Manual sunroof ain't all that - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 09-18-2012, 10:21 PM

I looked at a 123 with a manual sunroof yesterday. I really liked the way the only other one iveever tried worked. Feels like opening a tank hatch. Anyway I discovered it ain't no fun in Phoenix. I thought I was scalding my fingers when I tried to grip the handle. Just impossible to operate it when it's been sitting in the Arizona sun for any length of time. And for that matter the window switches were blisteringly hot as well. Gives me a whole new perspective on them.

- Peter

Stretch · #2 09-19-2012, 02:52 AM

Bummer - that's a problem that would not have occurred to me.

Here's a welder's solution to the problem - just carry a nice cool lump of copper with you and use that as a heat sink to draw the heat away from the handle!

rs899 · #3 09-19-2012, 06:35 AM

Yes, there is a very satisfying feel of making that hatch open with a flick of the wrist and a gesture.

I never had any particular issue with burning my fingers in Florida.

t walgamuth · #4 09-19-2012, 06:49 AM

I keep a set of deerskin gloves in my Miata which work well when the steering wheel and so forth are too hot to touch. They are like a second skin, cool in the summer, warm in the winter and protect the hands from minor scuffs and bumps. They feel great and are only from 10 to 15 bucks a pair.

The only drawback is they are fairly bright yellow and you look like Mickey Mouse with them on.

MS Fowler · #5 09-19-2012, 07:12 AM

I was thinking of welding gloves....
At least they look manly......

Air&Road · #6 09-19-2012, 08:00 AM

I drove a Euro 123 240D over a half million miles with a manual sunroof and never had any problem, even in the Texas heat. The chrome handle would get hot, but not so hot that you couldn't touch it for the half a second it takes to give it a twist and a yank. I loved it.

You might try cleaning and relubing the sliding surface.

Fulcrum525 · #7 09-19-2012, 07:54 PM

I got the chance to open the manual roof on a Euro 300D and I thought it was great!

From my fathers experience with manuals sun roofs- "They make a great escape hatch if you ever drive through what you thought was a shallow puddle....."

pj67coll · #8 09-20-2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

I drove a Euro 123 240D over a half million miles with a manual sunroof and never had any problem, even in the Texas heat.

Texas heat phthffth! That ain't nothing compared to Phoenix

Quote:

The chrome handle would get hot, but not so hot that you couldn't touch it for the half a second it takes to give it a twist and a yank. I loved it.

You might try cleaning and relubing the sliding surface.

No doubt it needs lubing, but the ideas of gloves and the like would be necessary if I were to buy it. Of course, at the same time, there's no reason short of insanity to ever open a hole in your cars roof in Phoenix in summer so it's likely to be a winter only option and thus probably not really an issue now that I come to think of it.

- Peter.

Air&Road · #9 09-20-2012, 07:46 AM

Well maybe so, but 111 is 111.

Of course, there's often humidity that goes along with it here!

MS Fowler · #10 09-20-2012, 07:53 AM

The handle in my 504 Peugeot was covered with the same material as the rest of the interior. I never noticed it was even warm to the touch. Of course, being a Peugeot, it lacked the nice mechanical feel of the Mercedes, but it did work.

kerry · #11 09-20-2012, 08:03 AM

I never open mine when it's that hot. Even after lubricating, the sunroof in my TD requires a fair amount of effort to open and unless you're in the back seat, the last half is awkward.

rs899 · #12 09-20-2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Even after lubricating, the sunroof in my TD requires a fair amount of effort to open and unless you're in the back seat, the last half is awkward.

Unless you are a 97 lb weakling, this should not be the case. I can reach up twist and hurl that sucker back with about as much effort as deflecting my combover...

Air&Road · #13 09-20-2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Unless you are a 97 lb weakling, this should not be the case. I can reach up twist and hurl that sucker back with about as much effort as deflecting my combover...

Yes, I opened and closed my manual sunroof a BUNCH of times and all it took was a twist and a tug. A small price to pay for 100% reliability.

E150GT · #14 09-20-2012, 08:42 AM

Its Arizona, you probably dont want to touch metal during the day unless absolutley necessary. You open that sunroof during the day and youll be cooked.

panZZer · #15 09-21-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I looked at a 123 with a manual sunroof yesterday. I really liked the way the only other one iveever tried worked. Feels like opening a tank hatch. Anyway I discovered it ain't no fun in Phoenix. I thought I was scalding my fingers when I tried to grip the handle. Just impossible to operate it when it's been sitting in the Arizona sun for any length of time. And for that matter the window switches were blisteringly hot as well. Gives me a whole new perspective on them.

- Peter

Never seen a coupe manual SR I wonder if any were made