BMW Z4 Soft Top Failure: Sensor Issue & Solutions

Had the exact same problem with my 2019 BMW M240i last winter. The convertible top would freeze halfway, with the warning light and error message, super annoying. Turned out it wasn't the hall sensor though. Took it to my mechanic and they found it was actually a damaged cable connection near the motor unit. The wire harness had some wear and tear, causing intermittent connectivity issues. When they opened it up, they spotted corrosion on one of the main plugs too. They had to replace the wiring harness and clean up the connection points. Not a super serious repair, but definitely needed professional attention to prevent any potential damage to the top mechanism. The car's been working perfectly since then, no more stuck top or warning lights. Just make sure whoever looks at it checks the wiring and connections first before jumping to sensor replacement. These issues can be tricky to diagnose without proper testing.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful actually, as I've been worried it might be something more serious. Pretty relieved to hear it wasn't a major mechanical problem in your case. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other quirks with the top?

Hey again! Happy to follow up on your questions. After seeing my mechanic last week, I was spot on, it turned out to be that defective hall sensor in the convertible top system that was causing all the drama. Got it fixed and the whole repair, including labor, came to 95 €. Pretty reasonable, considering I was worried it might be something way more expensive! The top's been working like a charm since the repair, smooth as butter, no more stopping halfway, and that annoying red light is finally gone. Not a single problem since then. Makes me wish I'd gotten it checked sooner instead of putting up with the problem for those couple of weeks. Sometimes these electrical issues can really make you think the worst, but it's often just a simple fix. My mechanic mentioned these sensors can act up after a few years, just one of those maintenance things we have to deal with on convertibles. But hey, totally worth it for those perfect top-down driving days! Let me know if you end up getting yours fixed, would be interesting to hear if it's the same issue.

Hey, thanks for the update! Wanted to let you know I finally got mine sorted too. You inspired me to bite the bullet and take it to the shop. Funny enough, my issue was different from yours, turned out to be a blown fuse and some crud in the drainage channels that was messing with the mechanism. The mechanic cleaned everything out, replaced the fuse, and gave the whole system a good once-over. Cost me about 150 including the inspection, which wasn't too bad. Got it back yesterday and it's working perfectly now. No more stalling, no more warning lights, and the top goes up and down like it's brand new. Can't believe I waited so long to get it checked out! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it definitely gave me the push I needed to get it looked at. Time to enjoy some proper convertible driving again!