E46 - sunroof seems out of alignment

[CraigD]

Hi

So I opened the sunroof on Saturday night to the "Tilt" position, and the roof made like a loud clicking sound.

Ever since, it appears to be "out of alignment", i.e. one corner seems lower than the other, and also does not want to slide back: when I attempt to slide, it seems like one side is moving "quicker" than the other side, clicks a bit, then stops.

Any ideas? Thoughts on where to take for resolution? Expected cost to resolve?

TIA.

 

[ChefDJ]

Guide rail clips have snapped, I think...

 

[CraigD]

Guide rail clips have snapped, I think...

Thanks Chef. A mission to replace? Costly?

 

[ChefDJ]

A mission and a half :roflol:

Costly, a bit. You can't just replace the clips. You need to replace the entire rail. Both rails from BMW is around 1500 if I remember correctly.

 

[CraigD]

A mission and a half :roflol:

Costly, a bit. You can't just replace the clips. You need to replace the entire rail. Both rails from BMW is around 1500 if I remember correctly.

Bleh, thanks Chef. Appreciate the help.

 

[boost3d]

My advice would be to manually close the Sunroof using the allen key into the sunroof motor mechanism....then do a sunroof reset, it usually involves depressing a series of buttons in a specific order, if this fails, then its not just a software related issue and then you would have to start looking at the cartridge which encloses the sunroof being damaged etc...

Worth taking a shot to try and diy the sunroof reset though

 

[Dewald Basson]

Remove your vanity mirror lights if your see threaded cabling stop using the sunroof, and pm me. I will send you some pics of how I fixed mine.

The cable dislodges from it's track like so.

If you hear a clunking grinding noise that is your sunroof motor gear stop, if that strips you must replace the whole motor, 6000 bucks.

 

[wtrlan]

Remove your vanity mirror lights if your see threaded cabling stop using the sunroof, and pm me. I will send you some pics of how I fixed mine.

The cable dislodges from it's track like so.

If you hear a clunking grinding noise that is your sunroof motor gear stop, if that strips you must replace the whole motor, 6000 bucks.

Is it possible to lubricate or service any parts of the sunroof. Mine has a whining sound and sounds like it is struggling to close... Every time i use it, I am scared I am going to snap or break something.

 

[Dewald Basson]

Remove your vanity mirror lights if your see threaded cabling stop using the sunroof, and pm me. I will send you some pics of how I fixed mine.

The cable dislodges from it's track like so.

If you hear a clunking grinding noise that is your sunroof motor gear stop, if that strips you must replace the whole motor, 6000 bucks.

Is it possible to lubricate or service any parts of the sunroof. Mine has a whining sound and sounds like it is struggling to close... Every time i use it, I am scared I am going to snap or break something.

Yes but you have strip a hell of lot of parts to get sunroof cassette out. But it is a DIY kinda of a job. I used two bolts to keep the tread in it track.

I don't think you can buy individual spares for the sunroof from BMW?

 

[boost3d]

Remove your vanity mirror lights if your see threaded cabling stop using the sunroof, and pm me. I will send you some pics of how I fixed mine.

The cable dislodges from it's track like so.

If you hear a clunking grinding noise that is your sunroof motor gear stop, if that strips you must replace the whole motor, 6000 bucks.

Is it possible to lubricate or service any parts of the sunroof. Mine has a whining sound and sounds like it is struggling to close... Every time i use it, I am scared I am going to snap or break something.

Yes but you have strip a hell of lot of parts to get sunroof cassette out. But it is a DIY kinda of a job. I used two bolts to keep the tread in it track.

I don't think you can buy individual spares for the sunroof from BMW?

Nope you cant, the manufacturer "Webasto" doesnt sell individual spares either...

 

[Dewald Basson]

Remove your vanity mirror lights if your see threaded cabling stop using the sunroof, and pm me. I will send you some pics of how I fixed mine.

The cable dislodges from it's track like so.

If you hear a clunking grinding noise that is your sunroof motor gear stop, if that strips you must replace the whole motor, 6000 bucks.

Is it possible to lubricate or service any parts of the sunroof. Mine has a whining sound and sounds like it is struggling to close... Every time i use it, I am scared I am going to snap or break something.

Yes but you have strip a hell of lot of parts to get sunroof cassette out. But it is a DIY kinda of a job. I used two bolts to keep the tread in it track.

I don't think you can buy individual spares for the sunroof from BMW?

Nope you cant, the manufacturer "Webasto" doesnt sell individual spares either...

So don't FORCE anything :rollsmile:

 

[Keegan95]

buy a second hand sunroof
i paid R1500 from the scrap yard

 

[ChefDJ]

I still think the guide rail clips have broken, and the guide rails can be bought loose.

 

[CraigD]

Thank you all - really appreciate it.

Should I attempt the sunroof reset? If it is the clips, will this fsck things up any more? Right now the sunroof tilts as it should, albeit slight skew, it just clicks when trying to slide it out.

 

[ChefDJ]

I would strip out and inspect before attempting to move it at all, otherwise you risk damaging it further. It's a pain in the arse to do, but with a friend to help it can be done easily.