» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 05-02-2008, 03:44 AM | #16 | Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 85 | Aren't these sunroofs becoming harder to get? Also, the EURO is showin' up the dollar more and more these days.... so.... $$$$ | | | 05-02-2008, 04:31 AM | #17 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Quad Cities, Iowa Posts: 2,110 | Well its not something you really get for the car, its not an aftermarket part, and Im pretty sure you cant get one from BMW (like a retrofit kit). They didnt make many actual California Edition cars (1996 318tis with the "Open Air" sunroof) so yeah real California Edition cars are becoming harder to get. __________________ "Drive Fast and Take Chances" | | | 05-02-2008, 01:10 PM | #18 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | the roof is available complete from BMW and costs alot! but the parts for renovation are still available, and suprisingly cheap, especially if you are lucky enough to get used peices I suggest you get in touch with a good specialist, who will tell you straight what the problem is, mabey even show you instead of just trying to sell you a whole heap of what u dont need.. __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 03-22-2009, 05:43 PM | #19 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 22 | I'm new to this forum, but have to say this forum is extremely awesome. Lots of good info here! I've got a 98' 318ti with the california sunroof. I love my sunroof, but recently when I open or close the roof it jerks like one of the teeth on gears inside is missing and slips. I don't want to make things worse so I've stopped using it. I'd love to get my roof back. I'm guessing that the roof motor has a gear and it's the culprit. I've called the dealer and a replacement motor is $425.00. I've called the Bauvarian Recycling, but unfortunately had no luck locating a used one. I'd like to take the motor out and see if I can confirm my suspicion. I've tried accessing the file section (California Roof Maintenance), http://www.318ti.org/files/showentry.php?e=8&catid=1 but got a permissions error trying to download. How can I get permission to download the files? Thx. | | | 03-23-2009, 06:22 AM | #20 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 22 | I managed to take out the sunroof motor out of my car. Found that the main gear that turns the cable looked brand new. I took it a step further and took the motor apart and found that the gears inside are plastic. Of course one of the gears had a tooth missing. Hence the slip effect whenever I opened and closed my roof. Besides the missing tooth the motor is still in pretty good conditions. Really sucks that I won't be able to just find a replacement gear. Will have to find an entire motor! Well time to start checking the auto wreckers! | | | 03-24-2009, 04:10 AM | #21 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | I believe pnosker was getting some gears custom machined- PM him or if you cannot LMK and I'll do it. lpossie where are you located? __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 03-24-2009, 04:41 AM | #22 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 22 | I never thought of getting it machined... I wonder how much that would cost! I'll see if I can get a hold of pnosker. I'm in Utah. | | | 05-20-2010, 05:44 AM | #23 | Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 47 | Sorry for unearthing this, but am in the same damn situation with my '98. The motor doesn't grab, just spins. The emergency key works just fine in open and closing the roof (trying not to stab my head with the key every day). Anyone get machined gears sorted? Or have an extra motor in the Bay Area? Thanks. __________________ '98 ti, open-air roof | | | 05-20-2010, 08:40 AM | #24 | Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 85 | Quote: Originally Posted by montjuic Sorry for unearthing this, but am in the same damn situation with my '98. The motor doesn't grab, just spins. The emergency key works just fine in open and closing the roof (trying not to stab my head with the key every day). Anyone get machined gears sorted? Or have an extra motor in the Bay Area? Thanks. | Just FYI....Be careful with the key. It broke on me inside the motor. Now I'm left to just saying f- it, & taking it to the dealer to fix it all. I wanna wash my hands clean of this nightmare. I loved my sunroof :-( Poor little guy. Wish I knew of a specialist in Southern Cali!! No one seems to know a helpful around here. | | | 05-20-2010, 03:08 PM | #25 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 22 | I took my motor apart and removed the faulty gear that had the stripped teeth on it. Went to a local machine shop and they made me a new and 'improved' gear out of metal instead of plastic. Cost me $20! Sure beats the $400+ for a new motor! | | | 05-27-2010, 07:34 PM | #26 | Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 47 | Thanks for the tips. I might open up the motor this holiday weekend--although it's still raining here! If it's just the stripped plastic gear, I'm sure there's someone in SF who can mold metal gears. Fingers crossed. Still lighter than a 135i! __________________ '98 ti, open-air roof | | | 07-17-2010, 07:13 PM | #27 | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by lpossie I took my motor apart and removed the faulty gear that had the stripped teeth on it. Went to a local machine shop and they made me a new and 'improved' gear out of metal instead of plastic. Cost me $20! Sure beats the $400+ for a new motor! | I'd gladly pay you double that if you get a pair/set done for me! I'm serious! It's my daughter's ti and I just hate the fact she can't enjoy the roof because of this silly little gear... I'd asked before if anyone had ever looked into seeing if this gear is used in any other sunroof motor... I can tell you it isn't in the "standard" motor for the tin sunroof. Did I say double? I mean triple! :-) | | | 07-17-2010, 07:15 PM | #28 | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by montjuic Thanks for the tips. I might open up the motor this holiday weekend--although it's still raining here! If it's just the stripped plastic gear, I'm sure there's someone in SF who can mold metal gears. Fingers crossed. Still lighter than a 135i! | Any luck on this effort? | | | 07-17-2010, 07:32 PM | #29 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Does anyone have an old gear they can send me? __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-01-2012, 04:36 AM | #30 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6 | Add me to that long list of broken Ca. sunroof's. Haven't even explored why it quit, but this spring it looks like I have a project. | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |