busted sunroof :/

[e28forever]

ok, so as of christmas the sunroof in my car busted, the cassette is jammed, (it got stuck in the open position and i had the local BMW shop get the sucker closed). because replacing these ridiculous things is costly, $800 last i looked and they aren't getting cheaper. what im looking for is an alternative solution that would cost me less in the long run (a sunroof that wont break/get stuck open). i have come up with two solutions so make me happy both of them are fairly decent, but i wanted to get someone else's opinion before i do anything

1) erase sunroof, weld the sucker shut, have it professionally painted over to look as though there never was a sunroof.

2) replace the sunroof panel with a glass panel or use my current panel and have a simple mechanism that allows me to open the panel (not slide back, just pop the back up) and close it.

having laid out the two ideas, i know that one or both may cost me more in the short run, but im looking for a good long term solution that i wont have to worry about in the future mechanically or financially.

thanks for any input!
-R

[chrisbec]

I have been thinking of doing the same since I almost never use the sunroof. There is a CF sunroof delete panel on ebay for 260.00. It basically gets glued in from the inside with some RTV silicone type glue and you can remove the roof mechanism to save 40lbs. Obviously if this isn't done properly it will leak.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbon-fiber...b0fe2d&vxp=mtr

[zoner]

I have an entire sunroof (panel, tracks, motor, etc.) in the '95 I'm parting- I'll let it go for cheap and shipping shouldn't be too bad. Might be a couple weeks before I can get back up to the car (it's 3 hrs. away) but I can hook you up if you're interested. The panel is even black! (Cosmosschwarz)

[e28forever]

zoner, i appreciate the offer, lemme think it over, im not completely giving up on the idea of just replacing the sunroof, im just looking for another viable option.

chrisbec, the idea of a delete panel did occur to me, its just that this particular panel is carbon fiber, i like to keep things as bmw as possible and looking classy, and cf doesn't really go with my car. as far as that particular delete panel goes, i had heard that our sunroofs are different from the other e36 cars because they are longer. anyways, thanks for adding another idea to my list!

-R

[chrisbec]

if you painted the panel then it would look pretty much stock, just sayin...


Part 54121960443 (SLIDING LIFTING ROOF COVER) was found on the following vehicles:
E36: Details on E36
E36 318i Sedan
E36 318is Coupe
E36 318ti Compact
E36 320i Sedan
E36 323i Coupe
E36 325i Sedan
E36 325is Coupe
E36 328i Sedan
E36 328i Coupe
E36 M3 Sedan
E36 M3 Coupe

[e28forever]

chrisbec, that is a very good point, and the more i think on it, the more this seems like the best option as opposed to devising some sort of minimal functioning sunroof panel. the only thing im not sure on is if our ti sunroofs are the same dimensions as a regular e36. i heard somewhere that they are different. thoughts anyone?

[BlackBMWs]

I looked the sedan sunroof for another member a few weeks back. The panels are the same PN#.

[chrisbec]

Originally Posted by e28forever

chrisbec, that is a very good point, and the more i think on it, the more this seems like the best option as opposed to devising some sort of minimal functioning sunroof panel. the only thing im not sure on is if our ti sunroofs are the same dimensions as a regular e36. i heard somewhere that they are different. thoughts anyone?

Real OEM says the part number 54121960443 (#1 shown in the figure below which is the sliding steel cover for the sun roof) fits all of the models listed in my previous post. It will fit.

[e28forever]

sweet! thanks! i totally forgot about checking Real OEM.....

cheers!