Potential for sunroof breaking?

[Goomes420]

Hey guys,

So I was driving around with my friend yesterday, I had the sunroof tilted open, and for whatever reason she decides to slam the cover all the way into the closed position :mad and you could clearly hear it break past whatever was stopping it before.

All functions of the sunroof still work fine, but every time I close it and it pulls the cover into the roof I hear this loud clicking noise I have never heard before. Previously, if I ever have the sunroof tilted and want to close the cover it does not want to close all the way until the sunroof is no longer tilted (stops about 1-2" inches away from full-close position), but now I can just close it all the way when titled no problem. It isn't supposed to do this right?

Does anyone think this will lead to any serious issues with my sunroof?

[racer2086]

It is not supposed to do that. The cover should stay open about 2 inches with the sunroof tilted. The potential problem you could run into is if you put your sunroof back all the way and it takes the cover with it. Then, you may have a hard time fishing it back out when you close it, since it may not come back out when you close the glass.

[Goomes420]

Is this an easy fix? I'm not too handy, never worked on cars, so would this be something you recommend going to a mechanic for?

[racer2086]

It's been awhile since I've worked on the sunroof, but I know the rubber baffles pull out from each side. Those play a role in controlling the sunroof shade. Pop the glass up and take a look at the shade as you move it to see if you can locate the clips. May have to pull the baffle out to see better. The baffles can be purchased new if they are the part that broke. Otherwise, you may just glue the clips on the sunroof shade if that's what broke. Not sure that's something a mechanic would do, unless you find a relatively creative one.

[Goomes420]

Got it, thanks. Ya by mechanic I just meant anyone who is more comfortable with doing any work on a BMW sunroof than I am lol I don't want to try and mess things up further.

[racer2086]

You really won't. I can't imagine you could mess anything up that bad up there. Check this out...it should be a nice guide, albeit, about a different end goal: http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/546326 . Found on www.e38.org (http://www.e38.org). Great wealth of information there. You can do a lot with your car just following write-ups.

Before you remove them, take a look at how the shade slides into and out of them. I remember installing them with the shade too far back and then having an issue closing the shade. There are clips on one or the other piece that function in the regulation of the closing and opening.

[Goomes420]

Cool, thanks a lot for the info, ill check it out and if it becomes an issue ill see what I can do. So far it's still working but who knows, could happen any day.