How To Guide Z4 roof motor relocation to boot

[t-tony]

Thank you SO much Tony...

Here you are, this was done by probably one of the first people to do this conversion. He had it down to a fine art and could do these in around 35 minutes. He is lefthanded which is a great help, also a small guy who could get right in the boot.

He simply pulled the pump into the boot and the pipes laid nicely into the corner.
Hope the pictures help.

Tony.

 

[myrddin]

Tony, your awesome... with these pics I can see what I need to do... thank you very much buddy! I'm off to get it done...

 

[t-tony]

You're very welcome. Please show us some pics when you get it moved.

Tony.

 

[myrddin]

I will post pics... one more question, is your pump held to the carpet or to the wall or is it just sitting there?

 

[t-tony]

You can see in this one it is held to the “carpet trim” with a heavy duty cable tie. (Zip tie).

There is also a piece of carpet with Velcro attached to cover it over so you cant see it.

Tony.

 

[myrddin]

thank you very much!

 

[DanG]

Hello all, newbie here. Done a few bits on my Z4 but this one might be a little beyond me. Anyone know anyone in the Surrey area who can replace a motor on a 2004 Z4. Or better yet relocate it to the boot?

 

[colb]

RBM in Hook, Hampshire probably nearest to you, lot of forum members go there for jobs including hood motor relocation at resonable costs. https://www.rbmhampshire.co.uk/contact-us

 

[John Sanders]

Hello everyone. I successfully relocated the motor to the boot, but never got around to replacing the parcel tray as we had seldom used it. Considering an upgrade now so today got everything done except those pesky spring clips that hold the tray in place, ie the ones shown in the photo in gookahs very first post. Does anyone have any tips please. Very frustrated.

 

[colb]

They only go in one way you have to orientate them correctly so they snap in also reach in from the boot for the rear two and over the seats for the front two

 

[John Sanders]

Tku. Will give that a try

 

[Brian H]

I tackled this job today, not one I would like to repeat if I’m being honest. I’ve had a hardtop on the car for a few years now but got caught out the other day.

Question. Does the system need primed after you move the motor? I can clearly hear the pump but no movement in the roof, the quick release is disengaged but having no joy.

when I split the motor from the pump I did notice some fluid spill out but just assumed that this was water trapped between the two parts.


@gookah @t-tony or anyone else

 

[t-tony]

Normally wouldn’t need priming Brian because to move the motor you don’t disconnect anything, just reposition it. If the motor is running it has to be low on fluid or the pump drive is faulty I would say. When we had the day at ours a couple of years ago the man did top up one or two but nothing excessive.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

Thanks Tony, I can see fluid in the top cap but I would say it is a little low, I think I have aerated it now so going to leave for a while and try again.

 

[gookah]

I think someone posted earlier in the thread that although their quick release was disengaged, the ball that it pushed in, stayed stuck in...
Might be worth a quick check of that...

 

[Brian H]

Thanks Pete, I have double checked the release mechanism, will add more fluid and test again. Great write up but as said before not something I’d want to do again, I just could not get the top cap off so ended up drilling a hole in the top and using a tent peg puller from inside the cabin. I also struggled with the bottom section but just needed to put on my big boy pants and pull with all my might.

The hoses are right behind this spot so caution if anyone else tries this.

 

[Brian H]

So just required a fluid top up, interestingly my motor wiring is the reverse of Tony’s picture above. Thanks again Pete for the write up.

 

[t-tony]

Glad you got it sorted Brian!

Tony.

 

[gookah]

now that it's easy to get to, you will never need to anymore.

 

[MisterP007]

Do not have a Z4 but thought I would read the guide out of interest - great write up and a big money saver.

What was BMW thinking (or not thinking) stuffing the pump down there in the first place? They must have thought it was an improvement on the Z3 motor/pump position (spookily in exactly the same position the Pete put his Z4 unit!).

A bit like the "clever" positioning of the tilt sensor on the Z3 (also in a bucket with a hole in it that gets blocked). You would think they may have learned from their mistake? or do I hear the words "built-in-service-problem" to make the Stealers more cash!

I have been around my Z3 (sort of Z) looking for all such water traps, fortunately, mine were all bone dry as the previous owner had the car in a dry garage for 7 years and barely drove it. I have nonetheless added little drain hoses through the bungs to all of these (a bit like the battery vent pipe in the boot of the Z3).

Great write up Pete.