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Thread: Sunroof Kinematics

  1. #1
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    Sunroof Kinematics

    Did anyone ever find a solution to the issue with the broken sunroof kinematics, where one side can no longer push up the sunroof? (for reference, http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...oof+kinematics)

    I was wondering if anyone had figured out a way to CNC the part, or had a solution, since I'm not too keen on paying $850+ (which seems like the current rate: https://www.getbmwparts.com/parts/in...&siteid=214672)

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  2. #2
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    Got any pictures of the offending part? May be able to program a CNC to make some if it's worth it.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328 Power 04 View Post
    Got any pictures of the offending part? May be able to program a CNC to make some if it's worth it.
    This post in another thread has some good pictures of the problem: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...4#post14430114

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  4. #4
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    No major promises (since I still have to finish up another CNC part), but I will look into taking my working ones off sometime and seeing what I can do about it. We have a good 4-axis CNC mill that is very capable.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328 Power 04 View Post
    No major promises (since I still have to finish up another CNC part), but I will look into taking my working ones off sometime and seeing what I can do about it. We have a good 4-axis CNC mill that is very capable.
    That sounds awesome. I think there are probably a number of people who have this issue (or will have it in the future, if they use the roof enough).

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  6. #6
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    I think i have some off a spare sunroof I can mail off to you... Let me look when im home

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

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  7. #7
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    Hey guys, I am also in need if anyone figures anything out or can source parts. Please let me know!


    Hey BimmerBreaker, are you in Phx?
    Reigning and Longest Tenured OT President to Date

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328 Power 04 View Post
    Got any pictures of the offending part? May be able to program a CNC to make some if it's worth it.
    http://spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/SRC?page=77 Look also on the previous page.

    If you use my pictures and dimensions (I still have the loose/damaged pieces to get more detailed) then I expect favorable pricing for my own Coupe. As long as there is a suitable provision to anchor the cable, replacing these two (2-matched) pieces should alleviate the need for buying a whole assembly.

  9. #9
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    If you or someone else in this thread has parts that are intact, I can laser scan them and model them in CAD for reproduction purposes. I could even do some FEA with ANSYS to determine if there are any suitable improvements that could be made prior to production if desired. I don't have a Coupe so this doesn't benefit me directly but I'd love to be helpful to the Z3 community.
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:06 AM.

  10. #10
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    I do have the broken one shown in the link above, as well as its undamaged mate.

    Had they gone bad on my own Coupe, I would've whittled one out of a chunk of something laying around the shop. Cost a fortune in labor, but I'd (manually) mill them out of something that wouldn't break.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by ///36M View Post
    Hey guys, I am also in need if anyone figures anything out or can source parts. Please let me know!


    Hey BimmerBreaker, are you in Phx?
    Yes I am in Phoenix, technically Mesa but it's all the same...
    Quote Originally Posted by TommyMaddox View Post
    If you or someone else in this thread has parts that are intact, I can laser scan them and model them in CAD for reproduction purposes. I could even do some FEA with ANSYS to determine if there are any suitable improvements that could be made prior to production if desired. I don't have a Coupe so this doesn't benefit me directly but I'd love to be helpful to the Z3 community.
    I have an intact set I'd be willing to loan out only if I could get them back and if it was guaranteed parts would be made... I'd rather go with someone who has been established in the community a bit more, but if you or anyone else wanted to pay a deposit for them I can send them out and when they are returned I can send the deposit back in full. Just a bit worried that with someone who joined a month ago with 13 posts that I may never see them again - and they aren't cheap.

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  12. #12
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    Is there any part of a coupe that you don't have documented? Those are great pictures.
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:06 AM.

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  13. #13
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    I totally understand. I don't have the means to make them, as we don't have any machinery at our firm, but if you know someone that can produce them I'd be happy collaborate with them. All of our equipment is non-destructive, and the method I'd use is non-contact.Figured I'd offer to help as a freebie since it would be trivial for me to make this happen with our $80k setup.
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:07 AM.

  14. #14
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    I'd send you my own (well, one working one and one broken one), but I'm not quite ready to dismantle it yet, since there's a solid couple weeks left in the driving season up here. After that though...
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:07 AM.

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  15. #15
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    We have machinery

    I will be looking into this in the next few days. If anyone has a faster way to model it, then great. If not, I will be doing it myself and feeding it to the CNC.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  16. #16
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    Bumping this to keep it fresh. I need kinematics at some point here, especially because I cant close my sunroof with any of the tricks I've read on here.
    Reigning and Longest Tenured OT President to Date

  17. #17
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    Bumpitty Bumperoo
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  18. #18
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    Sign me up for a set, I'd love to fix that thing!

  19. #19
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    I'm on it. I will be taking my functional one apart this week.

    Is it fairly easy/straightforward job removing sunroof?
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  20. #20
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    Yes, pretty intuitive, I think (I recently took my first one apart, and there were no surprises or particularly high hurdles).If you'd care to stroll through the pictorial essay__the world knows I don't do write-ups; you either get what's happening in the pictures or you don't
    Starts the middle of this page: http://spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/SRC?page=73
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:08 AM.

  21. #21
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    Ok, that helps, I left the coupe in storage at the machine shop for the project and just wanted to see if I were to expect surprises for the downtime. Weather's going to get real good soon, so there will be more motoring enjoyment soon.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  22. #22
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    Where are you in Montana??
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:08 AM.

  23. #23
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    OK, so the kinematics are at the machine shop getting measurements/ideas/brainstorming. It's not as easy of a part to make as imagined (the pin holder that slides the lever up), and especially to market it without flaws, and even further to make it easy to rebuild current kinematics with them.

    We are working on it though. We have to invest and make a few custom tooling and holders to be able to make the process efficient and easy to replicate.

    By the way, the center black plastic cover thing... Also made of eggshell plastic, and I broke mine. So now to get a perfect sunroof again, I HAVE to make a rebuild kit. Great.
    Looking at 2 pin holder pairs, 1 center motor nut cover, and crimp ends for the wire.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  24. #24
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    That sucks that yours broke, but I do appreciate the effort you are putting into this! I'm sure there are a ton of people who will be able to benefit from this.
    Last edited by shogun; 10-19-2021 at 01:09 AM.

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

  25. #25
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    Any update on this? Did you make any headway?

    2000 Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

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