Cleaned & Greased My Sunroof Today
08-28-2006, 01:06 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
Cleaned & Greased My Sunroof Today
I've heard a lot of horror stories regarding Benz sunroofs ($$$ when they don't work), so I decided that preventative maintenance is cheaper than repair.
NOTE: These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions!!!
TIME: I took 3 hours, but that included taking pictures. I would estimate 2 hours for a beginner. Now that I've done it once, I could do it again in probably an hour.
COST: $61 in special tools & materials, but can be done for $14 and some help from 2 friends.
Things I collected before starting:
Mercedes sunroof lube. $160 or so for a can from a dealer, or buy a small tin from Rusty at www.buymbparts for $10. Number is 001-989-46-51. Do NOT use any other lube.
Study pics at Gerry's site:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_sunroof/ A very special thanks to Gerry, who, without his pics, I would not have been brave enough to attempt this.
Get the Mercedes CD and print out the 2 pages, 7730.3, "Sunroof, clean and grease rails"
Purchase special guides, (see pic #1, thanks to Gerry), only about $2 each. Part numbers 124-589-18-21 & 124-589-17-21.
Purchase special sunroof tool,(see pic #2, thanks to Gerry), about $47. Part #124-589-00-37. In my opinion, this tool is NOT really necessary, as long as you have two friends to help you. Of course, buying your friends dinner might cost more than the tool : )
8mm wrench, preferably a box racheting one.
OK, let's get started! Open the sunroof 3/4 of the way and unclip the 4 clips that hold the roof headlining at the front edge. Pic #3 should show using two screwdrivers close to each of the headliner's clips to pop the clips loose. Be careful or they will break. A flashlight is useful here.
Pic#4 shows all four white clips popped off and the headliner ready to be pulled forward and up. Pic #5 shows how the sunroof now looks like from the inside.
NOTE: These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions!!!
TIME: I took 3 hours, but that included taking pictures. I would estimate 2 hours for a beginner. Now that I've done it once, I could do it again in probably an hour.
COST: $61 in special tools & materials, but can be done for $14 and some help from 2 friends.
Things I collected before starting:
Mercedes sunroof lube. $160 or so for a can from a dealer, or buy a small tin from Rusty at www.buymbparts for $10. Number is 001-989-46-51. Do NOT use any other lube.
Study pics at Gerry's site:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_sunroof/ A very special thanks to Gerry, who, without his pics, I would not have been brave enough to attempt this.
Get the Mercedes CD and print out the 2 pages, 7730.3, "Sunroof, clean and grease rails"
Purchase special guides, (see pic #1, thanks to Gerry), only about $2 each. Part numbers 124-589-18-21 & 124-589-17-21.
Purchase special sunroof tool,(see pic #2, thanks to Gerry), about $47. Part #124-589-00-37. In my opinion, this tool is NOT really necessary, as long as you have two friends to help you. Of course, buying your friends dinner might cost more than the tool : )
8mm wrench, preferably a box racheting one.
OK, let's get started! Open the sunroof 3/4 of the way and unclip the 4 clips that hold the roof headlining at the front edge. Pic #3 should show using two screwdrivers close to each of the headliner's clips to pop the clips loose. Be careful or they will break. A flashlight is useful here.
Pic#4 shows all four white clips popped off and the headliner ready to be pulled forward and up. Pic #5 shows how the sunroof now looks like from the inside.
Last edited by natural_person; 08-28-2006 at 02:07 AM.
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190DBAGZ (06-22-2023)
08-28-2006, 01:21 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
Headliner is Now Out
(These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions).
Remove the headliner (Pic #1). Now is a good time to clean the fabric when it's not upside down!
Unscrew the 1 bolt (in the front) and the 4 screws that hold each of the two sliding rails in place (Pic #2). Note the dirt on the sliding rails on my car. Remove both sliding rails (Pic #3). Close sunroof SLOWLY, make sure the wind deflector retracts!
Unscrew the four 8mm nuts that hold the sunroof to the arms, two on each side (Pic #4). Remove sunroof from above the car. Leave the four washers on the sunroof; they won't fall out. Store at safe spot (Pic #5).
Remove the headliner (Pic #1). Now is a good time to clean the fabric when it's not upside down!
Unscrew the 1 bolt (in the front) and the 4 screws that hold each of the two sliding rails in place (Pic #2). Note the dirt on the sliding rails on my car. Remove both sliding rails (Pic #3). Close sunroof SLOWLY, make sure the wind deflector retracts!
Unscrew the four 8mm nuts that hold the sunroof to the arms, two on each side (Pic #4). Remove sunroof from above the car. Leave the four washers on the sunroof; they won't fall out. Store at safe spot (Pic #5).
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190DBAGZ (06-22-2023)
08-28-2006, 01:41 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
The Actual Cleaning & Lubing
(These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions).
Now you have full access to what you need to clean and lube. Move the mechanism by hand to see its travel and how it works. Clean as much of the old grease off and apply fresh grease . The rubber roller on the cam (Pic #1) is a crucial place to clean & lube.
While at it, use compressed air and/or an old speedometer cable to clean out the two drain holes at the two front corners of the sunroof. Flashlight time!
The inner chrome pieces are just sitting there and can be removed for cleaning (Pic #2).
With everything cleaned and lubed, it's time to put the sunroof back on. Pic #3 shows one of the alignment tools, they are marked L and R for Left and Right, make sure that you use the correct ones at the correct sides!
Pic #4 shows how to use the alignment tool by putting it throught TWO holes in the mechanism. (Just use your hand to line the holes up - no need to use the power sunroof button). Pic #5 is a closeup view.
Now you have full access to what you need to clean and lube. Move the mechanism by hand to see its travel and how it works. Clean as much of the old grease off and apply fresh grease . The rubber roller on the cam (Pic #1) is a crucial place to clean & lube.
While at it, use compressed air and/or an old speedometer cable to clean out the two drain holes at the two front corners of the sunroof. Flashlight time!
The inner chrome pieces are just sitting there and can be removed for cleaning (Pic #2).
With everything cleaned and lubed, it's time to put the sunroof back on. Pic #3 shows one of the alignment tools, they are marked L and R for Left and Right, make sure that you use the correct ones at the correct sides!
Pic #4 shows how to use the alignment tool by putting it throught TWO holes in the mechanism. (Just use your hand to line the holes up - no need to use the power sunroof button). Pic #5 is a closeup view.
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190DBAGZ (06-22-2023)
08-28-2006, 01:54 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
Bolt the Sunroof Back On!
(These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions).
Make sure that you "clip" the little indent in the red tool onto the underneath of the rail (Pic #1). This keeps everything square and straight. Pic #2 is a wider angle shot of what the clip should look like when installed. Do both sides, of course!
Pic #3 shows what the sunroof looks like from the outside, resting on the mounting arms, but NOT BOLTED TOGETHER YET. Note the higher part of the front edge? That's because the spring-loaded wind deflector is pushing it up!
To fix this you either need to get two friends, one at each side of the car, to push the front down while you put the four 8mm nuts back on from the inside, or use the special sunroof pliers (Pic #4). The hook on the pliers fit in the hole where the rearview mirror is mounted, so you need to carefully wrench that off (Mine is hanging in mid-air with a zap-strap since I retrofitted a C-Class mirror with Homelink buttons, as per 2phasts' instructions at www.2phast.com/500e , so it's wired up for power).
Pic #5 shows the pliers closed and the sunroof preloaded - without any friends needed.
Make sure that you "clip" the little indent in the red tool onto the underneath of the rail (Pic #1). This keeps everything square and straight. Pic #2 is a wider angle shot of what the clip should look like when installed. Do both sides, of course!
Pic #3 shows what the sunroof looks like from the outside, resting on the mounting arms, but NOT BOLTED TOGETHER YET. Note the higher part of the front edge? That's because the spring-loaded wind deflector is pushing it up!
To fix this you either need to get two friends, one at each side of the car, to push the front down while you put the four 8mm nuts back on from the inside, or use the special sunroof pliers (Pic #4). The hook on the pliers fit in the hole where the rearview mirror is mounted, so you need to carefully wrench that off (Mine is hanging in mid-air with a zap-strap since I retrofitted a C-Class mirror with Homelink buttons, as per 2phasts' instructions at www.2phast.com/500e , so it's wired up for power).
Pic #5 shows the pliers closed and the sunroof preloaded - without any friends needed.
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190DBAGZ (06-22-2023)
08-28-2006, 02:04 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
Bolt Sunroof Back On
(These steps are a SUPPLEMENT to the instructions from the M-B CD, Section 7730.3 and are not meant to be complete instructions).
BTW, it's always a good idea to place a thick towel underneath the pliers, over the center console - just in case you drop the pliers (Pic #1).
Now you can bolt the four 8mm nuts back on (Pic #2).
The bolted-on sunroof now looks correct (Pic #3)
Open sunroof.
Re-install the sliding rails.
Close sunroof 1/4 and re-install headliner; clip back on the four clips.
Carefully close sunroof and check for correct operation. Be careful when it gets to the wind deflector; make sure that it retracts!
That's it. Do this every 2-3 years and hopefully no sunroof problems.
BTW, it's always a good idea to place a thick towel underneath the pliers, over the center console - just in case you drop the pliers (Pic #1).
Now you can bolt the four 8mm nuts back on (Pic #2).
The bolted-on sunroof now looks correct (Pic #3)
Open sunroof.
Re-install the sliding rails.
Close sunroof 1/4 and re-install headliner; clip back on the four clips.
Carefully close sunroof and check for correct operation. Be careful when it gets to the wind deflector; make sure that it retracts!
That's it. Do this every 2-3 years and hopefully no sunroof problems.
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190DBAGZ (06-22-2023)
08-28-2006, 03:16 AM
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1991 300E 2.6
wow, thats an awsome job mate good work!
hey i saw in your sig under mods that u have rolled fenders, would you know of any decent tutorials??
mitch
hey i saw in your sig under mods that u have rolled fenders, would you know of any decent tutorials??
mitch
08-28-2006, 03:33 AM
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1992 Mercedes 400E
Fender Rolling
From using Google I came up with this link:
http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?...id=17&Itemid=1
It's pretty straightforward, the key is to take your time and do more heating with the heat gun than the actual rolling. Takes about 2-2.5 hours to do all four wheels.
I'll probably be selling my fender roller in the next couple of weeks.
http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?...id=17&Itemid=1
It's pretty straightforward, the key is to take your time and do more heating with the heat gun than the actual rolling. Takes about 2-2.5 hours to do all four wheels.
I'll probably be selling my fender roller in the next couple of weeks.
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10-05-2006, 07:06 PM
#12
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Sunroof installation
I must say that is a very detailed post...thanks. However I am having trouble trying to figure out how to get the front guide in the roof panel back in place. That's the one that has the two black slides and the teflon one that contacts the wind deflector. How do I get this black ones back into the slot under the guide?? Thanks
10-08-2006, 07:33 PM
#15
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