e36 Sunroof Part 3

I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@pbynum325]

Thanks for this demonstration. I have a 99 Range Rover and I need to repair the sunroof. Since my car was on the assembly line when Land Rover was acquired by BMW, the car is literally half Ford and half BMW so I'm sure repairs will be similar. Thanks again! Patrick

[@jeffdubea]

This was very helpful for my 318ti - thanks

[@sundown798]

Thanks cabdolla, I had other veichels that the headliner tilts with the sunroof. And you can see daylight when in tilt mode. I have had this e36 M3 for 5 to 6 years and always thought it was broken. My sunroof does open all the way back like yours, then tilts up like yours. The healiner goes back 1/4 of the way and I always thought something was wrong. I always thought in tilt mode the entire roof tilts up with the headliner and you can see daylight. One thing I don't need to fix lol :)

[@RH-dz9oc]

Gracias me ayudó mucho a despejar dudas estoy reparando uno en Colombia

[@daveelder384]

Thanks for the advice. Apart from your sunroof videos there is not a lot of detailed information on the internet. The way the rails fix to the sun roof the bowden cables each side need to be aligned. interestedly the left side cable is shorter then the right. to put the rails of the track you need to unwind the cables off the track on the trailing edge when doing this the left side becomes detached

[@sundown798]

I've been lucky with this m3. Had it a long time. Just had to do common maintenance like oil changes/tires /wipers very reliable car I have owned. Did replace the heater motor took 4 hours lol what a pain. Also the heater motor resistor not too bad. Always get these German made. I have drive my car across the USA and Back no problems. What a great car. It's almost time to sell her such a sad time :( miles are high,

[@HAMPGIRARD]

This is de very best tutorial video Ihave ever seen! Thank you very much!

[@redgts00]

Great write up!

[@cabdolla]

there is a little tab that slides on the inside drivers side rail. You will see a notch cut out on that rail just a little bit aft of where the opening of the sunroof is. This is where you connect the tab on the slider that screws onto the fabric shuttle onto the plastic slider inside the rail. Now the shuttle can move back and forth. Test this works by hand cranking it before you put it back on the car.

[@cabdolla]

cool. I just replaced the cooling system on the car. About to drop the entire rear end and do the subframe and bushings + lowering springs and sub frame reinforcement plates. My RTABs are shot.

[@cabdolla]

No. The headliner does not tilt. It slides back about 1/4 of the way. This is to let fresh air in but not rain water. You will only see day light if you open the entire sunroof by pressing the sunroof open (not tilt) button.

[@cabdolla]

Thanks! Happy e36'in!

[@cabdolla]

@gutsup1 It should be doable. Be careful about messing up that one piece that retracts the headliner panel. I took out my headliner (and cleaned it) when I did it. Honestly, taking the headliner out is dead easy - but I think you can avoid it.

[@cabdolla]

I would first check to see if this is normal and correct. If it is not you might have to take out the gear part (somehow) that turns the cable when the motor is engaged and manually adjust the cable until its even. It may well be that way by design - I don't know -

[@cabdolla]

@redgts00 Thanks dude you rock! I've been doing lots of work on my old Honda, I need to get back to doing stuff on the BMW! o.O

[@cabdolla]

Sure, I'll try my best. Senna #1 ! :)

[@clyde9295]

good job man

[@ryansnider946]

On my sunroof, if it's open and then I close it all the way, the sunroof is perfectly flush with the roof, like it's supposed to be. However, if the sunroof is in the vent position and then I close it all the way, the sunroof doesn't return to being perfectly flush with the roof. Additionally, if I put the sunroof partially in the vent position (not all the way until the motor stops) and the fabric panel pushed all the way back, I can wiggle the sunroof up and down by pushing up on it from inside the car. But if I open the vent the rest of the way until the motor stops by itself, the up and down play in the sunroof completely goes away. In other words, my sunroof has up and down play/slack unless it is opened all the way. Even in the fully closed position, it still has up and down play. The total amount of play is very small, maybe 1/16", so I'm hesitant to start taking it apart since it works flawlessly in every other respect. I was thinking that at some point, the cables may have slipped or gotten out of sync somehow (previous owner, maybe?) so that there is always slack in the cables unless the sunroof is in motion or opened all the way. If there is slack in the cables, it could theoretically allow the sliders to move a very small amount independently of the cables, which in turn would allow the lifters to move up and down. If I remove the motor from the cables, can I move the cables one at a time to take up any slack and then put the motor back in (taking care not to turn the motor itself while it is out of the sunroof, of course)? Does this sound like a reasonable approach or am I looking at this completely wrong?

[@cabdolla]

I dont know what to say, its pretty simple. Attach the front ones first and then the rear.

[@cabdolla]

Good luck!

[@kmm5455]

well, I had to remove the headliner, remove the cassette and then I saw that the piece that engages with the tab was cockeyed side-to-side half in the track. Cleaned everything, lubed everything and tested via crank. The tilt function works. I've created a new problem though. Cassette is back in car and before I fully put the headliner back in I have tested both functions with the motor. When closing from either state of open, it pulls back about 2 inches. Suggestions? Thank you so far!

[@desnick2316]

I know it is an old video, but I hope you can help me. On my sunroof, the fabric tray moves if I retract it, but doesn't move a few inches back when I tilt it. It was working fine before I messed with it when I wanted to recover the headliner. Any idea what could be the problem and if I need to take the whole sunroof out now? Thanks!

[@BooneLuebchow]

do you know why my metal panel wont set back in properly? I lift the two tabs up to put the torx in and when i set it back down it doesn't go down into the seal, the front sits on top of it.

[@kmm5455]

Well, the recover of the inside panel went pretty well, but still having issues with tilt not sliding the inside cover back. I've watched this 3 times now, I'll try hand cranking it tomorrow. something's definitely not right.

[@gutsup1]

This is a great help video, mine broke because someone tried to use the sunroof with the interior panel retracted, I have been dreading working on mine to replace all the sliders. would it be possible to replace the sliders with the sunroof cassette installed? I can not remove it easily because I have had my headliner replaced.

[@sundown798]

Does the headliner tilt up with the roof? Mine tilts like yours and headliner goes back but cannot see daylight. I suppose this is normal then?

[@mrgpgp100]

Hey, cabdolla how can I get to the three bolts of the steel sunroof as it moves along inside roof. I can not push him backwards by hand so that I can get to the three nuts.

[@daveelder384]

Great video!. I have just removed my sunroof X5 E53 as it has broken rails. One concern I have is you mentioned in your video that the cables were screwed up. I think mine may have a similar problem as the tabs on the bowen cable aren't aligned to each side of the sunroof. the tab on one side is about 6" forward of the other tab on the other side. Any idea to fix this?

[@ChRiS00107]

how do you tilt it? and in my e36 the last piece of plastic doesn't go down by it self y have to push it down with my finger. which piece is broken? thanks

[@thanosixx]

Hello I need realign motor with the cable because motor work outside of its position.Do you know the procedure for install correctly the motor again?

[@cabdolla]

You can do that if you can find one cheap. I did to replace the track.

[@maxgidonam6408]

Hey my lining part of the sunroof is jammed inside the tray, so the sunroof gets stuck half way, what is the best to get that out without taking apart the whole sunroof mechanism.

[@dogwhisperbre]

Hi does any one know what the name of that piece was the one with the spring s it lifts up when the sunroof slides back

[@HalDanakaAlex]

thanks, very great, but if you haved much light, it would be fantastic) aneway, that's great

[@killianseth]

Hey so to get this sunroof liner out you just put it in tilt and there are two torx screws and!! Or am I wrong??

[@Ivan-rs2xt]

there are three more nuts that you have to take out, you can find a DIY on www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-78-Sunroof/101-Projects-78-Sunroof.htm. I have my cassette out of the car and the liner at the upholstery shop. This is by far the best video tutorial you will find on e36 sunroofs

[@KostadinDelizhanski]

Hi i changed all the guides of my sunroof but only the retract mode works ... before that the guids for the tilt were broken, but the tilt movement was ok ... can you give me any advice where to start looking for problems?

[@cabdolla]

Just remove the whole cassette from the car and make sure it works manually.

[@elBotillo]

My sunroof only pulls from one side. I disamble but didnt fin Whats wrong .

[@Quesune]

old tutorial but i got this problem with interior plate that stuck and doesnt mvoe back few cm, i cant fix it.. no idea what happend maybe wrong installation but well its about remove sunroof palte then check it

[@cabdolla]

it probably jammed with the Bowden cables. Remove the entire cassette because if it binds it can do some expensive damage.

[@tolga36uyan]

9:20 When the sunroof back is raised, the sunroof curtain does not move. There is no problem when fully opening the sanroof. Do you have an idea ?

[@cabdolla]

The cable probably came out of the slot

[@tolga36uyan]

@@cabdolla Is it difficult to replace? can i fix it if i remove the sheet metal of the sunroof ? Do i need to remove headliner ?

[@tolga36uyan]

@@cabdolla can you tell me the slot and cable at what minute and the point i need to set ? i don't understand because of my language

[@miguelteles2972]

While opening my sunroof the panel that you open manually went too far back and now i cant pull it back, because of that the sunroof only slides 30% back , what can i do? I dont know how to properly explain this

[@cabdolla]

Miguel Teles there is no manual part of an e36 sunroof. If you were moving the fabric metal panel inside the car manually it was always broken and you pushed it too far back and so now you can’t gain access to it. You will need to remove the headliner and drop the entire sunroof cassette out of the car.

[@miguelteles2972]

@@cabdolla Yes, i was refering to that fabric metal panel. It wasnt conected to the sunroof, i could slide that part alone. Would it be too difficult to do?

[@cabdolla]

Miguel Teles watch part 1-3 of my videos. It’s not hard but it’s no easy either. If you can find an e36 in the junk yard go practice removing it there first before you do it on your own car.

[@devob8067]

like lthis but i need the step that after 7.43 mintues and before 7.42 mintues