Sunroof panic! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Xsbank · #1 01-13-2008, 08:23 PM

I decided to clean and lube the sunroof as I had never really used it. Mistake. The weather here in Vancouver is wet and although not today, the forecast for tomorrow is heavy rain. Without debating the veracity of Environment Canada, I took a chance and opened it up, gave it a good cleaning and lubed it a bit with some very light grease and closed it up just like it should.

Then I pushed the 'UP' switch, it rose at the rear like it was supposed to and I cleaned a bit inside, but I noticed that one side didn't look 'neat enough.' Sure enough, tried to close it and it refused to close on the left side, by about half an inch.

Panic! I ran down to the house and popped open the computer and did a search here for "busted sunroof" or similar and spent half an hour searching the archives for directions on repairing it. Thankfully (the CD I ordered with the service manual is still AWOL) there was enough information to pop off the buttons on the front of the inner panel (a nice piece of flat brass bar stock, wrapped in masking tape) and there inside the liner was a small piece of black plastic (I'm fed up with MB plastic, there's entirely too much of it).

With some help from a flashlight, the hook end of one of my brand new allen keys and a very rude screwdriver, I removed the rest of part number 124 782 05 47, with its broken pot metal (no more plastic for a change) and managed to get the panel to cooperate and to close properly(!!!).

I pulled the fuse for the sunroof so I couldn't possibly move the roof and induce leaks, until I can get to the wreckers or the dealer; then I realized it is also the fuse for the heated seats, so I pulled the electrical plug off the sunroof motor, conveniently revealed (the carpet in the trunk is in my basement, drying out because of a tail-light leak). Some of the headliner is still retracted so I'm sure the rain on the metal panel will be a constant reminder to me of the great outdoors. Once I get the parts, I will see about repairs, probably in mid-summer!

Has anybody ever converted the pop-up sunroof to a straight slide-and-hide version? I will do that, if possible. I will take it all apart and examine the bits and see if that is a reasonable mod.

So, thank-you all (again) for making this information available. With the rain tomorrow, I think my lead zeppelin would surely have become a lead submarine.

stevebfl · #2 01-13-2008, 08:43 PM

Changing to the sliding roof would cost numerous times more than fixing your current problem. It is really a shame these 17 year old cars break like that.

Chadahar · #3 01-13-2008, 09:26 PM

I thought that the tip up was an option. One can tip it up or not. Is that not the case? I believe that my 126 380SE is just the slide and hide type and I'm not even going to try to tip it up....heard way too many horror(panic) stories.

stevebfl · #4 01-13-2008, 09:43 PM

Nope it is an evolutionary thing. I think it started with 86 models. The easiest way to change it would be to cut the whole top off two cars and switch.

Xsbank · #5 01-14-2008, 01:33 AM

Seeing as how the tip-up is just a switch position, could you not disable it electrically? It seems to be just a bypass to push the roof further after the panel hits the stops. I am assuming that the tip-up mechanism must be replaced to make the roof work? I disabled the whole thing by pulling the plug on the motor anyway.

Yes, its a pity things break on a 17 year-old car, boo hoo, but at least the sucker could have been designed to be repaired and not full of that German plastic.

I did a Volvo roof once, it was straight-forward and easy to adjust, has given me the confidence to do this one, which, I understand, most mechanics won't touch because it is such a pita.