Top won't open manually

[jeff11214]

2003 Z4. I searched the forum, but couldn't find same issue as mine.

The top motor has not worked in some time and top has not been opened in some time. I pulled red handle in trunk and turned it to it's side. Pressing the down button to release the top does work. When I try to manually pull back the top it will move about 1 foot and that's all. The parcel shelf in trunk is down.

How can I manually open the top? Not sure what's going on.

[JAS1169]

Hey

The emergency by-pass connects to the pump/motor and when you pull/turn the red handle it pulls a cable which pushes in a small brass/copper ball on the pump. That small brass/copper ball bearing on your pump is frozen with gunk. the tech in this video is changing out the motor/pump and has the same issue as you do. in that, the emergency by-pass is frozen. go to 4:09 in this video. BMW Z4 Replacing The Convertible Pump - YouTube

This is a very common failure.

Your going to need to reach the pump/motor and open a line if you want to use the top manually. You can either do this by taking off the top (like the tech did in this video
) Or by pulling the motor thru the trunk

[jeff11214]

I think you're totally right. I have done a lot of research on this. So, I'm actually going to replace and relocate the entire hydro motor to the trunk tomorrow. Hopefully, the top will move automatically at that point, but have the option to move it manually if auto isn't working for some other reason.

Thanks for your reply. I'll let you know how I make out

[JAS1169]

Yea, once you have the motor in your trunk, you can simply loosen one of the banjo nut's and place a drain pan under the motor. Then move the top up/down a few times to drain out the fluid and it will be manually again. tighten the banjo nut and pull the drain pan and your ready to go.

When your ready you can order a new motor/pump and install it in the trunk. You may have to top off the fluid when doing this.