C230 Sunroof Exploded
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
C230 Sunroof Exploded
I was driving home around midnight today,with passengers in my 05 C230
Then all of a sudden BOOOOOMMMMM, i swear it was so loud my buddie sitting in the front passenger seat thought we were being shot at.lol
I was in shock,i almost lost control of my car. I pulled over to the side of the road,my sunroof looked as if someone had kicked it for the inside of the car.
Thank god the glass didn't fall as a sheet and hit us in the head,otherwise i wouldn't have been able to control the car.
I did a search on google this morning,and it seems like this is becoming a common thing.
Obviously if i was on the highway lost control of the car and got hit by another vehicle,was killed as well as the passengers in my car,im pretty sure state troopers would not know wtf happened and would probably say it was drunk driving.
And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened
Now my benz is sitting in my garage with a $1,500 damaged sunroof
I have progressive insurance,but i found out i have a $1,000 glass deductible.FML
Then all of a sudden BOOOOOMMMMM, i swear it was so loud my buddie sitting in the front passenger seat thought we were being shot at.lol
I was in shock,i almost lost control of my car. I pulled over to the side of the road,my sunroof looked as if someone had kicked it for the inside of the car.
Thank god the glass didn't fall as a sheet and hit us in the head,otherwise i wouldn't have been able to control the car.
I did a search on google this morning,and it seems like this is becoming a common thing.
Obviously if i was on the highway lost control of the car and got hit by another vehicle,was killed as well as the passengers in my car,im pretty sure state troopers would not know wtf happened and would probably say it was drunk driving.
And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened
Now my benz is sitting in my garage with a $1,500 damaged sunroof
I have progressive insurance,but i found out i have a $1,000 glass deductible.FML
Last edited by SportMan; Apr 11, 2010 at 06:00 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
Once i went onto google,it seems like other drivers that are in the same situation were doing just as i was,cruising down the road 45-50mph. I had the heat on due to it being chilly "41-42 Degrees" then all the stated in my first post happened.
See here is my opinion,if a rock hit my sunroof the glass would be facing downwards "force from the rock would force the glass downwards"
This looks like a volcano of glass,sort of speak. It looks as if i were to punch it upwards while sitting in the vehicle.
I am going to try and give mercedes a call on monday,obviously i am out of warranty but something like this is defiantly a safety hazard. And seems to be a defect in the glass
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
here is a story of a couple mercedes owners with the same issue
http://www.mercedesforum.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20924
http://www.mercedesforum.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20924
Last edited by SportMan; Apr 11, 2010 at 05:58 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I once saw an RV in Nevada where the windsheild exploded and popped out.
The were a storm or something, and I guess they suddenly experienced an extreme drop in the air pressure outside, causing the windsheild to pop out.
I wonder if anything like that had to do with it?
The were a storm or something, and I guess they suddenly experienced an extreme drop in the air pressure outside, causing the windsheild to pop out.
I wonder if anything like that had to do with it?
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 333
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From: NYC
2007 C280 4Matic
No one was in front of me,and behind me was a ambulance. I tried getting their attention and wanted to know if they had seen anything but they didn't stop.
Once i went onto google,it seems like other drivers that are in the same situation were doing just as i was,cruising down the road 45-50mph. I had the heat on due to it being chilly "41-42 Degrees" then all the stated in my first post happened.
See here is my opinion,if a rock hit my sunroof the glass would be facing downwards "force from the rock would force the glass downwards"
This looks like a volcano of glass,sort of speak. It looks as if i were to punch it upwards while sitting in the vehicle.
I am going to try and give mercedes a call on monday,obviously i am out of warranty but something like this is defiantly a safety hazard. And seems to be a defect in the glass
Once i went onto google,it seems like other drivers that are in the same situation were doing just as i was,cruising down the road 45-50mph. I had the heat on due to it being chilly "41-42 Degrees" then all the stated in my first post happened.
See here is my opinion,if a rock hit my sunroof the glass would be facing downwards "force from the rock would force the glass downwards"
This looks like a volcano of glass,sort of speak. It looks as if i were to punch it upwards while sitting in the vehicle.
I am going to try and give mercedes a call on monday,obviously i am out of warranty but something like this is defiantly a safety hazard. And seems to be a defect in the glass
Tempered glass will explode if its stresses are not properly relieved in manufacturing. I'm just surprised it didnt happen earlier. Was there any additional torsion on the frame (ie were you taking some twistys)? That being said extreme temp changes will crack any glass, it could be that yours had an ever so slight defect that was slowly growing with time, and on that day it breached the outside of the glass and the whole thing exploded. Tempered glass is very strong when dealing with any mechanical stress, but as soon as its outer shell is compromised its over.
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
thats crazy man, sorry to hear abt ur misfortune, but as said above, contact MB headquarters, ask them for an explanation, tell them you nearly died and lost control of ur car.
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Saab 900 SE
I dont wanna sound like "mr negative" but honestly this isnt MBs fault, its out of warentee for some time and the owner said
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
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I dont wanna sound like "mr negative" but honestly this isnt MBs fault, its out of warentee for some time and the owner said
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 289
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From: Orlando, FL
2003 C320 4Matic
I dont wanna sound like "mr negative" but honestly this isnt MBs fault, its out of warentee for some time and the owner said
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
yeah, you have good points, but at the same time, a consumer buys a mercedes because of the quality, safety, etc... and their sunroofs are blowing up? when this happens on a subura you think to yourself, damn, shoulda bought that mercedes! this kinda throws the whole safety and quality marketing technique out the window, and that glass is pretty thick, you'd need a HUGE shift in atmospheric pressure to cause it to break like that, and if it had to do with the pressure why was it the sunroof that gave out first (which is the thickest peice of glass) and not any of the side windows? or all of the windows go? really doesnt make sense, this is pretty crazy, keep us updated as to what MB says about this
Last edited by 03MBC320; Apr 12, 2010 at 09:51 AM.
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it happened to me too a few years ago, i think summer of '07 going about maybe 75 on I-95.
sounded like a shotgun firing right next to me. scared the sh*t out of me but fortunately i didn't panic and jerk the wheel.
i read somewhere about it being a result some weird low pressure kind of thing that can happen in some perfect conditions. personally i think it happened from being a hot day, some microscopically misaligned parts and some expansion. MB covered it under warranty and the fact that I'd had it in the dealership just a few weeks prior to service the sunroof for some reason or another.
sounded like a shotgun firing right next to me. scared the sh*t out of me but fortunately i didn't panic and jerk the wheel.
i read somewhere about it being a result some weird low pressure kind of thing that can happen in some perfect conditions. personally i think it happened from being a hot day, some microscopically misaligned parts and some expansion. MB covered it under warranty and the fact that I'd had it in the dealership just a few weeks prior to service the sunroof for some reason or another.
Last edited by govertime; Apr 12, 2010 at 10:29 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
I dont wanna sound like "mr negative" but honestly this isnt MBs fault, its out of warentee for some time and the owner said
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
I happen to be a automotive technician and i've yet to see anything like this.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
Just got off the phone with a rep. she did not sound surprised at all from what i told her about the sunroof issue. And said i should be receiving a phone call within 24 hours
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2005 C320 Sport, 2010 C300 Sport
That's amazing. My coupe had a much bigger sun roof and survived a T-bone accident (parked in a parking lot) and a head on collision that threw the panoramic roof out of it's rails before it broke.
Sounds like one of those spontaneous combustion type incidents where things are just perfect enough for it to happen.
Couple things to ask are;
1) How many passengers did you have in the car and how heavy are the subs/enclosure? If you've exceeded the weight load ratings that could cause stress points to focus pressure on the roof.
2) Is the car clean title? Has it ever had any frame work? Again, that could increase stress points.
As for repair cost, I'm sure the 1500 is not just the glass alone. It's closer to a replacement unit cost. The glass can be replaced for fairly cheap but honestly, I'd rather just replace the unit in fear of more stuff breaking after I've just replaced only the glass.
Sounds like one of those spontaneous combustion type incidents where things are just perfect enough for it to happen.
Couple things to ask are;
1) How many passengers did you have in the car and how heavy are the subs/enclosure? If you've exceeded the weight load ratings that could cause stress points to focus pressure on the roof.
2) Is the car clean title? Has it ever had any frame work? Again, that could increase stress points.
As for repair cost, I'm sure the 1500 is not just the glass alone. It's closer to a replacement unit cost. The glass can be replaced for fairly cheap but honestly, I'd rather just replace the unit in fear of more stuff breaking after I've just replaced only the glass.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: New England
C230 Sport//Bmw 325I//Eclipse GTS
Well i received an answer earlier today and mercedes is willing to goodwill a good amount of the cost which will leave me of a bill of $550 installed.
I guess i will just have to deal with it,just sucks having to dish out that amount of cash before my planned vacation this summer
Now im paranoid of my 325i having a exploding sunroof lmao
I guess i will just have to deal with it,just sucks having to dish out that amount of cash before my planned vacation this summer
Now im paranoid of my 325i having a exploding sunroof lmao
Last edited by SportMan; Apr 12, 2010 at 09:04 PM.
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Posts: 488
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From: Michigan
W203-4M W163
Unroof Sunroof
I dont wanna sound like "mr negative" but honestly this isnt MBs fault, its out of warentee for some time and the owner said
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
"And i know it was not my sub woofer's cause i wasn't playing any music at the time this all happened "
MB will say just what I am, you modified the car and the subs could have been stressing that glass for a long time, and finally blew out with wind pressure, or heat/cold temp, whatever which where helped along by a subwoofer rattling the car apart, thats not MBs problem.
People had the same issues with subs in Ford Foci, seemed like only cars with subs (non OEM) had a problem with sunroofs popping.
I wouldn't say this is mercedes fault, it does happen, and on almost every make Ive herd of it happening. The glass is not 1000, dollars, and can be easily replaced, it didnt damage the whole unit it just broke the glass, they make replacement panels for it that are not that expensive, my old subaru had a pano sunroof and the glass was only 300 bux.
Sorry to hear about this incident--has to be a huge drag to deal with it.
Glass is extremely brittle. It is so inflexible that its breaking point can be reached quickly and unexpectedly. Energy transmitted to glass is not absorbed well, which is why something as simple as unloading dishes is so freaking loud, or why an opera singer can break a wine glass.
I think the sunroof is a puzzling feature for MB (in my opinion). It's trying to "act" like a convertible, but it's not and never will be. Seems to me like they're just trying to keep up with the fake "luxury" features offered by other companies. Does anyone really LOVE their sunroof? Can't live without it? Or wouldn't buy their car if it didn't have one? It doesn't deliver the exhilaration of the wind like a convertible, nor does it deliver the strength of a solid roof, but it does deliver possible problem features like this (and others with the open/close mechanism). If I could have bought my MBs easily without this "feature", I would have done so in a heartbeat.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Orange County, CA
2006 C230 SS, 2006 S500, 2008 CLS550 Lorinser
Well i received an answer earlier today and mercedes is willing to goodwill a good amount of the cost which will leave me of a bill of $550 installed.
I guess i will just have to deal with it,just sucks having to dish out that amount of cash before my planned vacation this summer
Now im paranoid of my 325i having a exploding sunroof lmao
I guess i will just have to deal with it,just sucks having to dish out that amount of cash before my planned vacation this summer
Now im paranoid of my 325i having a exploding sunroof lmao
that sucks dude! im all paranoid now, i drive or am parked with my sunroof open/tilted like 100% of the time when its not raining!
