For sure you have a broken lift angle. You MAY be extremely lucky and only have something loose, and a deep need for sunroof paste (use the real stuff ONLY, it's not standard grease, other comments to the contrary), but plan on lift angles.

You can detach the headliner and push it back to see what is going on. You can also take it out from inside but I STRONGLY recommend that you do not to prevent damage.

Pop the headliner loose and take a look at the rails on the sides. Chances are you will find some bits and the crossbar will move on one side while pivoting on the other -- that is the side with the broken lift angle. Usually the lift pivot goes, but when it does the attachment to the translation bridge (cross bar) breaks off. You will probably be able to get it completely closed with the headliner pushed back, and can then leave it there until later if necessary.

You can remove the top panel and disconnect the translation bridge where it sits, so that you can slide the lift angles back independently and detach the cable (there is only one, a TeleFlex). Two screws on a sheetmetal bracket on the translation bridge.

Once you do this, however, the sunroof is a gaping hole.......don't remove the top panel until you are able to use another car or are ready to fix it.

What I suspect you will need is a repair kit -- both lift angles and slides. With the top panel off and the translation bridge removed, the lift angles hook out from underneath the rails once you remove the chrome slides. Easy fix, just not cheap.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!