???On hold???
You come up with the strangest potential purchases that never seem to actually happen.

So are you going to put one in? I've acutally been thinking of it and warming up to the idea, especially on a wagon.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

another thing about w123's with sunroofs.. They have different front springs than non sunroof models.

i've got another 19 days until i graduate HS...
i'm forking over the other 1700 then

its a... well... you'll see...

and im thinking i'll put a hole in my car when i fill another...
aka near back window
its a new find...
and i now have lake michigan in my back seat on my new, fresh, naked floorpans!!!

GAH!

its been one of those weeks...

__________________
Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k

you should probably check the sunroof drains and the front windshield as well as the rear glass seals...

no... there is a RUST HOLE above my fuel filler thingy. yea.
it just... appeared!

__________________
Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k

Really? The sunroof does not weigh THAT much!

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Me neither. I test drove a CD without a sunroof and I felt that it was missing something.

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

OK, well that explains allot!
In my humble old-guy opinion, it would be fairly stupid to pour much $ into that Red rustbucket. It needs all the structural integrity it can muster it sounds like.
I have no idea what type of car this other one you are buying is, but it doesn't sound very practical. Then again, that may be the point if it isn't a daily driver.
Since you're at the age you are, $$$$ is still for play, so I guess from that stand point you don't have to make every decision on what makes financial sense, but I think you would be better served finding a cleaner version of a W123 that already has a sunroof, and not so many "rust windows".........
Oh, and a cloth sunroof???? Please..........

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

A few words about aftermarket sunroofs - some dealers offered them for customers that otherwise would have to buy a premium package in order to get a factory sunroof - at least according to a local Nissan dealer I visited about two years ago. They had a new Altima in their showroom with an aftermarket Webasto sunroof.
Of course, I didn't get to test the structural integrity of the roof on that new Nissan, but around the same time, a customer asked me to repair the sunroof on his 1990 Misubishi Montero. Turns out this Mitsubishi also had an aftermarket Webasto sunroof that happened to be stuck open. When I grabbed the rim, and pulled myself up to inspect the damaged sunroof mechanisim, to my horror, the whole left side of the roof opening bent! Fortunately, I was able to just as easily bend it back into shape. Ultimately I couldn't find parts to fix this sunroof, but I was able to get it closed. Then I unplugged the wiring so it couldn't get stuck open again.

Considering Mercedes safety reputation, I'd never cut open and weaken it's structure in order to add a sunroof.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I have an 85 123, and it has an electric sunroof. I have some issues with it but fortunately it is not rusted, leaking and is in the closed position. I had the brilliant idea last year when the electrics ground to a halt to convert it to a manual sunroof like you'd find in a wagon or a 240D low line. But here's the rub... I would have to remove the complete headliner to remove and replace it. Since all 123 headliners are trapped by the rear window, and since my headliner is in excellent condition, I will not be converting it soon.

That being said I do have 2 complete manual sunroof sets sitting in my shed out of 2 different 240D's. They are complete with the rails, inner and outer sunroof. If you have a hole in your roof, your headliner out and the well nuts in your roof, it's a fairly simple installation with about 16? or so bolts. You must also get the drain hoses installed. 2 go down the A post and 2 go down the C post or you'll end up getting wet.

If you are still wanting to cut into your roof, you're probably also looking at a roof paint job.

If it were my car, I'd leave it alone. If you want another bag of worms to contend with (rust, leaks, electrics quitting leaving the roof open) go the full electric route.

If you want the choice of 1 or both of the sunroofs I have, send me a PM. I'll get back to you. I want about $50 each plus shipping and handling...which won't be cheap... or if you want to come and get them it's just $50 each. I'm in the Detroit Metro area.

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Pete Williams, President emeritus - MBCA-International Stars (Eastern Mich.) Now Wi. & Az.
1985 300D Manual 4 speed Green Hen's tooth
1979 MGB triple black Az car nice
1969 back 1/2 of MGB (Az home built trailer)
1991 Volvo 245 Wagon Nice AZ Restored Gold Brick
1983 Jeep CJ7 37,600 Miles Summer use only

I was thinking about this kid today when I saw an old BMW with a poorly done XL cloth sunroof. I guess he got tired of the abuse and quit posting.

Some of his other interesting threads, in case some of you forgot him.

so on my way through the snow

Anybody W/ A Debit Card In Dayton Ohio

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Except for two ragtops I never had anything but cars with a solid (holeless) top in my first 40+ years of driving. After all, the point to having a solid roof is not to have to wear a baseball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes.

I do like the pop-up part of the sunroof in my '87 (now that it's been fixed) as it helps ventilate the car on hot days. But I'd never cut a big hole in an existing solid roof.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970