Do cars know when you haven't got time to fix them before a trip?

[WorldClassAccident]

Went to open the roof and all was well until here.
20160704_112723 by WCA!, on Flickr

Now we all know there is a little micro-switch above the passengers left ear which needs triggering but any amount of pushing and prodding resulted in no further movement.
20160704_112750 by WCA!, on Flickr

Letting the hydraulic pressure off from the motor in the boot allowed me to lower the roof manually and trace the wire down from the switch to a location somewhere behind the trim
20160704_113828 by WCA!, on Flickr

20160704_113856 by WCA!, on Flickr

Carefully puling back the trim and hacking chunks of plastic away revealed a connector
20160704_114102 by WCA!, on Flickr

Testing electrical continuity showed the wires were connected and continuous up as far as the switch but that the switch didn't seem to work
20160704_115845 by WCA!, on Flickr


I feel a quick trip to Maplins approaching
20160704_125414 by WCA!, on Flickr

This thread may get updated with either a fix or the roof becoming manual.

[WorldClassAccident]

I managed to get to Maplins at lunchtime and picked up a replacement micro-switch. I also picked up some cable as I will replace what's there at the moment because I am not certain there aren't also breaks in that.
20160704_142000 by WCA!, on Flickr

The new switch is quite a bit smaller than the original but I think it should be okay. I will fix the long lever from the old switch onto the new and that should work. The new switch actually fits onto the original fixing pins which is a bonus (not shown i photo)
20160704_142022 by WCA!, on Flickr

[WorldClassAccident]

By golly it works!!!

1) I used the old wire to pull the new wire through the roof frame.
2) I cut the wires fitted to the white connector a couple inches up and then joined them to the new wire.
3) I used Araldite to fix the longer lever from the old micro-switch onto the new switch lever.
4) I soldered the ends of the new wire to the micro-switch and re-attached to the roof
5) I pressed the button and the roof works

Quick, where do I buy lottery tickets

[tricky360]

I have a similar problem with my roof
I've booked it in to a company in dorking that only repairs convertible electric roofs
I'll let you all know the outcome and cost this week

[Lucky@LeMans]

You're not alone.

Took my A6 for the MOT and they found the front track control arms were very worn on both sides. I bought a complete kit from Germany consisting of 8 track control arms , drop links and track rod ends all for £101 delivered. Didn't have time to do it myself so got a bill for £388 labour charges at the garage, dohhh !!

Anyway the service barge is now ready for the trip .

[WorldClassAccident]

I'll let you all know the outcome and cost this week

£2.09 for the micro switch*
£2.00 for the wire*
2 little zip ties I had spares in the garage

30 minutes to do the whole thing**

*Process approximate as I also bought some batteries but it was less than £6 for the lot

**10 minutes of doing and 20 minutes of wondering what I should be doing


No kidding, this is seriously easy. I was amazed.

There are lots of bits on Google if you search for "Z3 Roof problem" but you are just connecting one new pair of wires to the connector and the other end to a micro-switch. The hardest bit was to Araldite the metal lever bar on straight.