Convertible Top Needs a Push to Open

[Georj]

I recently got the 2008 128i with 82K miles. The car is in excellent condition. The only issue I seem to be having is opening the convertible top. With the tray in the trunk in the correct position, when I press the open switch, the top opens about less than half way up and then gets stuck. When I nudge it slightly up, it starts again and goes all the way down. Closing works fine. I searched the forum, could not see this particular issue. Any thoughts?

[Lester]

It may need lubrication/service.

[Georj]

Originally Posted by Lester

It may need lubrication/service.

Thank you for the advice. I sprayed some WD40 on all the hinges and it seems to have worked. I am going to get some lithium grease and lubricate the joints.

Again for the great advice

[Shaymer]

My top isn't opening either.
What's this "tray in the back" situation?

[blue135]

Look in the trunk. You will see a tray that folds up or down that is mounted on the underside of what would be the package shelf in a coupe. There is a sticker on it that describes how to pull it down. If it is up, there is a "safety switch" that does not permit top to start its process and instead give you a red light.
Pull that tray down and your top will fold down into that tray.
Or, read about it in the manual.

[Shaymer]

Originally Posted by blue135

Look in the trunk. You will see a tray that folds up or down that is mounted on the underside of what would be the package shelf in a coupe. There is a sticker on it that describes how to pull it down. If it is up, there is a "safety switch" that does not permit top to start its process and instead give you a red light.
Pull that tray down and your top will fold down into that tray.
Or, read about it in the manual.

Thanks blue. Never would have figured that out.
Manuel is at the dealership. A lot of dealers don't keep them in the cars cuz it's an easy thing to swipe.
Called yesterday. They apologized and are mailing it.

[blue135]

Did you try it with tray down - did top work? Hope so. More than once have I tried to put top down and nothing happened. Then I remembered I had put tray up.

[Shaymer]

Yeah. Did it this morning before work. No issues.
Simplest thing, but I never would have thought to pull a tray down I couldn't even see.

Thanks for the input and solution.

[Georj]

Originally Posted by Georj

I recently got the 2008 128i with 82K miles. The car is in excellent condition. The only issue I seem to be having is opening the convertible top. With the tray in the trunk in the correct position, when I press the open switch, the top opens about less than half way up and then gets stuck. When I nudge it slightly up, it starts again and goes all the way down. Closing works fine. I searched the forum, could not see this particular issue. Any thoughts?

OK. The problem is back. When opening the top, it opens less than half way up and stops. You have to push it up manually with your hand while holding the down button. Then it opens fine. I have lubricated all the hinges that I can see with white lithium grease and it is not helping. Last year when it first happened I took it to a convertible top shop and the guy said it could be a alignment problem and wanted $300 for diagnosing the problem.

Any thoughts from the experts here?
Any recommendation for an honest reliable repair shop in the Bay Area?
Thanks in advance

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Georj

OK. The problem is back. When opening the top, it opens less than half way up and stops. You have to push it up manually with your hand while holding the down button. Then it opens fine. I have lubricated all the hinges that I can see with white lithium grease and it is not helping. Last year when it first happened I took it to a convertible top shop and the guy said it could be a alignment problem and wanted $300 for diagnosing the problem.

Any thoughts from the experts here?
Any recommendation for an honest reliable repair shop in the Bay Area?
Thanks in advance

Did you ever find a solution to this? I have the same issue. Mostly when the car is on a downslope (nose down), but has happened on mostly flat ground as well.

I don't care too much as giving it a nudge isn't a big deal, but if it's something easy to fix, or is a sign that something else more serious could break soon, it might be worth dealing with.

[JustAnotherSportsCar]

My ‘08 needs a nudge every once in awhile. Needed one today while facing up a slight incline. I don’t ever seem to have the issue on flat ground.

[twinturbovan]

i have the same issue having to nudge it sometimes

[bonez318ti]

I'm also having this problem and just started looking into it. Specifically mine seems to slow down at the point where the rear glass starts lifting and slows down as it tries to get vertical amd needs a nudge to get to full vertical. I get this problem on flat ground.

I'm wondering if it is a problem with the hydraulic system or pump.

Here is a video where they mention a similar problem and went about replacing the motor/hydraulic pump mechanism (their description mentioned it might be air in the line rather than a problem with the pump)

I wonder how common this issue is, i cant find much on it but it may be bc im not looking the right search.

https://youtu.be/pMZ5I-IgnCs

[GoRomeo]

Subscribed. I would like to know th fix before mine breaks. Yeah that pump will be a good start. I lubricated the top hinges on mine over the weekend since it was making a bit squeaking noise. Now its gone. 👍

[dfox]

There's a good number of posts about replacing the hydraulic fluid on the Z4 and other bmw forums. It could be that the fluid degraded enough that the top isn't functioning 100% any more. Given the age of these cars, not surprising. I think I'll try replacing the hydraulic fluid first and seeing how well that works.

[GoRomeo]

Let us know how it goes 👍