1992 325i sunroof not opening all the way

[jeffdon]

My sunroof will only open half way when sliding it back, and not at all when i try to pop up the back to put it into "vent" mode.

Any help would be great.

Also, are replacing front control arm bushings and struts a good DIY project for a fairly adept amateur?

[Jeron]

Stock CABs must be pressed into the carrier so you need a cheap machine shop, but he job is easy. Struts are easy but you need an impact wrench and a spring compressor which can be rented.

[dfrost]

Jeff,

I used the sunroof repair section of the 101 Projects book (or on-line equivalent below) to repair my sunroof with slightly different symptoms. There are several small parts in the sunroof drive mechanism that are prone to fail eventually. The photos with the 101 Projects were really helpful, and it was extremely satsfying to repair the sunroof myself!

Here's another sunroof DIY I found:

http://www.geocities.com/karlkarlb/e36_sunroof.html

but Wayne's is better:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-78-Sunroof/101-Projects-78-Sunroof.htm

I took the outer panel off as directed (it really wasn't too difficult), figured out what was broken, ordered the replacements, then reinstalled the panel until they arrived and I was ready. I would strongly suggest ordering any parts that Wayne carries from him at Pelican Parts - they're notably less expensive then the dealer. BTW, some of the parts have been changed since our old cars were new, so don't be surprised if they look different.

You will need a Torx driver for the sunroof fasteners. I'll check the specific size tonight (pretty sure it was a T15, smaller then the first DIY link above states). Sears sells a nice thin one (which helps when reassembling), but the best trick for panel removal is to remove the rear fasteners (17mm nuts) as instructed, then prop the rear of the panel up by ~3" which greatly improves access (and view) to the forward fasteners that are several inches outside the sunroof opening.

Keep your hands clean when working around the headliner. It collects smudges very easily.

Another tip - after the outer panel is off, but before you start dismantling the drive mechanisms, take some accurate measurements to the drive pieces using a fixed point on each side for reference. When you remove the motor (as you probably will have to at some point), it is easy to lose the left-right alignment, and those measurements will help with re-alignment.

Good luck!