sunroof removal

[si-]

im getting my car ready for a cage and need to remove the sunroof, but what actually gets removed, ive searched but cant find anything

ive got the impression that its fairly simple but after a long day stripping the wiring loom and binning everything that isnt needed maybe ive just missed something but id like it out tomorrow,

is it the whole unit that comes out? as mine seems to be glued in and is not budging anywhere ill cave the roof in before i move that thing.

the only thing that ive removed is the stuff thats screwed in on top, and the mechanism thats about it

anyone help pics would be great aswell so i know what im looking at

cheers
Si

[Brian28]

Bad news Si, it is the whole cassette unit that has to come out. Get the sunroof panel itself out first and the roller/runner things etc. I used to drill out the spot welds for the sunroof surround and split the inner from the roof skin, but more often than not managed to kink it. Now I run around it with a hammer and sharp chisel leaving about 1cm in place attached to the roof skin. If you have access to air tools and a nibbler it will be a lot quicker/easier, or you could use a plasma cutter or grinder. There are a couple of tabs towards the back of the cassette that tie it into the roof frame at the sides. You can just about get these with an angle grinder and cut them through. You will need a heat gun to melt the glue that is holding the cassette to the roof skin. Last bit is the cross bar that runs just behind the sunroof. On one car I cut the bar ends through with an angle grinder and removed it with the cassette, but there is a bigger risk of kinking the whole roof. Now I leave it in place and free the cassette off it with a mix of hammer/chisel, grinder, and drilling out spot welds. As you are getting close to the cassette being free, run a couple of cords underneath it tied from one side of the inner roof to the other, so as the cassette comes free it will just rest on the cords. If you don't you run the risk of one side swinging down free with the other side still attached, and it will kink the roof. Good luck!

[MillRat]

Removal like above;

We left some metal on the roof and panel sides, so that we could use a piece of "c" tube to bolt the panel back into place. We then resealed the gap between the roof and the panel with good silicon gel.

In the first picture you can see the bolts holding the panel back in place. From above, the sunroof looks original. From below, it looks very tidy as well once it was painted (bottom picture).

P.s. When using an angle grinder to cut out the excess metal, make sure you either remove all the windows, or at least cover them well, otherwise they will end up getting blasted by sparks.

[si-]

cheers for that fella's its half way out now im at the un glueing and grinding spot welds out stage,

cheers for the pics very helpful

[UweM3]

and SKIN that sunroof panel! Has been discussed recently. Try a search. Well worth it IMHO

[timmy1701]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75091

Also be careful when skinning your panel, easy get it wrong (for me anyway)

[si-]

that link is wicked cheers

[Driftben]

here we go in my cage thread, half way down matey.
you will need a good drill to get the spot welds out around the edges.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=25