Newbie tinkerer issues

[MartyMcC]

Hi, I bought my 2012 Z4 sDrive20i in 2018 with 37000 miles on the clock.
I have used it as my everyday drive since , pretty hassle free until last year.
I have fixed issues with bonnet cable and soft closing on boot.
I have still to work out how to sort an issue with the washer jets. The pump is ok and works when the key is inserted but stops working when the car moves off?
Currently just motd with 83000 miles and hitting a few snags Hence joining the forum.
Currently have a number of really frustrating issues all of which seem quite common with Z4 and are currently causing me real frustration. These culminated yesterday with the following predicament:
Roof mechanism had stopped working. water got into boot well and pump was wet for some time And looked pretty corroded. on pressing the roof opening switch the windows go down but the mechanism does not go any further. The alarm has been sounding intermittently for a while. I have presumed the pump is burned out and as off work yesterday had ordered a genuine bmw reconditioned pump and fitted it. This did not fix the issue. In doing this I also noticed the damp had caused significant corrosion to the red fuse box to the right of the battery. Nievely I disconnected the battery and took the fuse box out for cleaning down. As luck would have it rain started and we closed the boot lid down and I heard an ominous click. The soft lock of course hasnt activated but the boot is closed with no battery connection and no fuse box in place which of course means there is no full circuit.
I tried the green/grey wire trick last evening with no success.
the two doors are also open and of course won’t close.
Is there any other potential solution to open the boot from this position.
I am losing the will right now.
any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[Shelly]

 

[colb]

Thats a bummer, if the fuse box was still in there I would have suggested putting 12v to the engine compartment battery posts used for jump starting to power the system up then maybe the key fob or cabin boot release would have opened it. At a loss to suggest what you can do with your model my knowledge is more on the E85.
As to roof problem, if new motor runs then check out the oil level is correct, it should self bleed once its working, if its low then check for leaks at the ram connections.

 

[Nodzed]

Hi, I don't think the boot mounted fuse box has any control over the normal boot lock operation, but I could be wrong. I don't have much faith in this working without a battery connected BUT its worth a try.
(Pinched off the Z4 Forum)

Connect a 12v supply to the under bonnet charge points then get to the fuse box (under dash) and locate the connector shown on the underside of the fuse box, it's a long black one with a slide release on the back next to the firewall - X14270

Locate pin 12 - indicated by the red wire

Lower the fuse box and slide it all the way forward and locate the blue 60amp fuse

Connect a tester or similar - a length of wire works - between pin 12 and the blue fuse as shown, you'll hear the boot lock disengage and you're in!

 

[Nodzed]

Washers work just once for each ignition period + also need related wiring diagram

Washers work just once for each ignition period + also need related wiring diagram

www.e90post.com

Go to posts #16 & 17

I think this may be the same issue you have with your washers. BTW I had a similar issue with the filter and had to remove the bottle and pump/filters but my pump didn't have the same issue luckily.

 

[Mint]

Hi Marty and to the forum from me too in Stafford. Any update? Are you in?

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks for all the welcomes and advice. Have now tried all the fixes offered to date with no success. I think no option but to take off the bumper cut through and reconnect the battery? Really not what I want to do but hard lesson.

 

[Nodzed]

@MartyMcC
Hi
just an idea, rather than cut holes in the car structure have you considered drilling the boot latch? Its held in by 2 screws, if you remove the badge and drill through the latch into the screws you should be able to remove the mechanism, it needs to be twisted through 90 degrees I believe after the screws are removed.
In theory you should then be able to access the locking mechanism (second pic). Below is a pic showing the screw locations. This will totally bugger the latch but that's replaceable second hand, got to be better than cutting into the car its self??
I would certainly try this before anything else. I have no idea if this will work but its worth investigating

Boot Mech

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks for this. Will definitely will try this first.

 

[Ian&Sue]

Hi Marty, from North Yorkshire. Hope you manage to get in soon, there's got to be a way just a matter of finding it, easier said than done but Nodzed's suggestion looks like a possible way forward. Good Luck.

Ian& Sue.

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks for the optimism. First few sunny days of the year over 12degrees C this week here in Bushmills on the North Coast of Northern Ireland and not only can I not get the roof open but can't even get into the Zedder boot and get it started to take a run round the coast road lol

 

[Ian&Sue]

Thanks for the optimism. First few sunny days of the year over 12degrees C this week here in Bushmills on the North Coast of Northern Ireland and not only can I not get the roof open but can't even get into the Zedder boot and get it started to take a run round the coast road lol

Don't you just love car electronics!

 

[t-tony]

If you’re after jump starting you should use the contacts under the bonnet anyway, not direct to the battery terminals.

Tony.

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks Tony. Yep all attempts to date have been via the connectors under the bonnet.

 

[Stevo7682]

I may have the answer re your washers.

I have seen this a couple of times once on a 3 series and on a passat .
Problem turned out to be the bonnet switch was faulty leading to the wash wipe not working due to the car thinking it was trying to be driven with the bonnet open.
Stephen

 

[MartyMcC]

@MartyMcC
Hi
just an idea, rather than cut holes in the car structure have you considered drilling the boot latch? Its held in by 2 screws, if you remove the badge and drill through the latch into the screws you should be able to remove the mechanism, it needs to be twisted through 90 degrees I believe after the screws are removed.
In theory you should then be able to access the locking mechanism (second pic). Below is a pic showing the screw locations. This will totally bugger the latch but that's replaceable second hand, got to be better than cutting into the car its self??
I would certainly try this before anything else. I have no idea if this will work but its worth investigating

View attachment 257901


Boot Mech

View attachment 257903

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks to Nodzed finally into the boot but not by the recommended method. Was able to disengage the drivers side catch and was able to cut the left hand catch bracket through the small gap after prizing off the rubber boot seal. The bracket can be bought separately so cheap fix. Thanks again for all the comments and advice

 

[Nodzed]

Thanks to Nodzed finally into the boot but not by the recommended method. Was able to disengage the drivers side catch and was able to cut the left hand catch bracket through the small gap after prizing off the rubber boot seal. The bracket can be bought separately so cheap fix. Thanks again for all the comments and advice

Good job thats saved some damage. As I suspect more people will accidently do this, it would be helpful for the future if you did a detailed "How to" and posted it on here. May save someone else some headaches..

Under the mech cover in the boot there is the latch for a bowden cable to be fitted (as per USA spec) its circled red in one of my pics above, would be easy to fit one and run it into the car somewhere, I have thought about having a go.


Just a point. if ever you need to remove the battery again just use a screw driver and close both the boot lid latches so the car thinks the boot is closed and then it cant be accidently shut and locked. When you're done just use the boot roundel switch to open them again.

Glad you got it sorted.
Cheers
Niall

 

[MartyMcC]

Thanks. Much appreciated