HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A 2005 Z4. LEARNED ABOUT THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE POWER ROOF BMW CREATED. AND YES, THE REPAIR COST IS $2000-$3000 AND THERE IS A REASON FOR IT. THE POWER ROOF MOTOR IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE Z4 BELOW THE ROOF. IT HAS AN (8) EIGHT HOUR DIS-ASSEMBLE ORDER, AND AT $75-$100 (PLUS) PER HOUR IN REPAIR COST, YOU ARE LOOKING AT OVER $1000 DOLLARS JUST TO "GET TO THE POWER MOTOR".
THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAUSES THIS MOTOR TO FAIL AND HERE IS WHAT A Z4 OWNER CAN DO TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS.
FIRST: IF IT RAINS, DON'T LOWER THE POWER ROOF FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, OR UNTILL THE WEATHER REALLY WARMS UP.
THE WATER REMOVAL CHANNELS GET PLUGGED AND NEED TO HAVE THE WATER TRAPPED EVAPORATE OR IT WILL SHORT OUT THE MOTOR FOR THE TIME BEING.
SECOND: IF THE ROOF IS DOWN, LEAVE IT DOWN AND KEEP THE VEHICLE GARAGED UNTIL THE WATER IS EVAPORATED FROM THE WATER CHANNELS.
THIRD: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND SUCH A LARGE DOLLAR IN REPAIRS, CONSIDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH BMW.
FOURTH: FIND A GREAT GERMAN IMPORT MECHANIC THAT MIGHT WORK WITH YOU. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE GOING TO BECOME A GREAT MECHANIC DURING THE WINTER, OR YOU WILL NEED TO BITE THE BULLET ON THE REPAIRS.
LOVE THE CAR, BUT AM VERY, VERY CAREFUL DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONCERNING THE USE OF THE SOFT TOP OR USING THE SOFT TOP IN THE SUBSEQUENT DAYS AFTERWARDS.