Attempting W124 Sunroof Soon
 

Please help!?

Haven't had any direct sunroof repair experience myself, but like replacing your own evaporator, there are 2 schools of thought on sunroof repairs. Some say it's just too finicky a repair if you haven't done it before, and best left to someone with experience. Others say that if you read the CD and take your time, it can be done by a patient DIY'er. It certainly depends on whether you've got broken plastic parts inside, which is a major repair, or whether you might have cable problems, which sounds to me a lot more "do-able."

I just did a search on "sunroof cable" and found some good posts on the first page of the results. Sounds like you may have a worn ferrule on the end of the sunroof flex cable, or at least to me sounded like your symptoms were similar to one of the other posters. He was able to fix the cable end for next to nothing.

Could be a busted cable, could be a broken cable bracket. Probably won't be able to tell until you can get the headliner off, and unfortunately this requires being able to partially open the roof.

I half fixed my sunroof about two years ago - one lifting angle was completely busted and letting the roof flap in the draft on the highway. I fixed it to the point where it would stay shut (and keep water out), but never quite fixed it where it worked they way it's supposed to. I may get around to fiddling with it again this summer.

As someone who just fixed my sunroof and had an exact symptom as yours I would say it is possible for us non professionals to fix our own sunroofs. I have the CD and if you follow the directions it is fairly easy. In my case the lube in the sunroof cable tube had become hard and caused the cable to move very slowly or not at all and the motor ground down the cable so now it didn't move at all. Removed sunroof and cable and cleaned tube with brake cleaner and ran the old cable back and forth until it moved easily and then reassembled with the new cable with new lubrication and some light oil. Now I can see the sun when I drive............

This weekend I attempted the manual mover. Nothing in either direction.

My sunroof will power open but will not close. I have to use a small open end wrench on the emergency device to get it to close and even this is very difficult. What can be binding while closing?
Mike
1985 380 SE
1984 Euro 500SL

Can you take some digital pictures while you are doing the repair? It's good for two reasons; the first is that they can be extremely valuable when attempting to get things back together, and second is that you can upload them to the DIY section as the rest of us would be interested in seeing what it takes.

Thanks!
Robert