my sunroof stopped working!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Williamsburg, VA
BMW E38, E36, MB W124
my sunroof stopped working!
Hey guys.. when I first picked up my 89 260e last week i noticed the sunroof would operate but it was rattling really bad when i hit bumps.. then eventually it stopped tiling and woul donly slide.. then all of a sudden it wont do either.. Pleasse help me out with a possible solution to this.. This car is now my daily driver and I can't live without a sunroof when the spring comes around!
thanks
Cameron
thanks
Cameron
Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 173
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From: NorCal
Mercedes-Benz 400E
If the rails haven't been greased in a while and that caused it to stop it could have put to much stress on the motor and drive gear and that could have broke. I don't know much about the mechanics of it so I can't help to much
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8
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From: Central NJ
1986 300e
Sunroof troubles
Ok.
Last summer I had this happen to me, exactly in the order you are describing. I took everything apart (sunroof, trunk lining, motor/gearbox, etc)and found that worm gear that pulls/pushes the cable (which actuates the roof) was stripped out. The gearbox/motor is in the trunk, behind the driver side inner quarter panel cover, it is mucho expensive ($400 or so). In desperation (I love my sunroof too!) I managed to find a similar setup in a junkyard car, and bought just the gear. I cleaned the whole box out, regreased, set the tension, and everything has been fine since.
Last summer I had this happen to me, exactly in the order you are describing. I took everything apart (sunroof, trunk lining, motor/gearbox, etc)and found that worm gear that pulls/pushes the cable (which actuates the roof) was stripped out. The gearbox/motor is in the trunk, behind the driver side inner quarter panel cover, it is mucho expensive ($400 or so). In desperation (I love my sunroof too!) I managed to find a similar setup in a junkyard car, and bought just the gear. I cleaned the whole box out, regreased, set the tension, and everything has been fine since.
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 977
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From: San Jose
300TE / 300E / 300CE
Yep, the sunroof motor is in the trunk near the power antenna motor. Remove the plastic lining and you'll see it. You'll see a hole where you would insert the tool to manually crank the sunroof. Basically a cable at the rear of the sunroof panel isgear driven in a pull or push motion to open or close it.
Your symptoms indicate the rails are loose. Check the the switch and look for loose bolts before removing things.
Your symptoms indicate the rails are loose. Check the the switch and look for loose bolts before removing things.
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8
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From: Central NJ
1986 300e
he might have trouble checking
He will have a difficult time checking for loose rails or bolts if he can't get the roof open! First remove the drive system (motor/gearbox) in the trunk and try to pull the cable with a pair of locking pliers on the very end of it (to see if the roof will budge). If it does your gearbox most likely is the culprit. Otherwise if you can't take apart the headliner to actually check the guide/slide rails or anything at all, unless you can get the sunroof panel to slide back roughly half way. Once you do you can remove the panel headliner and then check the rails. My guess is at first the gear had a few stripped teeth and was not able to push the last few inches of cable to get the tilt to work. Also when the teeth start to "give up the ghost" the gearbox may not close the roof fully and allow it to rattle. Now as more of the teeth are destroyed, it is unable to pull the cable at all. When it did slide, did it move smoothly?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 977
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From: San Jose
300TE / 300E / 300CE
similar problem on the cable...
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...highlight=300e
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...highlight=300e
