I agree that your SR panel is the original, but what is holding it in place? Is that a bunch of glue between the panel and roof? Also check to see if you have the cable or not. From your photo, it isn't there either. And what about the motor?

When buying the parts, I would not remove them from the SR panel, as it's almost nothing. Take the parts mounted to the panel. You may want to use the doner panel as well; yours looks very rusted.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

if the '80 SD has the same sunroof as a '81 w123 then go looking for a manual sunroof, then you never have to worry about the motor/ movement mechanisms failing you. just an idea

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'81 300D - swapped to a 617.951 turbo motor with a 150 amp alt.

I believe someone constructed a headliner panel to slip into the Sunroof slot just as a temporary fix and never got back to the repair job.... and yes if I find something that I'm sure will interchange with my model I'll definitley take as much as I can get on it. I'm finding that hard to accomplish right now ..I found a few odds and ends at the u-pull-it today while looking though, that kind of cheered me up a little..
Thanks, Larry

That may not work since the w126 body is wider and longer so the sunroof will have be wider and longer to accommodate the body. I have a sunroof from an 81 300D but I dont think it will work on a 126 body.

I tried doing that on my sdl and it didnt fit.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

good to know, do you think any of the side sliders from the body of a w123 would go onto a w126? I'm just trying to throw out suggestions for places to nab parts from.

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'81 300D - swapped to a 617.951 turbo motor with a 150 amp alt.

that part is probally the same, but would have to look closer.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

My '80 300SD is a w116 so the 126 parts just wouldn't work... if I'm following your conversation anyway?

well along the same lines do you think you could scavenge some of the moving parts from a w115 or a w114 if there are any in the junkyard?

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'81 300D - swapped to a 617.951 turbo motor with a 150 amp alt.

Whoops you are right

But same idea applies but who knows may work. Measure the dimensions of your sun roof and Ill measure the dimensions of a w123 one.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

will do

No motor, no brackets, no cable, nothing. The guy just gutted the darn thing. He took two little blocks of wood and wedged them there to hold the panel in place....sort of. Real shoddy and I'm kicking myself for not sliding the headliner out to look at it. And I'm tackling this while simultaneously prepping for deer and elk seasons. Kind of feel like Tim Conway doing the old geezer shuffle. You younger guys may not get that one....

Unfortunately, there many W116s around - at least in comparison to W123s & W126s. So if no joy in the Foster yard, try MBI motors on SE Hawthorne in Portland. They have a second floor above their shop, full of old cars and parts.

How long ago did you buy this car? Would you get anywhere demanding your money back? It seems to me that if the PO didn't disclose this SR thing, he commited fraud at least.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

No, he did say the SR was not functional but unfortunately I didn't take the conversation any further, I blame myself for not looking closer. And to be honest I didn't pay all that much for what I got. Plus I'm still friends with the guy. Smooth running engine and it sure is purdy, this is just an annoyance.

irc, all the 617 5 cyl MB's use the same sunroof.
the SDL has a completely different one, that pops up and goes back. the 116/123/126 Sunroofs are identical.
I do NOT have proof of this, but I have read of others who have swapped in parts and or complete panels. even pulled a manual sr from a 123TD, and put in 126 SD...
that one required cutting and such, but only of control stuff...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Man if that is factual I'll be dragging myself back out to the boneyard because I saw TWO today that were both in '81 300D's! (would those qualify?) I just have to look up some schematics because I couldn't really see how they were disassembled. And should I also take the front attachment where it closes? You have any links to share?