Leaking Sunroof

[Timbo]

I've finally traced my wet carpet to a leak from my sunroof. The rear of the tray that the sunroof recedes into when it is fully open has corroded at the point where the rear drain tubes connect to it. Consequently much of the water draining from the sunroof gutters and tray drips; onto the headlining, down the RH C pillar, behind the corner of the rear seat back, under the rear seat squab and overflows into the RH rear footwell where it stays until I sponge it up.
Has anybody had experience in repairing this kind of problem? I'll have to pull off the headlining to solve the problem but it looks like the rear window might have to come out to allow the headlining to fully drop...
Thanks,

Tim
'89 325i

[ian332isport]

I've finally traced my wet carpet to a leak from my sunroof. The rear of the tray that the sunroof recedes into when it is fully open has corroded at the point where the rear drain tubes connect to it. Consequently much of the water draining from the sunroof gutters and tray drips; onto the headlining, down the RH C pillar, behind the corner of the rear seat back, under the rear seat squab and overflows into the RH rear footwell where it stays until I sponge it up.
Has anybody had experience in repairing this kind of problem? I'll have to pull off the headlining to solve the problem but it looks like the rear window might have to come out to allow the headlining to fully drop...
Thanks,

Tim
'89 325i

Hi Tim,

Been there - done that

Mine turned into a bit of a saga, and ended up with the car having a completeley new roof fitted (yes, I do mean the entire roof).

You can actually buy the sunroof tray from BMW for about Ԛ£60, but it's a real turd to remove, and in my case caused the rest of the roof skin to get messed up. The tray is not really designed to be removed, and is connected to the roof skin/frame in several places.

My advice would be to drop the headlining (yes, the rear screen does need to come out) and see if you can't do something with Fibreglass. You could possibly buy the tray from BMW, and use the rear corners to replace your corroded ones, but it would need to be bonded in place rather than welded.

Cheers,

Ian.

[Timbo]

Thanks Ian.
I might go and visit my local panel beater tomorrow with your advice/experience and see what he has to say - mainly about cost and if he's capaple of doing it. I really don't want to replace the whole roof so the 'glass path might be the best way - once all the rust is cleaned up.

Cheers,

Tim (Brisbane, Australia).