05 3.0i Convertible Problem (again)

trackhobo · 03-30-2012, 03:43 PM

So I started a thread about a week ago about the part number for the hydraulic motor for the soft top. I read someone's article about how to manually put an automatic soft top down in the stow position, as mine is stuck up. When I press my convertible 'down' button, the latches connecting the top to the front of the vehicle disconnect, but the top does not go down. I found the red latch in the trunk that, if pulled out and rotated 90 degrees so it stays out, allows the hydraulic fluid to move freely through the motor. When I pulled it out, the top would still not go down. By go down, I mean with two people pulling on it and one person pushing up while inside the car. The hydraulic fluid will not move through the lines! How can I fix this? PLEASE HELP ME IM SO DESPERATE

MHeavNC · 04-01-2012, 02:30 AM

You should hear it release when you pull it.. Then you rotate 90 degrees.. I hope that the release is not broken too..:thumb down

dreamingat30fps · 04-01-2012, 01:20 PM

Weird the process you described is exactly how I have mine to put up and down manually without issue.

sam04 · 04-01-2012, 03:44 PM

I just had to help fix one at an upholstery shop last week and we could manually get the top down with ease, it's very strange yours won't budge.

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trackhobo · 04-08-2012, 03:35 PM

I know right? I'm afraid either the release is broken or the lines have seized. I took it to BMW and they said it was the motor but they never tried to move the top down. The weirdest thing is about three months ago I was able to take it down and back up with ease. Since then I can't do it, even with three guys pulling on the top. UGH.

RecycledTeen · 04-08-2012, 08:02 PM

Read up on the motor fix and the associated components. Sounds to me like either your "bowden cable", the one your red pull handle is attached to, is too loose and when you pull it out (90 degree "locking position) it is unable to compress the ball check valve on the motor/hydraulic pump end that it pushes on, OR the check valve itself is "frozen", which could mean it's corroded due to too much water where it's stowed.

There's a plastic tension cable adjustment along the driver's rear left side that you could try to adjust (make it tighter) to see if it's the cable. (You'll have to pull out your rear trunk "shelf" to get to it).

Or, next best thing is to pull top and see if it's your motor (if the ball check valve froze you probably have other issues waiting to happen with that unit).

Not an expert by any means, just offering my 2 cents here having tore into the system recently.

03-30-2012, 03:43 PM	#1
trackhobo BMdub Lover 2 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fort Sill, OK iTrader: (0)	05 3.0i Convertible Problem (again) So I started a thread about a week ago about the part number for the hydraulic motor for the soft top. I read someone's article about how to manually put an automatic soft top down in the stow position, as mine is stuck up. When I press my convertible 'down' button, the latches connecting the top to the front of the vehicle disconnect, but the top does not go down. I found the red latch in the trunk that, if pulled out and rotated 90 degrees so it stays out, allows the hydraulic fluid to move freely through the motor. When I pulled it out, the top would still not go down. By go down, I mean with two people pulling on it and one person pushing up while inside the car. The hydraulic fluid will not move through the lines! How can I fix this? PLEASE HELP ME IM SO DESPERATE
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04-01-2012, 02:30 AM	#2
MHeavNC Turd in the Punch Bowl 19 Rep 239 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0i /// 2008 M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	You should hear it release when you pull it.. Then you rotate 90 degrees.. I hope that the release is not broken too..:thumb down
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04-01-2012, 01:20 PM	#3
dreamingat30fps Lieutenant Colonel 5307 Rep 1,907 Posts Drives: Miata, Cayenne, Model 3, F350 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Florida & NC iTrader: (1)	Weird the process you described is exactly how I have mine to put up and down manually without issue.
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04-01-2012, 03:44 PM	#4
sam04 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2004 m3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I just had to help fix one at an upholstery shop last week and we could manually get the top down with ease, it's very strange yours won't budge. 93401 auto detailing san luis obispo car detailing auto detailing arroyo grande atascadero car detailing car detailing san luis obispo car detail in san luis obispo san luis obispo car detailing morro bay auto detailing http://www.sloresource.com/item.php?...+Spa&list=3532 http://www.manta.com/c/mvtj3jr/ http://www.sloresource.com/item.php?list=3532 http://www.local.com/business/detail...spa-115796545/ http://www.superpages.com/bp/San-Lui...2351156387.htm http://www.facebook.com/CentralCoastAutoSpa __________________ San Luis Obispo auto detailing Last edited by sam04; 08-12-2012 at 01:41 PM..
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04-08-2012, 03:35 PM	#5
trackhobo BMdub Lover 2 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fort Sill, OK iTrader: (0)	I know right? I'm afraid either the release is broken or the lines have seized. I took it to BMW and they said it was the motor but they never tried to move the top down. The weirdest thing is about three months ago I was able to take it down and back up with ease. Since then I can't do it, even with three guys pulling on the top. UGH.
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04-08-2012, 08:02 PM	#6
RecycledTeen Private First Class 16 Rep 162 Posts Drives: Looking for E85 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tampa, FL area iTrader: (2)	Read up on the motor fix and the associated components. Sounds to me like either your "bowden cable", the one your red pull handle is attached to, is too loose and when you pull it out (90 degree "locking position) it is unable to compress the ball check valve on the motor/hydraulic pump end that it pushes on, OR the check valve itself is "frozen", which could mean it's corroded due to too much water where it's stowed. There's a plastic tension cable adjustment along the driver's rear left side that you could try to adjust (make it tighter) to see if it's the cable. (You'll have to pull out your rear trunk "shelf" to get to it). Or, next best thing is to pull top and see if it's your motor (if the ball check valve froze you probably have other issues waiting to happen with that unit). Not an expert by any means, just offering my 2 cents here having tore into the system recently.
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