123 Sunroof Adjustment, Just not getting it - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Eric Eliel · #1 03-21-2004, 08:56 PM

I've reviewed BoostnBenz sunroof instructions, the factory manual seen on-line (it ain't much and the pictures are terrible) and done a search here. Done the due diligence.

Pulled out the sunroof and completey disassembled (except for the cable, the motor and the translation bar). My "translation" joints that raise and lower the back end were OK. I replaced the 4 rubber slides and used the proper MB paste. Sunroof is back together.

Car was mostly stripped and repainted about 4 years ago. Hence it appears that I have new front and rear rubber seals, and side felt guides. Motor works fine and the SR glides well.

Sunroof is back together and it will only close to within 3/16" when measured between the front of the SR and the roof. I don't know what to do at this point since perhaps I don't understand (or remember) how the "closing action" is supposed to work. Does the front of the SR run right up into the front and then the back raises up and seals OR does the "final front seal" happen when the rear raises? Its almost as if the front seal is too thick and won't allow the SR to fully run forward. I can manually force the front end up and get it mostly to seal, but I have to think something else is wrong.

I also can't get the back end to raise properly and don't understand how these angle things can be adjusted. They are currently fully extended as far as I can tell. Maybe I should shim it up with some washers?

My neighbor up the street has a 85 300D, his front seal is thinner (and older) than mine. Perhaps the body shop that did the work at the time replaced the seal with an aftermarket unit that now doesn't fit well enough?

Fisherman · #2 03-23-2004, 01:51 PM

The front should run up and seal and when it hits the stops should be the same time that the back begins to raise into position to seal. Final movement is for the back to be forced up and sealed.

Are the stop screws out? I just replaced my motor and managed to leave the stop screws in. This really messed me up when trying to get the thing back together.

Eric Eliel · #3 03-23-2004, 04:10 PM

It doesn't appear as if the front edge of the SR "squeezes" the rubber seal enough to allow the SR to fit snuggly all around the roof evenly. I'm wondering whether there is a difference in factory and aftermarket seals (assuming the original seal was replaced with an aftermarket seal).

My observation of how the translation bridge works; the cable continues to move forward AFTER the front edge of the SR has contacted the seal. This "continuing" forward movement of the cable then moves the translation bridge forward and hence the angles then move the rear of the SR up.

Sure wish there was someone on the boards that had experience with this sunroof. Its a different design than the 126.

psfred · #4 03-23-2004, 07:58 PM

Eric:

You don't have the roof panel far enough forward on the slides. This requires a tool sorta like a big vise-grips clamp that fits in the mirror socket and pulls the panel forward OR "cheating".

Lacking the tool, this ie what I did on the 300d (not finished, waiting for paint) -- hand crank the sunroof back a bit, then loosen the bolts that hold the panel to the frame and push it forward as hard as you can while re-tightening. It helps to put a pair of allen wrenches in the locating holes in the side frames, too. They hold the panel pretty close to where it should be, but you still have to push it forward some.

Try that and see if you can get it to work better. It won't close or tilt until you get it to the correct position in relation to the lift angles (far enough forward).

Once you get that done, you may need to adjust the motor location, too.