I just bought the assy. for the driver's side and it was $140. I don't think the other side is toast but I hope not. I am waiting for the weather to improve to pull out the panel.

It is the tilt-up mechanism that fails as the plastic and pot metal bits can't withstand the pressure asserted by the cable if the grease gets old or the alignment/adjustment is off. Apparently some models were 'upgraded' by MB and the 'new' bits for both sides are about $1000!! I hope yours is not one of those!

If you wish to disable your sunroof, I pulled the plug on the motor so I would still have the heated seats, which are on the same circuit and which are useful around here!

Try and talk the dealer into giving you some sunroof grease - it is about $70 for a very small amount and my guy said to just bring the bits to him in a bag and he would lube them for me. I'm sure there is a charge but better than a bottle of gold. Apparently it is the ONLY lubricant that will do the job properly.

__________________
1991 300 SEL
218,000 Km

"Xsbank's rules of mechanical intervention: Always go for the easiest solution first; 90% of what ails a gasoline engine is ignition; After that its all a WAG."