Flashing Red Light and Convertible Top Won't Come Down

jblack · 08-20-2012, 09:54 PM

I've got a 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i.

Anyway, my wife said she came in today and tried to put the top up. She said it stopped about 2 inches from closing. Anyway, she left it in the garage and came in the house. Said she came back out a couple of hours later and the top was all the way up and closed. However, now the top won't go down and the red light next to the button to put it down is flashing.

I'm not sure where to start with this. I did some searching, but I'm not sure exactly where to start on troubleshooting this. I'm guessing the alignment of the top is off or something. Thanks!

Mueller944s2 · 08-21-2012, 12:38 AM

Did you say she went inside and left the top down and when she came back out the top was up? If so it sounds like more than just a problem with your car!

Traveler218 · 08-21-2012, 04:17 PM

Sounds like a motor problem to me. If she put it part way up and then went inside, gravity may have closed it remainder of the way. If so then the fluid pressure leaked past the pump valve. Normally the pump should hold the pressure and maintain the top in whatever position you stop. It could be that the pump bypass release in the trunk got pulled. This is to allow you to manually raise and lower the top if the motor dies.

jblack · 08-21-2012, 06:57 PM

So I went out and pulled the release. After I got in the car the top came down fine. On the way back up, it stopped about a foot from closed. I had to pull the release to get the softtop to meet the roof and then use the Allen wrench to lock the top to the windshield.

I'm guessing this is a pump problem, but want to confirm before I spend ~$350 and 4-6 hours fixing it. Thanks!

08-20-2012, 09:54 PM	#1
jblack New Member 7 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0L Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	Flashing Red Light and Convertible Top Won't Come Down I've got a 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i. Anyway, my wife said she came in today and tried to put the top up. She said it stopped about 2 inches from closing. Anyway, she left it in the garage and came in the house. Said she came back out a couple of hours later and the top was all the way up and closed. However, now the top won't go down and the red light next to the button to put it down is flashing. I'm not sure where to start with this. I did some searching, but I'm not sure exactly where to start on troubleshooting this. I'm guessing the alignment of the top is off or something. Thanks!
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08-21-2012, 12:38 AM	#2
Mueller944s2 Private 6 Rep 98 Posts Drives: '90 Porsche 941, Z4 Roadster Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Did you say she went inside and left the top down and when she came back out the top was up? If so it sounds like more than just a problem with your car!
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08-21-2012, 04:17 PM	#3
Traveler218 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 43 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i Montego Blue Matalic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Madison, Al iTrader: (0)	Sounds like a motor problem to me. If she put it part way up and then went inside, gravity may have closed it remainder of the way. If so then the fluid pressure leaked past the pump valve. Normally the pump should hold the pressure and maintain the top in whatever position you stop. It could be that the pump bypass release in the trunk got pulled. This is to allow you to manually raise and lower the top if the motor dies.
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08-21-2012, 06:57 PM	#4
jblack New Member 7 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0L Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	So I went out and pulled the release. After I got in the car the top came down fine. On the way back up, it stopped about a foot from closed. I had to pull the release to get the softtop to meet the roof and then use the Allen wrench to lock the top to the windshield. I'm guessing this is a pump problem, but want to confirm before I spend ~$350 and 4-6 hours fixing it. Thanks!
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