardtop but as you know newtis info is alittle bit complicated could not even reach the page which shows this product for here and this for here. So if you do not mind I would be very happy if you can share a link or tell the steps. Thanks.
@@mustafayalcnkaya1401 They don't have step by step directions, it's just the diagrams I showed in the video with points that you need to take care of.
@@SimpleCarGuy okay thank you so much i have also seen some instructions from a forum for e93 which is the same as yours so i will try to apply the steps to my f33 asap. Thank you so much
Good stuff. By the way, my remote won't raise/lower the top. I went by the BMW dealership and they couldn't figure out how to program it. Any suggestions?
@@n3307v Honestly, I have no idea then. Make sure when you try the doors are closed and nothing is in the way and you aren't more than 2-3 ft from the car.
I just did the conditioning of the seals as there were some drips coming from the pillars, nothing major.. all seals seemed to be quite good, but this morning after all night rain, there was still some water drips in car, especially from the b pillar (I think). Any advice?
Is your roof closing all the way and locking properly? I would make sure nothing is pinched and if you can't find anything, your seals might have not been taken care of for many years and will need replacing. You can tell by seeing if they are flat or round about 'bouncy'.
Is the ignition on when doing roof -if so won’t it drain battery or is car running when you service roof? Thank you. Great video -process will be tedious afir me and likely take a while
Hi man! Where did you find all that info about grease/oil points for the Z4, as well as products used? I am troubleshooting a convertible top in my 335i. Can you help? Where can I get diagrams & troubleshooting info?
Hi there! I got most of the troubleshooting steps and the recommended products (or equivalent) from the newtis and ISTA. I think newtis is now shutdown, but you can still download the ISTA software which has the same info and diagrams.
Thanks for watching! It took me about 2-3 hours but I was filming at the same time. I think it's a 2 hour job at most if you get to each sea and every moving part.
After opening the roof a few times, I wiped off what didn’t seem to be in contact with anything off. When using the liquid lubricant, I had a rag underneath so it wouldn’t drip on anything in places it would affect anything.
hey i just found your video at the right time i just got an 09 s35i and its my first bimmer and convertible car and im loving it my main concern was the rooftop i keep getting blinking rooftop up buttons when the roof is down. any indication as to why? would this help fix this? and i also see that you are in chicago i am in milwaukee!
@@SimpleCarGuy it's opening and closing but it seems like it's not latching completely and then sometimes the light will blink and then it won't blink at all
Go to the link below and see the check control messages and what they mean. Good luck and hope it helps: www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e89-z4-sdrive28i-roa/repair-manuals/54-slide-tilt-sunroof-soft-top/54-37-folding-roof/IzVRXi6J
SimpleCarGuy a lot of people are changing them regularly (4/5 years) to prevent problems due to the pump. Sometimes they stay stuck and the pump is forcing a lot then it brakes, and it cost 2000€ to replace...
This is the best video explaining how to maintain the z4 roof mechanism and seals. Very clear and simple details about what to do, which products to use and how to apply them. Straight to the point - no waffle. Thank you!
Don't forget to change out the two salmon colored relays in the trunk that power the hydraulic pump. One is for raising the top and the other is for lowering the top. The top pulls 40 amps and the contacts in the relays tend to get burnt. My top was very slow to operate because the relay contacts were burnt. After replacing the relays the top operated much faster and smoother.
Its important to know that WD-40 is neither designed nor useful as a long term lubricant. It is a Water Displacer, cleaner, and temporary lube. Please consider using a light oil instead, preferably with a spout dropper not a spray that gets all over everything. Thank you for an excellent video. I know WAY more now about how to do this service. Thank you!
Which one do you recommend?
Would you recommend using WD-40 Lithium Grease Spray lubricant? I would not use regular WD-40 for the reasons you already described, plus it attracts dust over time.
WD40 spray grease is fine if you don't mind the overspray going everywhere (which attracts dust, too). i personally prefer non-aerosol, drip oilers. Much tidier and environment friendly.
Just opened my boot after 6 months in the garage and it was almost stuck so was thinking I needed to do this. And now this poped up, awesome!
Perfect timing! Summer is right around the corner, it's time to get our beauties on the road in tip top condition!
I did the same 2 weeks ago, but you did it more advanced, good job !
It's also interesting to have this video and topic, because in bmw community forums, i don't see so much talking about this.
I tried to do as thorough of a job as possible so it can be a good reference in the future. I agree that not a lot people are focusing on this, but it's an important maintenance to do if you don't want water, rust and other issues with the roof. Once something goes wrong, you pretty much have to take it to a dealer and that's going to be pricey. Thanks for watching!
All the BM cabs I have & I have 4 I do this every 3 months!
Never had any issues at all!👌
Always use GP… never use WD40!
just bought a 35is, gonna add this to my maintenance schedule
WELL DONE. the most complete and direct demo of that process I have ever seen.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
@@SimpleCarGuy how do you keep the roof stay up for maintenance?
Personally I would use the grease & 3 in 1 oil not WD40. As mentioned already below WD40 is kit a lubricant.
Once you’ve applied it I’d motor the roof a couple of times so the lubricant gets where it needs to & then remove the excess oil & grease from anywhere you see it. Both will attract dust & debris especially the grease. If you’re doing this every year you won’t need a lot to do the job. Keep both away from plastics & rubbers & obviously leather.
Thank you for this video, I just bought a z4 e89 and your videos helped a lot! 🎉
I have already ordered this grease and rubber conditioner for my z4. Thanks for your video.
Just did mine with your video as reference. Seriously noticeable difference. Thanks for the vid.
Glad it helped!
Well that DIY roof maintenance was a workout, I'm beat and Thanks Again for your tips and video!!!
I need to know what the dealer charges for this service so I can convince my wife to take me out to dinner (favorite restaurant Angelina's in Lake Havasu) with all the money I saved us...
I used that Gummi Pfledge on all the rubber seals and that stuff is the bomb. To date (this old guy) it's the best product I've use on rubber seals. I took this step a bit further and did all the seals under the hood. Don't forget, when done clean the foam applicator with soap and water.
I'll have to admit there is a ton of joints that need lubrication on the Z4 so I tried to ease the pain with something a little different. WD 40 has a new product line called Specialist and has a spray lithium grease so I thought I'd give it a shot. I covered the areas with a towel and went real light on the trigger to minimize over-spray while spraying the joints. This stuff is easy to use, minimal mess and works pretty good. Clean off excess with a towel and you can see the lubricant in between the joints just where it belongs. I also sprayed some of the lubricant into a towel (to minimize mess and cleanup) and squeezed the lubricant into some of the joints, hooks and latches. I know this stuff isn't what BMW recommends but oh well...
Such a great video. I watched it several times and just completed it in my E89. Tomorrow I’ll take it for a test drive to see if it solved the squeaking problems. I suspect it will. Thanks so much!
Glad you found it useful and hopefully all the squeaking is gone now! Thanks for watching!
@@gstudios9642 it did, but I had to lubricate other parts of the mechanism to get the squeaking fully solved.
Boa tarde, para manter a capota nessa posição o carro deve estar desligado? Há problema ficar muito tempo nessa posição?
Just did the refresher course (2nd time around) on joint / rubber seal maintenance. It's a good idea to revisit this video, thanks again...
Great video, thank you. Also Beautiful interior. May I ask what product you use? I need a bad detailing.
The best long term maintenance is to clean all those rubber seals with a clean damp micro fiber towel. The dust and gunk that builds up is what ages the rubber . Wet the tower under the tap then wring it as much as you can, you want it damp, not wet.
WD-40 is water displacing and long term use causes it to turn into a glue like substance that attracts dust and dirt. 3 in 1 oil also attracts dust and dirt. A quarterly (periodic or at least bi-annually) dry lube like graphite will solve your lubrication needs but it doesn't really last long. Not trying to throw stones, just trying to offer better alternatives to WD-40. Even penetrating lube is better than WD-40.
Thanks for the info! I've seen it recommended in many places and I haven't had issues so far myself, but if there are better products for this, I will definitely try them in the spring.
You are completely right. I can also inform you that the other parts that you filled with lithium grease (besides recommended by BMW) are fully maintenance free and should not be lubricated/greased at all, because they can attract dust and other stuff as well. So in fact it is rather a bad idea than a good idea. I work at the roof manufacturer (Webasto).
Most roof noise problems come from the boot-lid rubbing where the rollover Bars are. You can use felt there. Another area is where the center nose goes into the Lid hole. You might want to use grease or felt there as well. Most of the operating problems (roof stops while operation) come from broken cables at a bend.
@@benjaminhengl586 Great info, I should make an update video in the spring!
@@benjaminhengl586 can webasto service these roofs? I’m sure my dealer has no idea what to do with my roof. It’s all guess work!
@@benjaminhengl586 is never seize lithium grease ?
Is there a way to manually put the roof up if it rains ? Cheers Steve.
This video has been so helpful. Is it ok to leave the roof half open while i clean/service with the engine off or should i leave it running the whole time?
Yeah, you don’t even have to run the engine to open and close the roof if your battery is good. In fact, I just had to fix an issues with my roof and the roof was half open for a couple weeks without any problems. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks a lot for the quick response! I just bought a 30i and started servicing the roof. It looks like one of the seals right between the boot lid and right rear quarter panel is going out so need to replace that.
I just hope i don’t ever have to deal with water ingress issues so trying to take every precaution.
May i request you to please video all maintenance/service work you perform on your car? Your videos have been tremendously helpful! Thank you!!
I just bought a 2016 z4 convertible yesterday. Thanks for the tip
Enjoy it!
I love these Z4 videos man keep them coming! I’m hoping on buying myself one soon
Glad you like them!
I hope you do get one, which model are you thinking about?
Hey Calum Clark, did you end up buying a Z4 yet ?
It's very hard to get Never-Seez NSBT-8 Anti-Seize Compound in asia. Is there an alternative you could recommend ?
I think your issue with not getting enough voltage from the reverse wire was because you used T-tap wire splices. You arent guaranteed a good connection and they actually damage the wires when squeezing them down. Better to cut and splice wire in using heat shrink solder sleeves or standard crimp connections. Interesting that you wouldnt have tried that before adding a relay to the system. Also, the left hand side of the trunk has the harness with the actual grommet to access the license plate light. Great vid though!
i was obsessed with getting a fairly new 218i f22 model, but the z4 is quickly becoming my new obsession! funny thing is some z4's have twice the hp of the 218i yet the insurance of the z4 is halved!
Didn't know that about insurance, it seems to not matter what car I have when comes to insurance. The 2 series is a lot of fun, but the Z4 is definitely a head turner!
Thanks for the upload, I am currently restoring a 2011 z4 sDrive35is. It's an amazing car, just requires TLC!
Best of luck on the restore, I hope you get to drive her this summer. I've been looking for an sDrive35is, but I just can't find one that isn't outrageously out of my price range. They are a beast!
@@SimpleCarGuy thank you, it took me some time to find one as well! Honestly the e89 chassis is so beautiful. If you don't min, where did you buy your m4 wheels at? I currently have m wheels, but run flat and they are very thin (potholes worst enemy).
@@DR_socal I agree with you on the e89 chassis being of the best looking BMWs (without being super aggressive). Fun fact, it was designed by women designers!
I found mine on Craigslist. Guy was taking them off his M4 for some aftermarket ones. Sold the tires and got the ones that fit the Z4.
@@SimpleCarGuy hey i just found your video at the right time i just got an 09 s35i and its my first bimmer and convertible car and im loving it my main concern was the rooftop i keep getting blinking rooftop up buttons when the roof is down. any indication as to why? would this help fix this?
@@tristansacotte6937 I've got an '09 3.0si. I had some odd blinking and non-blinking lights on the roof up/down buttons. Ran an OBD2 code reader and it came up with faults on the roof open/close...cleared the faults and all has been happy since. Good luck with your car, they are head turners for sure.
Thanks for taking the time to make this useful video!
How long should we change all the seals in the roof mechanism? Do they have expiration dates? Thank you for your help. It is very helpful
If they are taken care of, they don’t need to be replaced. If the car has been in Arizona sun for 10 years, it’s a different story.
Phenomenal job. I own a zed also. I will check my roof now .... thanks
Thanks! Definitely worth the time to keep it operating nice and smooth!
How much this job at the dealer?
Your videos are superb dude. Keep them coming!
Appreciate it!
Well as promised you delivered a video that surpassed my hopes... This is great...
I must admit you are a generous man with the lithium grease...
I have to check and see if I can get those products...
During these difficult times your videos are a real pleasure..
I download them for later reference..
Can you give us a taster of your next video?
Thank you kindly! I was generous with the lithium grease. I figured, I would operate the roof a few times and let it spread in the spots it needs to be in and then wipe off the extra. Unfortunately, my state is on a lock down, so there aren't many places to go and I don't want to just open and close the roof purposelessly. I might do a "year review" on my auction Mini Cooper S.
I really appreciate you watching!
Hey, thanks for all the helpful info on the Z4 E89. Well done. My question is regarding the lift support shocks for the roof top. You didn't make any comment or suggestion for those. I assume they help on the full open and close mechanism.
How important are they?
Is it convenient to replace them? How often?
Thanks my friend.
Came across this video a week ago and now I’m going to collect my own z4
That's amazing! Congrats. Which one did you get?
I have a 2020 430i and it’s NEVER been quiet when opening/closing. The dealership doesn’t fix anything. after a year, it’s now leaking water. Before, the problem was the roof was creaking like crazy, and they lied about fixing it.
Thanks for the tutorial my friend! Need to get the Z4 ready for summer! I have a question, for seals that have become brittle and dried up, any recommendations of where I can get replacements for a good price?
I would go on RealOEM website and find the part numbers for which pieces you need, then Google that part number and see which places sells them for cheapest. That's how I usually shop for parts for my cars. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy ah, perfect! Much appreciated! I took the Z for a wash today and noticed a drip of water on my headrest. Probably time to change, previous owner didn't maintained the seals.
Very, very helpful thank you for taking the time to make this video. It will feel good to take the proper care!
Nothing like doing your own maintenance and enjoying the results for months!
Did not know about the hook underneath. Thank you!
I conditioned all my Z4's roof seals, I checked some lube points and found a Hall sensor in the wind shield right side hook latch. I'm not going to grease this latch, but oil the mechanical parts. I fear the grease will foul the sensor.
Great video, mine is turning 12 years I have no idea how to do this maintenance. I'll appreciate any video o tips how to glue back the roof liner. The rear felt down and I have no clue how to put it back. Any ideo how to do it? Thanks
Try spray adhesive
I never even thought about doing maintenance on the roof, so that was on eyeopener. Would be nice though if you could put up links to where you can order these products as they are not available in my country. So far your videos have made me buy the Autel AP200, the side light reflectors and now I would like to get my hands on these lubricants as well :)
Btw, Gummi pflege stift means Rubber care stick. Thought you might like to know...
People don't usually think about the roof until something goes wrong.. which is normally too late! It's definitely worth getting this done once a year at the very least! Are you from Germany? I posted links for US and UK, but I don't really know what's available in other countries. Really appreciate you watching!
I thought it mean rubber conditioner, so close enough!
SimpleCarGuy I see now you had included links already. Overlooked the whole introduction as it was collapsed. I am from Norway, but ordering from US is fine. Once again, appreciate your channel.
Great video. I bought an F33 which has a few more moving parts but gives me a good idea for routine preventive maintenance. Thanks for links for material used. Cheers
Glad it was helpful!
Hi !! I bougth one 3.0 and Im thinking to use white grease Ipon to lubricate the hinges, it comes in spray mode and is easy to apply.Is no dangerous for the rubber too.Thanks for your tips !!
Hello my fiend, I just bought a 2012 BMW Z4 and the roof doesn’t work can you help me what could be the problem maybe a sensor or something else you could know
Excellent demonstration. Really well explained.
Where i can buy this product? Havd you a link? 🙏
I used 3 and 1 RV rubber seal oil instead of the gummi fledge seemed to work fine. Anyone use this also?
I’m having a hard time finding that white lithium grease on Amazon. Any other good substitutes? Thanks for the video!
is "never seize" a lithium grease ?
hey could you let me know where you got the print out of the sensor location from please? thank you :)
Hi there, any advise on why the top has knocking sound when closed n driving mode?
I own a 2013 Z4 same color as yours. At 2.00 mark in this video, there is a part in the trunk behind the manuals, can you please tell me what that is for? I have sent you an email regarding this also. Thank you.
How did Mazda manage to fit a folding roof in the same space as a cloth one without losing any boot space?
Great Japanese engineering. I'm looking for a miata instead of a z4 because of the mostly great engineering.
🔥😂🔥@@wishawk8565
2:50 why was your finger wet after you checked the unit ? What is the correct level for the fluid and why did you not show us ? Good tips about the car, but detailed information...like having that bar removed prior to the video was needed so you could pull the unit out and shows us, seeing how you researched and checked with your friends and all before doing this video.
There is a bit of moisture in the foam around it, but the level was correct. I didn't want to pull it completely out as it wasn't the main point of the video and more of a mention so people can research into it more. Thanks for watching!
@simplecarguy the roof sounds very quiet but can you hear the pump/motor working or should that be quiet too? I hear mine and am wondering if that’s a concern… just the pump working sound
I need this product where and how do I get it please name 🙏🏼
Check links in the description, should be all there!
@@SimpleCarGuy thank you so much 🙏🏼
Great Video! I don't have a Z4 but an SLK r172. Maintanance should be similar. One question: how happy are you with the german pen? Is it good? Thanks and regards from germany :)
At my garage they use silicone remover on the rubber parts as these silicones which are in car shampoo attach to it and create squiking noises since some of these rubber parts are not really rubber. At least that was what they told me 😀. Do you use any product that contain silicones ?
Great tip! I haven't heard of using silicone remover on the rubber parts, but after conditioning it with the product I showed in the video there are no more squeaks. I will look into it for the next time I do this. I don't use any products that contain silicone, but who knows what the car wash I go to uses.
Thanks for watching!
How often would you recommend doing this?
It really depends on where you live and how you store/keep the car. I do it once a year, if you live in Arizona and keep the car outside, moisturize the rubbers twice a year.
@@SimpleCarGuy Awesome, and thank you for the video!
It would have been nice if you had also shown us how to get the roof sections in the partially open position in order to get to the seals and hinges. All I know is which button will fully retract the roof and which button will close the roof.
I just let go off the button half way through. It hands for a few seconds and then slowly lowers on its own in that half open position.
WARNING! I did the lube as suggested and the rear panel actually collided with the top part of my roof, leaving 4 tiny indentation marks/chips. this only happened the first time after the oiling. not sure why, but if you do this please put a carpet or thick towel on the roof panel as the rear panel is coming down in case it happens to you. - Pappy
Man! Cannot thank you enough for this great video!!! Very appreciative to you!
Thanks for watching, glad you found it useful!!
Could i ask a question - what is the "thing" in your boot next to your bmw book ?
great video btw :D
Great demonstrations. Btw, where do you get your configuration sheets that shows all parts and locations?
I found the schematics on realoem and newtis websites. Thanks for watching!
You can use non drip WD40 today as well..❤
HI! I have a problem with my E89 z4 roof. The rear part of my roof is being locked too close to the car after having my top up, causing the two pointy angles to bump with the plastic trim and creating dents on it. Do u have any idea how to fix it?
Great video... to get the roof in all those positions, are you just hold the Up/Down button and then turning the car OFF to hold it there (I've never tried that, I know the car gives you a "hint" when top is not fully up or down).. THX Looks like something to do on a nice Spring day.
I would use the key and just stop at the position I wanted the roof to be at. No need to shut the car off etc.
it’s a fun little project when it’s nice out, for sure! Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy not possible without comfort access. But still possible from the inside. Just not as convenient
I think you can still do it with the physical key in the door, even if you don’t have the comfort access.
Cheers buddy, thanks for the tips and advice👍
Great videos any thing on how to clean the drainage, the one's in the front pillar and in the roof it self?
I don't believe these cars have drainage like the previous generation Z4s. If they do, please post more info, I'd be happy to dig in more and make a video about it.
Nice video! Can I ask where you got those diagrams at 03:00 in the video? Also I have a question. I think you live in the mid-west of the USA so you get cold weather? I live in France near Geneva so I get the same. I bought my E89 Z4 last summer and it is in superb condition. I never noticed any noises in the hard top. Now that the weather is cold, I am hearing a very slight noise now and then, which sounds like lateral movement where the hard top mates with the top of the windscreen. I am wondering if the cold weather could cause the metal to contract very slightly, allowing this lateral movement. If that is the case, should I just leave it alone? I am afraid that if I start tightening it down, without any proper documentation, I might have worse problems when the weather gets warm again. Have you had experience of this, or am I talking nonsense?
Thanks! Irish Louis living in France.
I found the diagram in a repair manual for the car. Don't have a link, but enough googling should yield some results. I haven't had any issues with noise in colder weather and I definitely would not recommend tightening anything if it was fine in the warm. I would guess that the rubbers have shrunk some and now allow some movement. First step would be to lubricate those and put correct pressure on the sills and other metal parts. I would do that twice if you haven't had anything done to the rubbers in the past year or two. You should see some results after. Let me know how it goes and thanks for watching!
By any chance have you had issues with your convertible top not working? Mine was working great. Just randomly, It opened slightly then got message saying "movement impaired". Buttons stopped responding so i turned the car off and hardtop closed on its own but did not lock. So i started the car, pressed the button to lock and i heard locking mechanism locked it. I tried opening again same thing happened..Next morning, I moved the cable slightly on passenger side seat and all of a sudden, convertible top button started flashing red, i guess that slight touch made it worst. Now when i drive past 2 miles...I get the annoying bmw gong alert nonstop saying top not locked. Any tips would be appreciated.
A great video which I will follow soon on my E89. Have you had any electrical issues with the folding roof yet ? Tony.
Can i use ordinary grees
Not recommended, I'd definitely go for the proper stuff.
How do keep roof partly open??
Press and hold the button to open the roof and then let go at the point where you want it stopped. Wouldn’t recommend stopping it in any position where there is pressure on the framework. (Like second panel hanging in the air.)
This is lovely video! I just purchased my first convertible (3 series 2009) and I can see some bronze “oil” all over the hinges. I have been driving for around a month now and putting roof up and down even few times a day. It doesn’t make any sound and seems quite smooth, but it’s not a new car so do you recommend me doing this maintenance just to make sure all is done properly? Also, should I do valet first to clean it all, and won’t they do all this for me then at the car wash? Hope you can advice!
Thanks! If you have ‘bronze oil’ then someone has been taking care of the car! That’s good news. The bronze stuff is similar to the silver anti seize compound I used so you are good there, no need to mess with the hinges until maybe next year if you use it a lot.
I would recommend just getting the gummi pflege (link in description) and going over all the rubbers to make sure they are properly conditioned. A good detailer should be able to do this for you, but a regular car wash will most likely just wipe it down and that’s it.
SimpleCarGuy super! Thanks so much!
Instead of the lithium paste, why not WD40 White Lithium Spray? I would think that would penetrate all the joints better.
Thanks, very good info.
I bought a used 2007 328i convertible couple of months ago and I just noticed a leak on the driver and passenger pillar. 😩
If it's bad enough and the steps in the video don't help even after multiple application of moisturizer, you might want to replace the rubbers. This is why this maintenance should be done at least once a year.
@@SimpleCarGuy I look it up and I think I need a center rubber roof panel. It ain’t cheap tho. 😭
How do you get the roof to stop in the up position?
Very nice video thank you for sharing
I will buy an e89 soon and I thank you for this video
That’s awesome! These cars still look cool. Thanks for watching
Very nice content. I just want to ask where did you find the instructions that you claim that they are on the manual of bmw so you detailly followed different steps in each part?
Thank you! I’ve used newtis info website which has BMW data.
@@SimpleCarGuy Hi again, today i decided to maintain my hardtop but as you know newtis info is alittle bit complicated could not even reach the page which shows this product for here and this for here. So if you do not mind I would be very happy if you can share a link or tell the steps. Thanks.
@@mustafayalcnkaya1401 They don't have step by step directions, it's just the diagrams I showed in the video with points that you need to take care of.
@@SimpleCarGuy okay thank you so much i have also seen some instructions from a forum for e93 which is the same as yours so i will try to apply the steps to my f33 asap. Thank you so much
Excellent video. Thanks for making it.
Glad it was helpful! Appreciate you watching.
Good stuff. By the way, my remote won't raise/lower the top. I went by the BMW dealership and they couldn't figure out how to program it. Any suggestions?
@@n3307v I'm not sure if you've mentioned it before, but does it have comfort access?
Yes. It does have Comfort Access.
@@n3307v Honestly, I have no idea then. Make sure when you try the doors are closed and nothing is in the way and you aren't more than 2-3 ft from the car.
Thanks for your videos… much appreciated!
I just did the conditioning of the seals as there were some drips coming from the pillars, nothing major.. all seals seemed to be quite good, but this morning after all night rain, there was still some water drips in car, especially from the b pillar (I think). Any advice?
Is your roof closing all the way and locking properly? I would make sure nothing is pinched and if you can't find anything, your seals might have not been taken care of for many years and will need replacing. You can tell by seeing if they are flat or round about 'bouncy'.
SimpleCarGuy thank you, will do the checks!
Is the ignition on when doing roof -if so won’t it drain battery or is car running when you service roof? Thank you. Great video -process will be tedious afir me and likely take a while
Hi man! Where did you find all that info about grease/oil points for the Z4, as well as products used? I am troubleshooting a convertible top in my 335i. Can you help? Where can I get diagrams & troubleshooting info?
Hi there! I got most of the troubleshooting steps and the recommended products (or equivalent) from the newtis and ISTA. I think newtis is now shutdown, but you can still download the ISTA software which has the same info and diagrams.
Very useful video, thanks for sharing. Job for the weekend.
Thanks for watching! It took me about 2-3 hours but I was filming at the same time. I think it's a 2 hour job at most if you get to each sea and every moving part.
That was useful thx I love my Z
what does the product that you're putting on your seals ACTUALLY DO???
The stuff I'm putting on the seals basically moisturizes them so they don't crack, lose form or squeak etc.
worth the time to watch. so many sensors.....
I'm sure your lubing was also noted and approved by that gold moth (?).
Gold moth?
@@SimpleCarGuy (It's at :55. Looks like either a gold-colored moth or a type of beetle, on the white section.)
I came into the comments to see if anyone else saw that. 😄
Hi After lubricating , does the car still rattles / or make creek noise when you drive ? i herd the Z4 makes lot of creek noise when you drive
It does not. That’s the reason to do this once or twice a year depending on your climate.
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks
Curious to know : is the roof leaks in rain ?
I haven’t had any leaks in the 1.5 years I’ve had the car. It was parked outside in the snow and rain for a month this winter and no leaks either.
Appreciate your response 👍, thanks
Hi do you wipe any excess off when youre lubricating? Or do you just leave it
After opening the roof a few times, I wiped off what didn’t seem to be in contact with anything off. When using the liquid lubricant, I had a rag underneath so it wouldn’t drip on anything in places it would affect anything.
@@SimpleCarGuy ok great.. Thanks for replying. Excellent vid
hey i just found your video at the right time i just got an 09 s35i and its my first bimmer and convertible car and im loving it my main concern was the rooftop i keep getting blinking rooftop up buttons when the roof is down. any indication as to why? would this help fix this? and i also see that you are in chicago i am in milwaukee!
Is the roof opening and closing as it should but you just get the blinking light or is it not operational at all? Welcome to the channel!
@@SimpleCarGuy it's opening and closing but it seems like it's not latching completely and then sometimes the light will blink and then it won't blink at all
Go to the link below and see the check control messages and what they mean. Good luck and hope it helps:
www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e89-z4-sdrive28i-roa/repair-manuals/54-slide-tilt-sunroof-soft-top/54-37-folding-roof/IzVRXi6J
Great video! Thank you for posting this!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your video!!
This was very helpful 👍
Nice DIY ! Did you change the salmon relays of the hydrolic unit ?
I was not aware of these! Do you have more information as to why they need to be replaced? I will do some research.
SimpleCarGuy a lot of people are changing them regularly (4/5 years) to prevent problems due to the pump. Sometimes they stay stuck and the pump is forcing a lot then it brakes, and it cost 2000€ to replace...
@@NicoGeeRk Thanks for the heads, I'll look into replacing them.
SimpleCarGuy maybe you can make a little video about that ? :) ;)
@@SimpleCarGuy This is a link to a UK forum regarding the relays...z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=119167&sid=8c7bed1a9be17225cebc7ac31b2fa3f3
What mods would you do to the n20 motor before taking it out in the track?
I haven't really done any engine mods as of yet so I can't comment on that. Once I'm at that point, I'll post a video!