The sunroof in my 1987 300D seems to be experiencing some sort of problem(s). It opens, closes and pops up just fine, but it seem to make some popping noises at times. When it is popped up, it will close properly and seat, but getting the roof to slide back takes a bit of time. I have also noticed that the passenger side seems to slide into the car readily while the driver-side takes a bit more time. In other words, it appears that the metal roof doesn't drop down evenly. Any thoughts on this? I know these things are expensive to repair when they break and I would like to try and prevent this.

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1960 MB 190Db w/ full sunroof
1985 Toyota Pickup
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL R&N
2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI

Get out the CD manual and start taking things apart. Sounds like you may already have something amiss in the roof. Mine did that and then one day the passenger side would not go down at all. $400 worth of parts later, I had the factory mods installed and the roof adjusted. I had broken the right side lifting arm. Daughters car has similar problem. Will do the work on hers in the spring. Doesn't hust to clean and grease the rails and replace any of the little pads that ride on the rails that have fallen off (they split and fall off). BTW, most folks I have heard of with sunroof problems reported the passenger side was giving them trouble. Your driver side problem is the first I have heard of. PS: buy the little plastic clip sets that hold the inside panel to the roof. I didn't and regret it.

I suspect the driver's side lift angle is already broken. Stop using the sunroof until you can repair it or get it repaired, it's going to get stuck soon, probably partway open!

Lift angles are about $95 each, you will need both, probably some sliding pads (ridicoulously expensive), but if you keep going with it you will also probably bend the translation bridge when it sticks.

This is a DIY repair if you want to take the time -- do a search, I detailed what I did on the 300D last year.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Can someone post of pic of what the driver's side lift angle looks like? Also, does anyone have any good schematics from the CD they can send me?

Thanks.

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1960 MB 190Db w/ full sunroof
1985 Toyota Pickup
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL R&N
2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI

Marc, I have the repair CD's. I could burn copies if you like. These were given to me, so there's no charge.

Also, take a look at thomaspin's sticky thread at the top of the diesel forum. His website has a nice step by step showing how to R&R the sunroof. Though he worked on an older non-tilting version, it should still be instructive.

Zeitgeist:

Thanks for the offer! I would like to take you up on that soon! We still need to GTG in Rochester so we can compare notes on our 300D's! My time has been short due to my mother's hospital stay. Everything is going well at this time and I think a GTG would be in order!

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1960 MB 190Db w/ full sunroof
1985 Toyota Pickup
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL R&N
2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI