Faulty Panoramic Sunroof BMW X5 E70

sunnyj

New member

• Apr 7, 2013

• #1

Hello All

Today after returning home from a drive, I tried closing the sunroof which was in the tilt position but it would not go down. It seems as if something was jamming but could not see any obvious obstruction. I have posted a link of a video from another forum which shows you exactly the problem I am having. I eventually managed to get it closed by applying a bit of gentle pressure on the sunroof and then pressing the button. Any ideas from anyone what could be the problem. My X5 is 5 years old but surely a sunroof should last longer than this. Is this a common problem? What are my options?

Regards

Sunny

 

CamZo

///Member

• Apr 7, 2013

• #2

Maybe your sunroof needs be reset. Hold the button in the closed position until you see the sunroof go through all the motions of opening and closing. If that doesnt help could be motor related.

 

sunnyj

New member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #3

Hello Camiel

Many thanks for the suggestion. I tried this reset procedure but the problem persists. The sunroof works fine when just sliding through but the problem happens when in the tilt mode, it won't close unless you help it along but pushing from above. I noticed that when I push down on the second smaller glass sunroof it closes. Perhaps the problems lies with the smaller glass section of the sunroof.

quote='Camiel' pid='641240' dateline='1365369554']
Maybe your sunroof needs be reset. Hold the button in the closed position until you see the sunroof go through all the motions of opening and closing. If that doesnt help could be motor related.
[/quote]

 

Blue Shirt

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #4

You should try to lubricate the slide rails and hinges from inside when the inner panel is fully retracted and both roofs popped up.

 

sunnyj

New member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #5

Ok, I will put some grease on there. Will let you know if that helps.
:thumbs:

Blue Shirt said:

You should try to lubricate the slide rails and hinges from inside when the inner panel is fully retracted and both roofs popped up.

Click to expand...

 

Mohammed01234

New member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #6

Hi

I had an issue with an E70 sunroof a while back, changed the rear sunroof motor and it works till today...:rollsmile: Might work for you too?

 

///M Individual

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #7

You say 5 years old, still under motorplan perhaps? If so get BMW to sort it out. I had a issue with our ex E70 but the reset sorted it out. Yours could be motor related. Good luck

 

sunnyj

New member

• Apr 9, 2013

• #8

It's just out of motor plan. You say motor but the slide function on the sunroof works just fine. Unless there is a second motor that operates the rear part of the sunroof???
:argh:

///M Individual said:

You say 5 years old, still under motorplan perhaps? If so get BMW to sort it out. I had a issue with our ex E70 but the reset sorted it out. Yours could be motor related. Good luck

Click to expand...

 

sunnyj

New member

• Jun 22, 2013

• #9

Earlier this month I got my sunroof "repaired" by Sheldon's Auto, however the fault has returned. Now it won't slide as well. Been told it is the cassette mechanism that needs replacing at a cost of R37000! :argh: Not prepared to spend that sort of money. Been phoning around and Sunroof Boyz in JHB can offer a fix for R5000. They apparently modify the cassette so that it does not exhibit the problem of not closing. Spoke to Johan & Marius and they say they do loads of these repairs for BMWs and even fit them for the dealerships. Has anyone used these guys and are they as good as they say they are?

Was disappointed as I thought the problem was sorted when I took it to Sheldons Auto. Spoke to him about a credit for a service as the problem with the sunroof I'd taken the car to him for is still not sorted so hoping he will accommodate my request.

 

sunnyj

New member

• Jul 5, 2013

• #10

Just had my sunroof sorted out by Johan at sunroof boyz. You can tell he knows what he's doing and he and his brother Marius work like lightning. It is a very, very intensive job as the hood linings got to be removed before the entire sunroof can come out to be worked on. Some modifications are done. Johan's has worked on sunroofs for ages and knows them inside out. While working on mine, another X5 came in for the exact same fault. Then a BMW E93 335i with a faulty retractable roof...

He even sorted out the vanity lights which weren't working at no extra cost. Time will tell how long it will last I guess but he does offer a years warranty. All in all a good experience. :thumbs:

Now to have some words with Shalden's Auto who did some work on the sunroof but not only made it worse also scratched the roof :argh:, but that is a story for another day.

 

N

ndobo2610

New member

• Jul 5, 2013

• #11

this is where the MP comes into play....maybe its a small mechanism issue. i had a similar story with the fuel cap on my f30 where the motor failed. myt need to be rest spring or something

 

A

Andrew

New member

• Jul 6, 2013

• #12

Regrettably a common problem with BMW pano roofs ...... 10 to 1 the problem lies with the back glass ..... the "slider/wedge" jams and needs to be tapped back to allow the roof to close ..... You can gypo it by disconnecting the rear glass from the mechanism letting the front glass work as normal but the fix requires a time consuming removal and replacement. Parts are available on eBay

 

N

ndobo2610

New member

• Jul 6, 2013

• #13

Seems like beemers electric prob saga from the older models has lived on:nonono:

 

sunnyj

New member

• Jul 7, 2013

• #14

These sunroofs are designed and built by Webasto, surely they could have done a much better job. It's not only BMW's that suffer from these sunroof problems as Webasto also makes sunroofs for Mercedes & many others too.

@ Andrew, you are right about that back glass, it is better to have it disconnected from the front glass. It is a very time consuming job to sort out, I seen Johan & Marius working on it and I would not consider doing it myself.