91 190e sunroof motor/cable

[jimandsuzy]

I just bought a 91 190e 2.3 and the sunroof doesn't work. The wires to the motor are cut off about 2" from the motor so I'm trying to get the motor out without breaking something else. I took off the front and rear mounting brackets but can't get the cables to come loose from the motor. I did a search and found refs to "take the cables off" but I can't get them off. It looks like they should slide out of a notch on the motor but nothing's happening. The cables are loose, they rotate in their slots. Do I have to take the gear off first? Thanks.