electric hood frame broken

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Sun 30 May, 2010 16:23

Just picked up my Z3 yesterday, tried to drop the hood today and it would go back but wouldn't fold down, had a closer look at the hood and noticed part of the frame is snapped behind the passenger seat.

Anyone know where I can get a replacement part and how easy would it be to fix? Any help much appreciated

Post by **Robert T** » Sun 30 May, 2010 16:38

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It depends which part has broken. The end of the ram has been known to sheer off. The ram and ball joint it attaches to are shown below:

Electro-hydraulic folding top parts - BMW parts catalog

The roof frame is shown here:

Folding top - BMW parts catalog

You should be able to buy any of these parts from your local BMW dealers parts desk - the ram looks like £160, but if it is just the ball pin, that's somewhere around a fiver.

You could also try BM Mini Parts, parts gateway or a breakers. I'm not sure that you would have much joy with GSF or Eurocarparts for such specialised parts.

If you can't identify the part from the diagrams, post a picture and we will help you find it.

Cheers R.

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Sun 30 May, 2010 17:05

Thank you so much for your reply. I've attempted to photograph the broken section - I hope this will help identify the part. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thank you once again!

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Sun 30 May, 2010 17:07

For some reason the image isn't showing? I will attempt again. Failing that if anyone has any ideas, please could they message me and I could email a photo.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 30 May, 2010 19:15

atlantablue wrote:For some reason the image isn't showing? I will attempt again. Failing that if anyone has any ideas, please could they email me at: info@imperialgold.co.uk and I could email a photo.

Hi atlantsblue, if your still struggling posting a pic send it to me at barneytim123@hotmail.com and will post it up for you

Tim.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Mon 31 May, 2010 08:26

Piccie posted on behalf of Atlantablue,

Hope someone can help with Alisons problem.

Tim.

Althulas · Post by **Althulas** » Mon 31 May, 2010 10:19

I don't know if that is repairable looking at that photo looks pretty chewed up but looking at this diagram http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/Z3/Ro ... lding_top/ and my car that section of bar can be dismantled at either end by unbolting the star bolts and be replaced from a secondhand unit. I could not see a cheap roof on eBay UK http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bmw-Z3-fabric-roo ... 500wt_1154 could make a cheeky offer but worth waiting for something cheaper or DE but have spotted one at Fab Direct. They are breaking a Z3 2.8, scroll down on this page now http://www.fabdirect.com/default.asp?id=214 might be worth a call to see how much they might let you have the roof for.

Mark.

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 31 May, 2010 13:06

Eek! I didn't expect the roof frame to have snapped like that!

Better diagram here:

Folding top mounting parts - BMW parts catalog

Only some of the parts are available individually from BMW, so if it is not one of those, best bet is to get one from a breakers.

Cheers R.

Frank.A · Post by **Frank.A** » Mon 31 May, 2010 13:26

Alison,did you hear the frame break or do you suspect that it was already broken.

If this car was purchased from a dealer,I would be taking it back for repair.Sale of goods act and fit for purpose etc.

If it was a private sale and it did not break when you lowered the hood,I would be looking for some goodwill refund after findng repair cost.

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Mon 31 May, 2010 14:26

Thanks so much for all your help gentlemen! I will try the breakers/bmw tomorrow. I didn't hear the hood break, I'm pretty sure it was fine when bought, but had a nightmare with halfords. Really long story cut short, they disconnected the electric hood wire when fitting a new stereo!!

When they reconnected it had this problem, but didn't notice the break til I got home....

Do you reckon it would be ok to use the hood manually until I find the right part if I turn the screw in the boot and first aid my broken bit? Thanks again for all your help and advice it's very much appreciated

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Mon 31 May, 2010 14:46

atlantablue wrote:Thanks so much for all your help gentlemen! I will try the breakers/bmw tomorrow. I didn't hear the hood break, I'm pretty sure it was fine when bought, but had a nightmare with halfords. Really long story cut short, they disconnected the electric hood wire when fitting a new stereo!! When they reconnected it had this problem, but didn't notice the break til I got home.... Do you reckon it would be ok to use the hood manually until I find the right part if I turn the screw in the boot and first aid my broken bit? Thanks again for all your help and advice it's very much appreciated

Hi Alison,

I don't know too much about the hood mechanisms

mines a manual hood lol but looking at the break I would be inclined to resist the temptation to lower the hood until its been properly looked at as it may cause more damage. Seems strange its broken like that though

I don't have sneaky suspicions over Halfords but it does beg the question that they diconnected the battery and thought I know it will be easier to do things inside the car with the hood down and tried to forcefully lower the hood manually and damaged it. Like I say it seems odd if you think it was OK beforehand. Hope you get it fixed soon.

Tim.

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 31 May, 2010 15:25

I'm very much afraid that TitanTim has come up with a plausible explanation there - it would only take a monkey who doesn't realise it is an electric roof (or can't figure out how to work it) and tries to force it down...

Hope it is soon mended.

Cheers R.

amancuso · Post by **amancuso** » Mon 31 May, 2010 17:08

Hi Allison and welcome to the forum. I don't know what Halford's is, but I'm going to assume it's a big-box type store that sells electronics and does mobile audio installs. Based on your picture, I would agree with TitanTim that they broke your roof and then tried to use cable ties (zip ties) to re attach it out of the way.

Good luck on solving your issue.

Al.

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Mon 31 May, 2010 18:14

The hood is in no way related to the stereo, and is not nessasdary to disconnect the hood, even when fitting a large multi-speaker system.

I suggest you get them to talk you through why it was nessesary to disconnect it. Their explaination will be vague, and continue to push to find out that they actually broke it when leaning on it or focing it to move.

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Mon 31 May, 2010 19:23

Thanks everyone for your advice, I will let you know how I go on. I think I'll try the parts dept at my local BM dealers first. Can I just say thanks again for all your help, you have all been absolutely fantastic!!

Althulas · Post by **Althulas** » Tue 01 Jun, 2010 09:03

I strongly agree with the rest on this being Halfords fault and need confronting about it. I would make a formal complaint to the store manager and demand an explanation for there decietfull practise. I hope Halfords will do the decent thing and foot the repair bill.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Tue 01 Jun, 2010 10:22

I would agree with Althulas, and hope they come clean, if not put it down to experience, if they deny it its just your word against theirs.

I had been thinking if using Halfords to fit a new stereo but think I will pass using them now.

Tim.

freds dad · Post by **freds dad** » Tue 01 Jun, 2010 10:39

Hi sorry to hear about the roof. I don't know where you are based but Car Transplants near Nantwich Cheshire are currently breaking 2 Z3's.

I've had a couple of bits off them and they are very good. If you pay over the phone they will have the part removed for you ready for pick up next day.

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Tue 01 Jun, 2010 16:33

Just to give you an update on my roof saga...phoned BM and I could only get an entire new hood from them which is £1600 + vat and fitting! So I have phoned a local body shop to see if they can weld the broken piece back together, they need to see it so I'm taking it there tomorrow. Hopefully they can sort it and it will be a happy ending.

Speaking of halfords, no I wouldn't ever recommend them, I already complained about the stereo fitting fiasco to the store manager, who was nothing short of rude & ignorant, no apology at all.

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Tue 01 Jun, 2010 16:42

atlantablue wrote:Just to give you an update on my roof saga...phoned BM and I could only get an entire new hood from them which is £1600 + vat and fitting! So I have phoned a local body shop to see if they can weld the broken piece back together, they need to see it so I'm taking it there tomorrow. Hopefully they can sort it and it will be a happy ending. Speaking of halfords, no I wouldn't ever recommend them, I already complained about the stereo fitting fiasco to the store manager, who was nothing short of rude & ignorant, no apology at all.

Start gathering written evidence, starting with a letter from the seller stating that the roof was in working order when it was sold, any good quality photos the seller has, followed by copies of the vehicle advertisment, and take a good set of photos of the damages, along with the quote from BMW for a replacement. Forget the bodyshop.

Then when you approach the store manager to ask him about the steps they went through that led to the roof bieng disconnected take notes along the way, show him the evidence, and politely tell him that unless he makes good on the roof and the dash that you will be contacting the Citizens Advice Beureau and possibly the small claims court.

TAV · Post by **TAV** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 15:11

Sorry to hear your dilema

Sounds very suspect to me. Tbh, Its becoming a common occurence people avoiding Halfords. They lost 3 good sales from me though out the last couple of years, purely because there were no staff on the floor to help. I just walked out after 10/15 mins.

No way would i let them near my car!!

Used to be a quite a good honest company back in the day.

TAV · Post by **TAV** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 15:25

Sorry to hear your dilema

Sounds very suspect to me. Tbh, Its becoming a common occurence people avoiding Halfords. They lost 3 good sales from me though out the last couple of years, purely because there were no staff on the floor to help. I just walked out after 10/15 mins.

No way would i let them near my car!!

Used to be a quite a good honest company back in the day.

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 18:07

TAV wrote:..... Its becoming a common occurence people avoiding Halfords. They lost 3 good sales from me though out the last couple of years, purely because there were no staff on the floor to help...............
No way would i let them near my car!! Used to be a quite a good honest company back in the day.

If I avoid our local Halford's it's a 50mile round trip to the nearest equivalent.
Fortunately there's a couple of good lads in there who I would and have trusted.
I know what you mean about nobody on the floor though and sadly it seems to be their new policy to employ loads of (dis-interested)part-time staff.

Mike Fishwick · Post by **Mike Fishwick** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 18:15

Forget the local manager - go to the Halfords Head Office, at Worcester I think. Why talk to the monkey when you can talk to the organ grinder?

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 18:59

Mike is right, I would be going straight to the top on this one, however I feel unless the Halfords branch admits liability I don't see how far you would get without proof, witnesses.

Tim.

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 21:13

Just had a look at the roof mechanism on mine this evening and I noted two things. First of all the roof switch cable passes through the inside of the broken tube on Alison's car - so somebody has codged it to cable tie it to the outside. Secondly, the broken part seems to be attached by rivets rather than torx bolts as the rivets actually form the hinge points, so replacing it is not going to be as simple as find replacement and bolt it on. A new roof frame is going to be a pig to fit, so I'd make damn sure it was Halfords that broke it and get them to pay for it and the fitting.

Really do hope it is sorted for you soon.

R.

Althulas · Post by **Althulas** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 21:37

If you follow that bar along past that joint it can be detached via torx.

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 02 Jun, 2010 21:44

Althulas wrote:If you follow that bar along past that joint it can be detached via torx.

Can it? I really hope so. On mine, on the drivers side I could not see any possible means of detaching it. On the passenger side there is a plate attached by torx screws for the roof microswitch just in front of it. If the bar is to removed without the rest of the roof frame, it would have to come off at the hinge pint, surely? Or are the hinges actually torx screws on the outside? I didn't think of checking that.

Cheers R.

atlantablue · Post by **atlantablue** » Fri 25 Jun, 2010 16:02

Just to let you all know that I got the frame fixed! Took it to a local body shop & they managed to repair it, so it's working perfectly now.

There had been a previous "fix" done to that part of the frame, so it must have been weakened, & the Halfords fiasco wouldn't have helped matters. Anyway, just wanted to thank you all again for your help and advice

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