Really Effed Up My Sunroof HELP

[Mitchen]

One thing after another atm with my 320i

Basically the electric sunroof motor is making one hell of a noise when I open and close. I now noticed yesterday that the rear righthand side upper lining has fallen off the roller.. I have no idea how this has happened and as from looking at it, there's no way of putting it back on without stripping the sunroof down.. which is a road I absolutely don't want to go down (I'll cock it up).. I guess I can live with the roof lining hanging as it's only apparent when the sunroofs tilted forward. So I'll only use it going back for now.

But the real issue here is the noise from the motor! I've tried adjusting the motor clutch by tightening the nut slightly, but not worked.. I'm thinking to change the motor but how much grief is it to take off the big trim with the rear view mirror and sun visors n all? Do I have to take out the windscreen? Seals?

See below for a youtube vid of the issues.

[Mitchen]

Ok all I need to know is how to remove the overhead panel.. Have removed the sun visors so far and need to know what's next? There must be a way of doing this without removing the actually sunroof parts?

[Brianmoooore]

Only thing that's hidden regarding the fixings for the black panel are a couple of screws UNDER the 'gurney' flap at the front of the sunroof opening. The flap has to be removed to get at them.

If the lower sunroof lining doesn't slide over and back properly, you'll get water down your neck when it rains.
Sunroof mech. is easy to strip (especially when the motor's out) and benefits greatly from a total re grease. Just be aware that the stainless steel plates have razor sharp edges.

[Mitchen]

I'm just weary of the fact that if I take all the rollers and the sunroof etc out, im going to struggle to get it all lined up and back in again.. I know myself too well.. things don't go back in the way they come out with me.. and a hole in the roof isn't something I wanted to risk.

I've read somewhere that you can get access to the motor without removing the whole overhead panel.. just the things at the front which are holding it.. rearview mirror, sunvisors, door trims and then it should fall down enough from the front for you to access the motor. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

[Brianmoooore]

Manually close the sunroof, connect the electrics up to the motor and use the switch to set it to closed, then bolt the motor up. All timed.
You probably can access the motor by only removing the front, but the fixings through the sunroof are fragile and will probably break away anyway.

[Mitchen]

I can close the sunroof electrically, as it is still all working it's just noisy as hell! That part of the lining that hangs is only visible as hanging when the sun roof raises i.e. if I open it vertically, rather then opening it horizontally in the direction of the boot. So although I wouldnt mind giving it all a greasing and taking it apart, the only real issue which is urgent is the noisy motor.. I guess the fact the panel fixings could snap might be a cause for concern then

[Brianmoooore]

The noise, as far as laptop speakers reproduce it, sounds like the motor bearings are totally shot, and are 'picking up'.

[Mitchen]

Would that mean a new motor then?

[Brianmoooore]

You could try lubricating it. Can't be badly worn - doesn't exactly run for hours.

[Mitchen]

I've seen used working motors for £15.. but yeah I guess it's worth a try first! I'm going to try and do this tomorrow without doing the screws under the flap, I'm guessing the flap can't come off without removing everything. Let's hope nothing snaps!

[Brianmoooore]

All you need to do to remove the flap is slide the roof back a few inches, unscrew the screws and disconnect the arms. In fact, you don't even need to disconnect the arms if you just swing ikt out of the way.

[Mitchen]

Managed to get the motor off and gave it a greasing with WD40.. plugged it back in.... the motor wheels start turning... but the roofs not moving at all

[Mitchen]

Ok I've well and truly facked this sunroof up now. I've had it under a cover for the past few days waiting for this new motor to come. It arrived today, fitted the motor, closed the sunroof, pressed the button to open it again and all it did was crunk and rattle abit.

When I got out I saw this!






It's now not letting me open close or anything!

How the hell do I fix this? Seeing as I can't get it open..and have tried to use a socket to turn the big golden hex, which should manually let me open.. this has no effect... I guess I can't even strip it now!

This car is getting very close to having a hammer put through it

[Brianmoooore]

To open the roof manually you need to slacken off the big hex. nut, then operate the roof with an allen key (should be in the tool kit) inserted into the central shaft.
Did you connect up your replacement motor electrically before fitting it, and use the switch to check that it was in the closed position.

[Mitchen]

No my sunroof has been half open, so I bolted the motor in, plugged it in... and then pressed the switch to close it. Which it did fine I might add. It was only after trying to re-open that it all went belly up.

I realise I've made a pigs ear of this, but can I still manually operate this roof even though it's completely out of sync as pictured?

Cheers Brian

[Mitchen]

i've just loosened the hex and used the allen key and it will only bring the roof down, the corner that's really sticking up has come down to just above roof level, and the other corner has sunk down even further.

When I turn the key the other way as far as it will go, it just takes the DS corner abit more higher up! Doesnt seem to be anyway to open it horizontally!

[Mitchen]

I realise what you're saying now Brian about the closed position on the motor. I didnt realise that, and therefore never set the motor to open or closed.

God knows what damage I've done

[Brianmoooore]

Next thing to do is to get the panel off and inspect the damage.
I expect it's covered in the wiki, but basically you need to get the roof slightly slid back, pull down the front of the fabric lower panel (about five metal spring clips across the front), slide it back out of the way, move the roof to tilt, and unscrew six torx headed screws, holding the steel panel to the mechanism (three on each side) accessed from inside the car, through the hatch.

[Jim320i]

I take it the replacement motor your going to be returning isn't working due to you putting it in wrong then?

[knob]

Hi Guys,
I have a similar problem with mine over the weekend. My sunroof is jammed with the rear dropped down about an inch. The electric motor would not budge it and neither did trying to turn it with the hex key after removing the hex nut. I removed the motor to to see if i could turn the screw mechanism on the cables but no joy. Its as if the cables or guides thermselves have siezed.
The trouble I have now is that I cant get access to remove the sunroof panel, to access the guides / cables etc.
The panel is almost flush at the front and is down about an inch at the rear.
By the way I need a new motor as well now as I tried to force it with the hex key and split the shaft with the recess in it. I welded a nut on the broken bit to keep trying to move the panel manually but it is solid...... Any suggestions on what next would be appreciated
Jim

[Brianmoooore]

If the mechanism is well and truly jammed up and out of sync, then things will have to be broken to open it.
The good news is that loads of E30s are being broken, and in most cases all the sunroof mechanism is as good as the day it left the factory, apart from hardened grease, so supply is high and demand is low, as should be prices.
The valuable parts are the motor assembly and the outer steel panel (if not rusty), so remove the motor assembly first and be careful with the panel.
You may have to destroy the fabric lower panel to gain any access and avoid damaging the headlining, if it's stuck shut, but then you should be able to push the roof up enough to undo the six torx bolts.

[knob]

Thanks Brian,
I'm not too bothered about having a working sunroof so if I could manage to get the rear of it up and flush with the roof and watertight then I would be happy for now. I have tried to ease it upwards but it really is stuck solid. The panel itself is good, no rust on the surface anyway, so I want to try and avoid damaging this and of course the roof. I will cut out the lower panel to see if I can access the fasteners and remove it from the rails/mechanism and take it from there. I'm sure I can pick up a spare sunroof frame and mechanism at some point, though it looks like an awkward job and not for the faint hearterd. It might be easier just to change the whole roof........ as all the windows have to come out to remove the headlining and so on....
Think I will just try and get the panel flush, watertight and be happy with that.
Cheers
Jim

[Brianmoooore]

There's nothing at all difficult about working on an E30 sunroof mechanism once the panel is out of the way - just loads of short self tapping screws to remove and the razor sharp edges of the stainless steel plates to watch out for. If owners would just dedicate a few hours to removing the cables, etc., once every fifteen years or so, cleaning them and adding fresh grease, then we wouldn't have threads like this!
Note that the roof will not be water tight without the lower fabric panel in place and sliding into its closed position.

[knob]

Thanks Brian,
Sounds as if I need to try and move it without damaging the lower fabric panel.
I will be back at this week and will let you knowhow I get on. Your right about the maintenance advice though, It is one of those jobs you rarely think about.
To make matters worse one of my 318is has a manual sunroof and it is jammed solid as well. I tried to open it to see how all the mechanism was held together and could not move it. Thankfully I never tried to force it and break anything as yet.....