Z4 soft top remote operation

[Andrew D]

Does anyone have certain knowledge of whether or not the roof on the Z4 Roadster can be operated remotely (i.e. using the radio transmissions of the key)?

I know it can be requested as a no-cost option with the Mini convertible (it just needs turning on in the control module), and I'd assume that being full-automatic (lacking a hand-operated latch) the Z4 would have the same theoretical ability.

I've also seen it suggested in an American Z4 brochure (at www.bmw.ca/automobiles/brochures/en/Z4_Brochure_2005.pdf , in the soft top entry in the feature/option description section).

But then I haven't seen anything in the manual about it, perhaps it's just in the USA.

[stub]

It most certainly can, on certain models. Check www.z4um.com and ask the experts there.

[Andrew D]

Thanks, apparently it's post-April 2004 cars that can do it.

Naturally mine's March 2004! Oh well, I suppose I'll have to put up with the old key-in-the-door trick!

[romanymagic]

Don't if this helps, but somewhere on the Z4um forum a member was sayting that it's all down to the key remote programming and that you can take your key into a dealer to have this program put on. Might be worth a shot?

[Rev Dogbolter]

I have just picked up my new Z4M. Its everything it should be but thats another story. Anyway, having read this sight prior to pickup, I asked my dealer if the key can be programmed. He said it could and that he would do this for me. On pickup, the key would remotely open the roof but not close it. The reason given was safety in that a child could put their arm in the way whilst it was closing. The dealer said it wasn't possible to program it to close, but I believe this is BS and its just a question of "won't".

Can someone confirm it can also be programmed to close?

Bless you

[smjlewis]

Andrew D, How do you get the roof down when putting the key in the door?

[DoctorD]

Rev Dogbolter said:

I have just picked up my new Z4M. Its everything it should be but thats another story. Anyway, having read this sight prior to pickup, I asked my dealer if the key can be programmed. He said it could and that he would do this for me. On pickup, the key would remotely open the roof but not close it. The reason given was safety in that a child could put their arm in the way whilst it was closing. The dealer said it wasn't possible to program it to close, but I believe this is BS and its just a question of "won't". Can someone confirm it can also be programmed to close? Bless you

You cannot close it with just the key, even with dealer programming. There is however a module that some owners have bought that allows them to open or close the roof on a 'one-touch' basis. If you pop along to www.z4um.com there are a few threads that discuss it.

p.s. glad you're enjoying the Z4M, I had a blast in the one BMW provided us for the EVO group test we ran in the prevous issue.

[Andrew D]

smjlewis said:

Andrew D, How do you get the roof down when putting the key in the door?

Sorry for the delayed response, perhaps I should have ticked the "email me when someone responds" option when I started the thread!

First you need to unlock the car, which I generally do by remote because one of the "Key Memory" options is to only deactivate the alarm by remote and I don't know if my car has got that activated! Then you insert the key in the driver's door lock and turn it 90 degrees clockwise and hold it, and after what seems like a while but it actually about 15 seconds the windows drop halfway and the roof goes down (but the windows remain half-down). The key must be held in position, the sequence stops if you release it. The windows can then be fully dropped by returning the key to vertical then repeating the 90 degree clockwise turn and hold. An anti-clockwise turn and hold puts the roof and windows back up in a similar manner.

Not quite as cool as remote operation, but it's getting there!

I found out by reading a scan of the BMW Technician's training note that I found at www.unofficialbmw.com/images/01%20E85%20Complete%20Vehicle.pdf which is a pretty interesting read for any Z4 owner. The bit on SMG is particularly interesting for me!

[smjlewis]

Great! Thanks for the info.