Hi. What is involved in replacing the sunroof handle (latch)? Mine has broken and the sunroof is leaking (and it's raining!). It is manual (not electric). And where is a good place to buy said part?

I did a search but didn't find anything about this.


Thank you!

Randy

I have made this change on my 1982 240D which also has a mechanical sunroof instead of the electrically powered ones that are now standard. The handle should be available from Phil, or your MB dealership. I would call Phil at PartsShop (click on either FastLane or Buy Parts at the top of the web page for the phone number) and see what he can do since I doubt this is a stocked item by an MB dealer now.

Been a long time since I did it, but it is not complicated. I just followed "my nose" so to speak. The handle folds into a little tray, which I believe I had to unscrew to get it out of the way enough to knock a little hinge pin out at the base of the handle. I also seem to recall there is a spring and ball inside the handle that click into detents to hold the handle down, or up (recessed inot the tray so it is not a hazzard in an accident). Installation is not tricky, just remember which position the handle was in when you took it off, as you can get it on 180 degrees out and it won't fold up. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim, thanks. I guess what I meant was the latch and the handle. The handle turns but does not secure the sunroof. Something is broken in the latching mechanism. So what's it like to replace the whole latching mechanism?



Randy

hmm. you'd have to remove the upholstery on that sunroof.. not that difficult..

Open the sunroof halfway.. and simply pry the rooflining (held on by metal clips).. from the metal sunroof base... slide it towards the front angling it lower than your headliner.. you should be able to remove the rooflining then... then take a look see on what could be wrong with the locking of the sunroof...

it should have two metal bars that slide towards the sides that locks on the frame rail of the sunroof...try and and see if those bars are moving fully...

does your sunroof still rise when turning the handle? but it doesnt lock?? if it doesnt rise.. then the roller (there is one on each side) is no longer rising on the frame rail and raising the sunroof to hit the locking part of the rail...

removing the whole sunroof is another deal... i think what the shop i had my car fixed did was they had to remove the front windshield...

__________________
Mike

----------------------------------
1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

As noted, get the interior panel off/out and the mechanical stuff is pretty easy on one of these. The newer ones that tilt or pop up as well as withdraw into the roof are much more complex. I have found the levers come loose, usually from lack of lubrication and being over torqued as a result, and merely need to be retightened and the whole mechanism lubricated. This is not the lube on the slides, but on the actual mechanism that is connected to the handle. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)