Sunroof panel

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jcm325
E30 Zone Newbie
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Posts: 185
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Devon

Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:15 pm

Ok so I presume a lot of us have issues with the sunroof panel in our e30s? With 2nd hand panels fetching 2-300 quid? Are people really paying This? What are the options ? Has anyone successfully saved a bad panel or have we got to bite the bullet and pay !!! I believe these are no longer available from the main dealer which is probably where I would have bought as the price between used and new is negligible....
Any pics or advice or opinions would be good..
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Brianmoooore
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Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:26 pm

If you find a good one, where the rust hasn't spread to the panel itself, deal with the rust on the brackets, then prop the panel underside up and level, and fill it with cavity wax. Heat the panel gently from underneath, and let the molten wax flow into every nook and cranny, before draining off the excess.
Sanchez
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Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:36 pm

I thought they were still availible at about £400.
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jcm325
E30 Zone Newbie
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Location: Devon

Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:50 pm

Cheers Brian...but if a new one is available at 400 I may go that route rather than used at 250- 300 ...im not sure how bad mine actually is? Looks like heavy surface corrosion from inside and on the lugs but the top skin is still Good!!!
Hopefully may be salvaged?
jimmyspeed
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Location: riding a wagon wheel west

Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:09 pm

apologies for the picture dump but a small amount of external rust may be misleading- i they think they were quite poorly painted from factory, at least the pre facelift one i opened up was - very minor surface bubble on the outside, dead on the inside. There pretty easy to open up and check


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jcm325
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Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Devon

Post Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:45 pm

Thanks for the pictures.... that's quite worrying as that panel looks good before you open it up.... would hate to pay 2-300 for a used panel for it to look like that!!!!!!
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reggid
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Location: Oz

Post Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:02 am

just buy a new one they arent that expensive from Schmiedmann
E30 325is with M20B31