'10 E89 Roof Issue - Part identification (image)

[bte123]

Hi Guys,

Was hoping someone kowledgeable here could point me in the right general direction or give me a good starting point - I've been having a few issues recently with a temperemental roof opening and closing procedure.

Being completely upfront I'm naiive to the operation of the roof but have been reading as much as possible the previous posts here - my issues seem varied, some relate to issues other people have experienced but they seem random and difficult to isolate due to the sporadic nature of them appearing.

For instance, some times the button simply needs releasing and then re pressing to complete the cycle (points at battery / motor issues?) whereas the most recent attempt to bring it down ended quckly when I heard a crunching sound. It might be worth mentioning the car was not running and this was done via the key. This crucnh turned out to be the mechanincal arm from the rear not being able to pass the black plastic 'flap' on either side of the boot once the top has liften (i think it's usually popped open via a spring to allow the arms to pass beneath) on one side (passenger). I managed to close the roof having started the car and the seals are all intact.

I purchased the car withouth truly understanding the ins and outs of the operation of the roof and understand this was ill-advised. I know that the image here shows a broken piece of equipment in the boot (the luggage rack and the metal arm are no longer joined via the plastic clip and screws) so I'm basically hoping for someone to advise best routes of fixing it:

dealership / local indie for an assessment and then see what needs fixing in total ?
attempt to order parts independently and replace?

I'd love to use the specialists often mentioned in the forums but their hundreds of miles from me so am looking for potential alternatives.

Many thanks in advance for any guidance offered.

[mr.tourette]

I'm not an expert on the e89 roof but someone more knowledgeable will be along soon, in the meantime put down your location, I'm sure someone can recommend a decent indi somewhere closer than a few hundred miles away

[enuff_zed]

I too am no expert, but I guess that the loose partition may well not be helping matters.
A few people have repaired these with ty-wraps, but as you have no brackets left at all you may need to try to locate some. I don't think they are supplied separately from the shelf so possibly try a breakers?
Failing that, some stiff material (thick rubber, thin metal??) folded round the metal bar then clamped through the shelf top and bottom using nuts, bolts and big spreader washers may be a temporary solution?
I do not think this will solve your opening issues tbh, but it does need to be fixed as well.

[bte123]

Thanks very much for the welcome.

I'm next to the beach in South Wales, Pembrokeshire to be precise.

[bte123]

sounds like a plan - i still have one of the plastic clamos that usually make a binding between the two, i can certainly manage to get it back on with a little imagination and some invention. i know i've seen a parts list floating around the forums on my travels with detailed guidance on the bits i might need to order and i'm fine ordering a new sheld entirely if needed...

once i have any part numbers i might need does anyone know the best place to order them? online? through a garage? dealership?

[tintoverano]

the clams cannot be ordered separately, the reason for the DIY fixes

[Zed Baron]

sounds like a plan - i still have one of the plastic clamos that usually make a binding between the two, i can certainly manage to get it back on with a little imagination and some invention. i know i've seen a parts list floating around the forums on my travels with detailed guidance on the bits i might need to order and i'm fine ordering a new sheld entirely if needed...

once i have any part numbers i might need does anyone know the best place to order them? online? through a garage? dealership?

Common fault on the E89!, not available separately you have to buy the whole cover. Shame you only have one of the clamps as they are easy to repair. I repaired mine by drilling out the three plastic lugs/bolts/connectors and then put it together with 3 bolts. I bought Pack of 6 (enough for both sides), M5 x 30mm COUNTERSUNK CSK SOCKET CAP ALLEN BOLT WITH FREE A4 NYLOC NUTS, SCREWS HEX off Amazon for £2.29. Took me about 15 minutes per side and the finished job looks great. There was someone in Germany making clamps with a 3D printer, Ill see if I can find a link.

[Chippie]

As suggested get the shelf fixed first, the battery would also be worth checking/replacing as they can cause all sorts of electrical problems, a new battery should be registered with the car as well.

[tintoverano]

I guess the clam could be 3D printed

now you got one freed from the car

[bte123]

sounds like a plan - i still have one of the plastic clamos that usually make a binding between the two, i can certainly manage to get it back on with a little imagination and some invention. i know i've seen a parts list floating around the forums on my travels with detailed guidance on the bits i might need to order and i'm fine ordering a new sheld entirely if needed...

once i have any part numbers i might need does anyone know the best place to order them? online? through a garage? dealership?

Common fault on the E89!, not available separately you have to buy the whole cover. Shame you only have one of the clamps as they are easy to repair. I repaired mine by drilling out the three plastic lugs/bolts/connectors and then put it together with 3 bolts. I bought Pack of 6 (enough for both sides), M5 x 30mm COUNTERSUNK CSK SOCKET CAP ALLEN BOLT WITH FREE A4 NYLOC NUTS, SCREWS HEX off Amazon for £2.29. Took me about 15 minutes per side and the finished job looks great. There was someone in Germany making clamps with a 3D printer, Ill see if I can find a link.

Thanks Zed, that's the picture I was looking for! If I wanted to bite the bullet as it were and order the whole shelf part, any ideas where would be best to do so? It's going into a local indie today / tomorrow for an ex BMW service guy to have a look at, hopefully he'll be able to work out what else might be going on, aside from the shelf.

Any thoughts on my comments about the black 'flap thing' which opens from the boot (there's one on each side) ?

[mole734]

I had a similar issue with the roof 'crashing' turned out to be the sensors on the boot lift hydraulic ram see here
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=122832

You really need the codes to make a start though

[Zed Baron]

sounds like a plan - i still have one of the plastic clamos that usually make a binding between the two, i can certainly manage to get it back on with a little imagination and some invention. i know i've seen a parts list floating around the forums on my travels with detailed guidance on the bits i might need to order and i'm fine ordering a new sheld entirely if needed...

once i have any part numbers i might need does anyone know the best place to order them? online? through a garage? dealership?

Common fault on the E89!, not available separately you have to buy the whole cover. Shame you only have one of the clamps as they are easy to repair. I repaired mine by drilling out the three plastic lugs/bolts/connectors and then put it together with 3 bolts. I bought Pack of 6 (enough for both sides), M5 x 30mm COUNTERSUNK CSK SOCKET CAP ALLEN BOLT WITH FREE A4 NYLOC NUTS, SCREWS HEX off Amazon for £2.29. Took me about 15 minutes per side and the finished job looks great. There was someone in Germany making clamps with a 3D printer, Ill see if I can find a link.

Thanks Zed, that's the picture I was looking for! If I wanted to bite the bullet as it were and order the whole shelf part, any ideas where would be best to do so? It's going into a local indie today / tomorrow for an ex BMW service guy to have a look at, hopefully he'll be able to work out what else might be going on, aside from the shelf.

Any thoughts on my comments about the black 'flap thing' which opens from the boot (there's one on each side) ?

I think the part number for the shelf is 51 47 7 341 663

[bte123]

thanks to everyone for the advice so far, hopefully the indie will be able to find the error codes to make a good start.


tempted to do the dealership £100 diagnostic fee if it means i'll get a proper defined list of parts / work that needs doing, but will hang fire till after the indie has looked at it.

as i know i'll need to either replace entirely or fix manually the shelf, does anyone here know that the black rubber clamps are defninitely included in this part?

[enuff_zed]

thanks to everyone for the advice so far, hopefully the indie will be able to find the error codes to make a good start.


tempted to do the dealership £100 diagnostic fee if it means i'll get a proper defined list of parts / work that needs doing, but will hang fire till after the indie has looked at it.

as i know i'll need to either replace entirely or fix manually the shelf, does anyone here know that the black rubber clamps are defninitely included in this part?

I think you will, as those clamps are not listed with a separate number.

Before you spend out on the diagnostic fee, why not ask on here if anyone is near you that may be able to help with reading the codes?

[bte123]

thanks to everyone for the advice so far, hopefully the indie will be able to find the error codes to make a good start.


tempted to do the dealership £100 diagnostic fee if it means i'll get a proper defined list of parts / work that needs doing, but will hang fire till after the indie has looked at it.

as i know i'll need to either replace entirely or fix manually the shelf, does anyone here know that the black rubber clamps are defninitely included in this part?

I think you will, as those clamps are not listed with a separate number.

Before you spend out on the diagnostic fee, why not ask on here if anyone is near you that may be able to help with reading the codes?

well that's what i was hoping, seeing as they're not listed as a seperate item you'd have to assume they come together. in regards to the help with code readings would it be best to make a seperate post? is there a section of the forum for it or shall i just dump my postocde here?