[Hamster93]

Hello gents. Just got my self a vgc salvaged e93 with a very good price for my project. Unfortunately, the car was delivered with a roof down and the battery was removed. You guys who own e93 might have known at this point that it is impossible to put a new battery in without the top up. I have searched and there is a way to manually raise the top but the guys who would have preped the car might not chose this path as the passenger trims looks to be untouched. There was a communication break down between my agent and them so I am not expecting any further response from them at the moment.

The only way I can think of is that they might have removed the battery first and then connected an external battery using a jump start point in the engine compartment to put the roof down. So I would think if I connect the external battery to the jump start lugs, I might be able to get the roof up and put the new battery in.

However, I have never done this before, not with such a complicated car like this so I would like to know your thoughts on this. Could there be a risk of repairable/unrepairable damage to the car? From what I can see, the IBS will be out of the circuit. Could this be a problem? I have heard people removing it with issues. I will also make sure there will be no shortings prior to the connection of the external battery.

Thank you guys in advance.

[eugenecp]

might be worth a try hooking up an external battery at the jump points as that would be the only way they could have put the roof down without the battery. also, how did you know the battery is not there if the roof is down? could it just be dead?

anyway, this might help too: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...g-roof/Oo6fIqh

[Hamster93]

Cheers mate. Thanks also for the link I have seen it. I personally think the one on youtube is easier. Have you seen it?

I used the manual key poped the trunk lid up with a flashlight in my hand. I aimed right next to the right tail light between the folded roof and the trunk side wall there was a visible slot. All I can see made my heart goes blank, my friend. It's at least another hundred bucks from my wallet chuck I have to spend.

By the way the car (eur jan 08) seems not to have an IBS installed. (I saw the plain brown ground wire) I have just read some of E9x without idrive or phone system will not equipped with it.

[eugenecp]

yes, saw the one in youtube, that's definitely easier.

instead of an external battery maybe a jump start cable would be much better hooked to a running car that way you know that power is always there. the roof operation is also sensitive to battery load and might not work. just make sure though that the battery terminals in the trunk will not trigger a short circuit.

[ctuna]

Read number 4 in the following thread
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690147
You may have a hidden keyhole in up to an including 08.

If you don't know if there is a battery the mess that is the
battery distribution module may be laying willy nilly and
you could short something out applying power .
You could try a long slow charge at the battery jump/charge points
in the Engine Bay if you are willing to risk it.
Be sure there is not a short between ground and how before you
do this.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=986670

Another recent one

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...&highlight=E93


Sawadi /ka/kap

[djx]

Open the bootlid with the key.
None of this will be easy with the roof down by the way so will require some reaching in.
Remove the floor cover ( carpet thing)
In the floor pocket you will see the pipes and wires going from the battery area towards the pump. Remove the 3 bolts that hold the pump cover on. On the right hand side of the pump is the motor ( left hand side is the fluid tank) Here there is are 2 connectors. Unplug them both and note the one with the thicker wires that go directly to the pump.
Go and make yourself some kind of INSULATED spade connection with a couple of wires coming from them. Connect these to a battery outside of the car and the motor WILL run and the roof will move. If its trying to move the wrong way then reverse the wires on your battery.

This is how i did mine. Hope it helps

[Hamster93]

Ahh. ctuna. The man.

Cheers mate. I saw also the red distribution board wigling around in the battery compartment. There was a chance that it will touch the chasis creating shorts so I planed to may be wrap a towel all around it or may be hang it mid air.

I can related myself to your link even though this 08 car has a physical key hole. Twelve or so years ago I left my bunch of keys in my other old car's trunk and slammed it. Only to know that it had a separated trunk key (obviously where it was now you can imagine) and no other way to open it.(other than put the trunk key in the key hole and twist to unlock) I admit I was really panic for almost a minute figuring out how I would get the trunk key out of the trunk. Later I fortunately remembered I have a spare trunk key tucked in the car's folder in a shared house.

One thing I 'm not quite sure is that why jump starting was not working for the OP in your link. He said something to do with the ground wire. Wasn't the ground lug in the engine bay connected to the chassis and nothing to do with the ground wire he has taken off? I don't know maybe he did some more thing than that.

Your last link the OP stated he also removed the junction box. It should not be a problem if he didn't disconnect any cables from the box. If he did it could be the case.

Imagine your trunk has no key hole and your bst just touching your chassis. Omg. Sawasdee kub. Sabaidee mai? Shhh.

eugenecp: thanks a lot mate. That's totally slipped out of my mind. I've heard the motor sucks loads of power lol.

djx: Cheers mate. It's a bit scary doing manual things to this complex monster. I would try asking it nicely to pop the roof up for me but if it doesn't listen, I might have no choice but going your path.

[ctuna]

These car's are notoriously hard to jump start.
The computers can override or stop it.
You need to put a slow full charge on the battery before
you start. That means having a resting voltage of over
12.4 and it better not drop to low when you start.
If the date keeps resetting it's a indirect indication that
your battery , bad or something is sucking down the voltage.

You want to get setup with a K/D can cable and Inpa/ Ista D diags
as soon as you can.

Diagnostic Manuals Inpa/Ista D
https://bimmerprofs.com/diagnostics-inpa-part-1/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...7x8H3pN8h1fMuF
https://carmod.ru/files/icom/istad_en.pdf
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1681573
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-P-actually-do
primary links
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/at...9&d=1539905743
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1681573

electical e90 pdf
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.cGU&cad=rja
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...85464276,d.cGU
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...85464276,d.cGU

Read the first electrical pdf.

The battery distribution box on top of the battery has about 5 hot lines
going to various parts of the car if one of those is disconnected that
part of the car has no power. So basically without a battery in there that
is working things will be AFU.
Bottom line you must have a working battery on the battery distribution
box hooked up on all lines to have a chance of moving forward.
You must understand the battery distribution block on top of the battery
to get further.

Water Drains
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566005
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566005
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery

[Hamster93]

Not sure I got you right but there's no battery in the trunk. I will make sure the bst will not touch anything and nothing else creates electrical shorts. I will use a slow charger connect to the jump starting lugs see how the car reacts and make sure nothing is sucking excessive current. Correct? Actually I would just want to raise the roof to install a battery but now starting the car up is so tempting.

And thanks for all the links. Worth going through definitely.

[ctuna]

Imagine a fuse or breaker box on the side of your house.
Each circuit has its own fuse .
The battery distribution block is like that .

See the first electrical pdf.
page 5 and 6

[mxchris727]

Here's the dealer procedure, if required.

[roadkillrob]

The question is, how did they get it closed after the battery was out - I think everyone is overthinking it, just hook a good battery up to the jump terminals under the hood and power the car to see what is going on, it should close fine if there are no problems preventing the top from moving, but seems it moved probably by the same method after the battery was removed or there is still a battery in it.

[Hamster93]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Imagine a fuse or breaker box on the side of your house.
Each circuit has its own fuse .
The battery distribution block is like that .

See the first electrical pdf.
page 5 and 6

Cheers mate. Thanks a lot for your time and effort on this issue. Really appreciated.

[Hamster93]

Originally Posted by mxchris727

Here's the dealer procedure, if required.

Cheers mate. I might have to go this route if the auto thing not work.

[Hamster93]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

The question is, how did they get it closed after the battery was out - I think everyone is overthinking it, just hook a good battery up to the jump terminals under the hood and power the car to see what is going on, it should close fine if there are no problems preventing the top from moving, but seems it moved probably by the same method after the battery was removed or there is still a battery in it.

Cheers mate. This is what I think would be the case. I will try to reverse it with caution fellow members have brought to the surface. Hope that would be all right.

[Hamster93]

Ok guys. Connected an external battery to the engine compartment. Put the roof up. No problem.

Thanks everyone. Your time and effort are really appreciated. AK