Moon Roof Woes. Please help

[noel.brownell]

I own a 72 W108 with a moon roof and can't figure out how to get it to open. The motor works as I can hear it and can see it moving gears or something in the roof above the rear seats under the head liner. When I try to open the roof it makes a noise like it is going to open but is stuck and when I press the button to close it makes a grinding noise. I have accessed the manual opener in the trunk and loosened the outer bolt and cranked it both ways. One way will not budge and the other way makes that grinding sound. I have no clue where to go next. I think it may just be stuck from lack of use and need greased but I can't manually open. Any suggestions??

[compress ignite]

Old.partially dried lube (On the Rails and in the cable tube and gearbox)= friction
Typically lack of "Servicing" the unit leads to Motor demise (It burns up)
You may have more than one "Binding" point created by the No-Lube Issue.
The only Lube to use is "Gleitpaste" [does not attract dust]
Your should clean and re-lube your Rails whenever you change your oil.
(Hardly anyone does!)
Your unit may have a friction type clutch (Adjustable).
BUT ,If everything is not clean and lubed properly tightening the clutch can
take out both the clutch and the motor.


You may need new gearset (If that model S'roof has any)

I've no experience with your model's S'roof.

If it were a 123,124 or 126 I'd suggest taking down the S'roof headliner to
be able to unbolt the cable from the front of the S'roof.
So you could slide it open manually to be able to disassemble/clean.

[noel.brownell]

Taking down the head liner sounds like a good start at getting a good look at whats going on in there. I can tell the motor still works and the cable is attached because it is moving gears under the headliner. It appears siezed and most likely needs lube.

[compress ignite]

'"Clipped" at the front.('Sorta like "Push Pins" used in the Interior/Trunk attachments)

Pictures from GSXR's "website" [the page on W124 S'roofs]:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_sunroof/

Picture #3 is of the Holy "Gleitpaste"