How to Repair a BMW E39 Sunroof or Moonroof

Video Tutorial on how to replace the sunroof rails on a BMW E39. The sunroof rails do have plastic parts which can break over time due to a lack of lubrication, sunroof being forced open/closed, or just from the plastic fatiguing over time. I would recommend replacing both sunroof rails while you are doing this procedure. This can be a time consuming procedure and the old sunroof slider may break and put excessive strain on the new rail which could also cause it to fail. You can only buy a kit from the dealer which comes with all the new parts rather than just the individual part you want to replace. I did use OEM parts for this repair as well. An easy way to detect if the sunroof rail is broken, you should be able to tilt the sunroof by hand, but the sunroof will not tilt on it's own by the sunroof motor. This particular tutorial was done on a 1997 BMW 540i with a glass style sunroof.
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Tools/Supplies Needed:
-standard/flat screwdriver
-T25 torx bit
-small phillips screwdriver
-degreaser
-lithium grease
-right control rail kit PN 54-12-8-202-296
-left control rail kit PN 54-12-8-202-295
Procedure:
-when doing this repair, make sure you don't get any grease on your headliner
-start my pulling back the rubber accordion pieces on each side by simply pulling straight out
-tilt the sunroof up by hand and use a rolled up cloth to hold it into place
-remove the three T25 torx bolts on each side (total of six)
-lift sunroof glass out and place in a safe area (I used my trunk)
-next remove the wind louver at the front of the sunroof opening by popping out the two springs on the front side, then pulling the louver straight up, and sliding out the arms on each side
-remove the stoppers at the front of each sunroof rail which are held in with T25 torx bolts (one on each side)
-remove the sliders from the rails on both sides
-now in this particular tutorial, we won't be replacing the rear sliders because that does involve removing the sunroof driver cables
-on the metal flat brackets at the rear, remove the T25 torx bit (one on each side), then slide the pin out
-slide the arm portion of the sliders from the rails out on each side
-clean sunroof rails out using brake cleaner or some other form of degreaser, then re-lubricate sunroof rails with lithium grease
-split down new rear sliders and reinstall on existing rear slider
-re-installation in reverse
-as for re-installing sunroof glass, remove the brackets from the front slider rails by removing the phillips screws (one on each side) and install on the sunroof glass itself
-place sunroof glass back into place, then push front sliders forwards
-align sunroof and tighten bolts
-pushing sunroof back into roof, then tight Phillips screws on front sliders
-recheck to make sure sunroof is aligned with roof properly
-reinstall rubber accordion pieces
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© 4DIYers 2013
All Rights Reserved
No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

[@johnwhinrichs8683]

Sounds like a great video, but the lighting is do dark to see what is going on. Need more light to see the work being done.

[@mstng65flcnman]

Video narrative was a great help, but the video was too dark. Successfully repaired my 03 530i E39 moonroof tilt!!! Thanks

[@4DIYers]

Thank you and awesome to hear! Yeah back then I wasn't using as good of a camera, all my new stuff has proper lighting now.

[@pasodiufwen]

Good lighting around 8:34 or so. Sadly, it fades back to black. Otherwise a very complete and informative video. Thank you very much.

[@iadubber]

Thank you thank you thank you! This helped so much. I only needed to replace the two small sliders on the arms and this helped me tremendously!

[@jimroche1985]

so dark.... Hopefully if I attempt it I can guess what you are explaining.

[@karl-qi1nf]

Great video. Ugh, can't wait to do that one...

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@4DIYers]

@Jibro Pipkin You should be able to purchase a new louver from the dealer or at the a local automotive wrecking yard.

[@cynthiaargueta1858]

Great vid

[@matjazkranjc]

Great vid and in depth description but please try to find a better camera or brighter place :) Thanks!

[@larryjohnson8168]

Can’t see nothin..

[@minhajeee]

Sir a big thanks to you for taking time for creating this video and helping others. I have followed your video instructions and fixed the problem. Thank you for saving my money. God bless you. One small thing- you should have shown the video of cutting that part which will disable rear glass but anyhow after watching and starting the repair based on this part I got the point. Otherwise with just watching the video first it's hard to understand.thanks a lot once again.

[@austigm3888]

Great, simple Q pls , I want to replace a metal sunroof for a glass one on my e39, do i have to take the glass off the new cassette, or just put the cassette from inside the car as it is, coz its fully functioning.

[@stanfordtulloch9456]

please please please redo this video whit more lighting thank you

[@paganiluv9552]

I can open mine all the way, but once It starts to close it stops halfway and sometimes pulls back a little. The closest I can get it to be closed is right before it retracts the slipstream deflector, but it won't go past that point or tilt. I can see the chains pulling on both sides and the guide rails look fine, there's also no strange noise, so I'm not sure what's going on. Am I going to have to replace the entire assembly?

[@stanfordtulloch9456]

Thanks for the informative video the problem is I am an amateur and perhaps the best thing is to pay to have the work done however in England it is expensive . It is difficult to see the detail in your video and I wish you would put up a new one with clearer images and better lighting

[@alfajam]

great instructions, pity about the poor lighting. Can't see critical pieces.

[@4DIYers]

Now with all of my videos, I have a much better camera for low light situations. If I ever run into the same repair, I'll redo the video.

[@touringusa8760]

SOLUTION: Simply raise the black and mid-levels with you editing software (that you made this video with) and repost the revised version with a link to it. There you are. Job done! It won't take long and then everyone can see what you're doing with those unseen parts.

[@REDBACK333]

Can you help me please i can’t open my sanroof at all is possible to open manually pleas can you explain me! Thank you 🙏

[@user-yr4he9zw4y]

감사합니다

[@mikeyincalif]

My question relates to the deflector. My sunroof closes up to the deflector ,then stops. If I Hold deflector down, glass closes . Is there a part that can be replaced, or just lubed?

[@4DIYers]

Mike N I would try lubing it first. Is there any resistance when you pull it down with your hand??? The sunroof will have some type of track that the wind deflector will run on and it could also be dirty or broken.

[@dc05v]

Hi Mike, I see it's been 4 years on this comment but I wonder how did you solve this problem?

[@jackgrimsinn]

I don't have glass on my sunroof, and the slider is automatic! HELP!

[@gauvmusic]

My sun roof doesn’t function at all. Someone help? ASAP need tips

[@JOHN-wu2qn]

First with key in position 2, push the slider switch UP and hold it up for 15 seconds. What happens? If still nothing, check fuses.

[@larryjohnson8168]

Does anyone know why the motor would only go forward with no stopping? Does not go backward

[@4DIYers]

Sounds like a switch or electrical issue.

[@larryjohnson8168]

@@4DIYers i unplugged it to fix the rail guides and now it’s not working right, same with my driver window

[@user-lc8ey6cs3e]

If cant lift up ,which parts should be replaced, sos

[@4DIYers]

The exact issue that was covered in the video.

[@jamesmeer914]

What I cant understand is why the lift

[@4DIYers]

James Meer Do you mean why it doesn't work???