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I have read everything I could find on pano roof issues. I broke the cables and clips that close the front and rear blinds. The dealer quoted $3.2k to repair (they had the sunroof motors in the part list also, but I don't think my motors are bad). I ordered new cables, and the clips for the rear shade. I am going to attempt to repair this myself using info and files from "Dave's couple sunroof" thread (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...of-thread.html).
However, if there are still pano experts on the board, I have a few questions:
1) Is it possible to replace the roller blind cables without removing the rails from the car? In "Dave's" thread, somebody said he was able to remove the guide tubes without removing the rails, and I would think this implies you can remove the cables also, as they run through the guide tubes.
2) Is it possible to replace the rear roller blind clips without removing the rails?
Well, finally got the car back together this morning. The pano roof and shades are working again. I will probably try to replace the clips on the A-pillar, because I could not get the driver side A-pillar back without a gap at the top.
For those interested, I had to remove all the trim above the window line (A, B, C-pillar) and most of the trim in the trunk, to drop the headliner. I had to completely unscrew the pano rails to get access to replace the rear blind couplers, which broke. I was able to replace front blind cables without removing the rails from the car, but it was tricky to finagle the guide tubes to release from the rails. This WIS instructions have you remove the rails to do this operation. After replacing the cables and testing the blinds, I had to start putting the car together again.
The worst part for me, was putting the glass back on. I didn't pay enough attention to how the glass came out, and it took a lot of figuring out how the whole mechanism goes together again. I finally figured that our a couple days ago. I also replaced the gear inside one of the motors, because I stripped the direct drive access where you can manually open and close the roof. Fortunately somebody on ebay is selling them for $35 + shipping, which is a lot better than the $477 that the dealer quoted for a new motor.
All in, I am out around $300 in parts, WIS access, and the ebay gear, and about two weekends in the garage. That compares favorably with the $3.2k estimate from the dealer. Hopefully this will last. I am *very* happy that everything is working now.
Thanks to everyone who had posted about this topic in the past, and to Todd for the WIS documents. Without that I would not have attempted this myself.
Well, finally got the car back together this morning. The pano roof and shades are working again. I will probably try to replace the clips on the A-pillar, because I could not get the driver side A-pillar back without a gap at the top.
For those interested, I had to remove all the trim above the window line (A, B, C-pillar) and most of the trim in the trunk, to drop the headliner. I had to completely unscrew the pano rails to get access to replace the rear blind couplers, which broke. I was able to replace front blind cables without removing the rails from the car, but it was tricky to finagle the guide tubes to release from the rails. This WIS instructions have you remove the rails to do this operation. After replacing the cables and testing the blinds, I had to start putting the car together again.
The worst part for me, was putting the glass back on. I didn't pay enough attention to how the glass came out, and it took a lot of figuring out how the whole mechanism goes together again. I finally figured that our a couple days ago. I also replaced the gear inside one of the motors, because I stripped the direct drive access where you can manually open and close the roof. Fortunately somebody on ebay is selling them for $35 + shipping, which is a lot better than the $477 that the dealer quoted for a new motor.
All in, I am out around $300 in parts, WIS access, and the ebay gear, and about two weekends in the garage. That compares favorably with the $3.2k estimate from the dealer. Hopefully this will last. I am *very* happy that everything is working now.
Thanks to everyone who had posted about this topic in the past, and to Todd for the WIS documents. Without that I would not have attempted this myself.
Nice job!
I just bought another C230 Coupe a 2005.
Guess I didn't have enough drama in my life so I had to get another coupe :-(
The sunroof worked for a week...
So I'll be back at it again to fix another roof.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Originally Posted by drb930
Nice job!
I just bought another C230 Coupe a 2005.
Guess I didn't have enough drama in my life so I had to get another coupe :-(
The sunroof worked for a week...
So I'll be back at it again to fix another roof.
C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
Thinking about getting rid of the the sun shades and replacing with some heavy duty marine grade material and mounting with four suction cups. Love the mechanicals but hate the materials MB decided to use to build this car.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Ha, my sunrroof is cocked open on the right side...arrgh.
Back to reading the sunroof threads.
Trying to figure out how to get the motor out, see if there;s anything that can be done.
Seems the case warps with time, and prevents the gear from making good contact.
BTW- Nice photo's on that 05 coupey.
Nicest one we ever got in the states, I'd love to lay my hand on an 05 C320 coupe.
Ha, my sunrroof is cocked open on the right side...arrgh.
Back to reading the sunroof threads.
Trying to figure out how to get the motor out, see if there;s anything that can be done.
Seems the case warps with time, and prevents the gear from making good contact.
BTW- Nice photo's on that 05 coupey.
Nicest one we ever got in the states, I'd love to lay my hand on an 05 C320 coupe.
Todd,
I'd be happy to help you...
1st I would pull the mirror & front part of the headliner to take out the Left motor.
Now try to center the sunroof.
When you get the motor out you will be able to determine what is wrong, either a broken cable or the junk pot metal motor & transmission case is bad.
When you get the motor out look for any up & down movement in the gear... if it's there, perform my sunroof motor re-enforcement.
Also look at the grommets, they are probably worn out allowing the motor to move around too much.
You will need to inspect the inside of the sunroof transmission, part the motor mounts to for wear from the motor gear riding up the cables too high.
If you can see wear marks, it's also chit junk pot metal... it might have to be replaced... it's not easy, but can be done without pulling the rails & complete headliner.
I love my 05 and am looking for another with low miles to keep forever & make a little hotrod.
The lighter engine & more happy rev nature of the M271 really makes the car much nicer to drive.
No way would I get a 320....
I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on here with two poor man's brake upgrades front & rears for under $200.
Also some transmission upgrades that I have done.
Last but not least fixing pogo lock easily for under $4.00 in parts.
Let me know if you want phone help & i'll pm you my phone number.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Hi Dave,
Well, I futzed with a it for a while and got it to close. Truth be told, I parked on the road in the shade to get the work done (was hot here yesterday) and while I messing with it, this cute little young thang in a Honda parked in front of me commented how I reminded her she needed to do something on her car, and she had a screwdriver doing something with the door. Yeah, I'm old enough to be her grandpa.
I'd been trying to get my sig other to help me, but we were too busy this weekend, toodling around the 'Santa Lucia Highlands' south of Salinas, and then to the Pinnacles, in her newly repaired W164 ML350. New balance shaft and whole list of other parts, steering rack,pump, and since he had the engine out, I figured good time to re-up the starter and alternator since neither had been replaced at 170K miles. Also new AC compressor, was howling like a banshee.
In any case, I asked if she wouldn't mind helping me, give the roof a push (while watching her
fingers) while I turned the motor with an Allen head socket by hand while giving it a strong upward push.
and I managed to get it to close. Hit the car wash, and no leaks, so motor disconnected,
and I'm leaving it alone until I have a garage where I can work on it again, whch
I don't know when that will be.
So it worked! She kinda restored my faith in young people,
So many have no verbal communication
skills, walk around like zombies staring at their phones
and certainly wouldn't even speak to an old
fart like me on the side of the road.
But it is a Mercedes after all.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 06-12-2018 at 01:20 PM.
Ya, I hear you... anything that can restore my faith in humanity these days is a good thing.
Let me know when you tackle the sunroof & i’ll Help you anyway I can.
When I got my C230 the pano sunroof was stuck part way open. Ends on both cables were broken. Its been a couple years ago so I probably don't remember everything I had to do. I know I took the rails completely out of the car but, as I was putting it back together I do recall seeing that the cables could be carefully replaced by just removing the tubes. Just know, the cable replacement is no small task even if you leave the rails in. Removing the rails is certainly not for the faint of heart. It was one of the tougher jobs I have ever tackled.
One thing I would suggest for those who take this on is to get the special grease that MB makes for the sunroof rails and sliders. Also, there were a couple of plastic slider pieces that I also needed and they were very hard to identify in the MB pictures. Plus they were expensive and hard to get into mechanism properly. I don't remember for sure but, it seems like there were 4 of them total with 2 different kinds. And per C230 Coup, if you remove the motors, you can pry against the spirals in the cables to move each side of the glass back and forth to get it into the right position. Same with the sunshades. Getting the cables adjusted in exactly the right position ended up being critical and not something that can get resolved any other way, such as by normalizing the shade or glass. After I got it all back together, I still had to mess with it and it took a while to get everything where it needed to be. But, when that panoramic sunroof is open on this little car, it is a very cool experience.
drb930. I was able to get the cables separately. It seems like I got them on eBay out of Turkey. OEM cables from a dealer there a good bit cheaper than from local dealer. IIRC I found a parts diagram online at an MB dealer and was able to get the part number for the cables (different number for each side - mirror). With the motor out, the cables slide in (I think from the back). Get them in place and you should be able to secure the tubes back in place. Get them positioned correctly and the glass (or, shade) attached before you put the motor back in. Again, you can pry against the coils of the cable through the hole where the motor mounts to get them precisely positioned.
Do you still have the information on the Panorama sunroof for W203, i need to replace a plastic rear sliding part that just broke.
I saw in a previous message to send you an email for this info. May I get your email?
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
http://www.benzexpert.com/files/pano.zip
Don't let the dire warnings by Google about the site not being safe scare you. I just don't have an SSL certificate and not https but there's no active content so that's not true. Such BS by Google. Need to completely re-do the site because of this crap.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 05-04-2023 at 09:48 PM.
03-09-2017, 10:07 AM
