Is this applicable to regular sunroof as well?

 

I would imagine. I don't know what the regular sunroof layout is, but most models that I've seen (VW, Audi) always have the panel you can remove to access the motor that drives the roof panel so you can crank it shut in case of emergencies.

If I was you, I'd first open this panel leaving the sunroof switch connected. Turn the key on, and actuate the sunroof button while watching the motor and look for excessive movement especially where you see the motor being pushed away from the gears it's supposed to be driving. If this is the case, try to torque the motor's mounting bolts. If you can't, see if you have these same rubber grommets built into the mounting bolts that the panoramic has. You probably do to minimize vibration. You could either try calling the Mercedes dealer to see about picking up new rubber mounting grommets for the sunroof motor, or just remove one of the bolts and go to your local hardware store and pick up 1/4" lock washers that'll fit on the bolts without overhang. Try putting one of these washers on every mounting bolt you can without removing the headliner, and see if that fixes your problem. It took only one washer on the one mounting bolt I could access through the sunroof control pod to fix the problem with my roof.

Once you can actually get the roof open, you'll also want to clean the tracks with alcohol or WD40 and then regrease them with a good quality synthetic axle grease.

This won't take you long, and hopefully it'll fix your problem.

Good luck,

Mike

 

Once you can actually get the roof open, you'll also want to clean the tracks with alcohol or WD40 and then regrease them with a good quality synthetic axle grease.

mbryant107, I wouldn't recommend spraying WD-40,... it has too many harsh chemicals that'll degrade the rubber seals of the pano-roof. Better to use silicon lubricant spray as a cleaner and lubricant which will keep the rubber seals soft and flexible. Of course, do wear rubber/latex gloves.

Mike (mbryant107), give yourself a pat on the shoulder! Very clever and innovative pano roof fix. Great photo DIY description on FlickR :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

Thanks for the info and the feedback. I will open the over-head switch panel and see what I find out on my '07 C280. If the grommet is separately sold, I would rather replace it now... rather than wait until it's worn.

 

Thanks, Man! I really appreciate that! :thumbsup:

 

See my post here-
Dave's Coupe Sunroof Thread - MBWorld.org Forums

Yours probably has a warped sunroof motor transmission cover as well.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Hi, I have problem with my sunroof in ML350 2006 here is move what is going on :

 

BUMP!!

 

My 2003 203 coupe has the exact same problem Mike's did. I put the washer in like he said but the noise only got louder I tried rubber washers, metal and rubber washers, and every combination in between. The noise either only gets louder or softer but the sunroof still does not close. Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Thank you in advance,

Ryan

 

I tried so many times that the original washer has come off. I put a 1/4 inch thick rubber washer above the motor and one metal one sandwiched between two rubber ones below the motors. Then I screwed it all together much tighter, and when I try to close the sunroof there is only a single clicking sound as if the motor does not do anything, as if it does not have enough energy to work.
Does this mean I need a new motor? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thank You,

Ryan.

 

All you need to do is to reset the roof it has been fixed but its not opening and closing because when it jams it stops working totally and you need to reset it by pressing the open button for 10 seconds then the close button for ten seconds then the open button again and the roof should automatically open to show its been reset try it , it worked with mine

 

Ryan,

Does the pano open or just not close completely? When was the last time the rails and cassette was greased? Can you open or close it manually?

The clicking noise you describe could be the motor gear is stripped or it could be the cassette gearing is stripped.

My advice is to have a pro check this out. Find a good independent mechanic you trust with it and have him/her check it out. These mechanisms are very complex and fragile. Many people have problems with them (including me) and most just try to get it shut and then not worry about it because it can be a very expensive repair (once again...from experience...had to replace the entire cassette and a motor)

Pano roofs are cool when they work...but are a pain when they don't.

 

RedBaronofRedBud (and anyone who will help),

When this problem started years ago, the roof opened all the way and I had to manually shut it. I learned then that the roof and sunshade can open but not close. For the last year, I would open the sunshade only, but not to the max open position, because that is where it gets stuck. Now I've opened the sunshade all the way and it got stuck so I just manually closed the shade using the right side motor. What is weird though, is that the left motor makes the loud noise we all love when I try to close the shade, but if you manually close the shade a tiny bit using the right motor, it closes.

Which parts should I lube with the silicone spray?

Thanks for the advise, and believe me, the last thing I want to do is add cost to this problem.

 

Ryan,

There is a specific grease that MB recommends for the pano roof. I dont have the part number in front of me, but Im sure that there are others on this great forum that have that information at hand. Its not cheap (of course) but its much better than just spraying silicone on it.

Search the forums for the panoramic roof. There has been much discussion about this and there have been some that have posted engineering exploded parts diagrams with lube points for the pano roof. Does anyone here have those handy and can post them?

Your symptoms are very similar to many that have had problems with this assembly. I can tell you that its typical for the sunscreen to stop when opened all the way if the sunroof is not sitting and sealed properly. That said, moving it with the manual override and then finishing the closure with the motor/switch is the procedure you have found that works. I had the same problem, so until I had it repaired (long and expensive story) I would simply not open the sunscreen all the way (until the day curiosity got the best of me...ugh).

My question is this...Is the roof closed and is it sealed? If it is, then that's good. Try and learn to live with not opening the screen too far and not opening the roof. If its not closed or will not close, then it could be bad. However, I cant see it or hear it, so I could be wrong. I would still take it to a professional since this is a very finicky assembly, not known for its robustness or its ease of repair. As with anything MB, its not cheap for parts or repairs. I can tell you that the one motor that opens and closes the roof is 400+. The cassette assembly is around 2K. The labor is somewhere north of a grand. You get the picture.

I'm not trying to scare you, but I had the same sounds in my pano and had to replace the motor. (and cassette assembly and linkages, but I digress). My point is if you can get it closed...leave it closed. If you HAVE to have it open and close correctly, take it to an expert and let them diagnose it. I hope yours is not as bad as mine was, but be prepared that it could be an expensive repair.

I hope it works out for you, Ryan. Let us know how it goes.

Red B

 

Here's what you need to know about lubricating the roof (including part numbers for the lubricants):

http://benzbits.com/W203/PanoramicRoofLube.pdf

 

Thanks, Rodney! I had a feeling you had that info available!

 

Yep, right there in WIS - print to PDF, ftp to web, and there it is!

 

I'd recommend Sil-Glyde ... SILGLYDE LUBE COMPOUND-- 8 OZ. : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

Hi, I have had similar problems with my panoramic roof and I got a qoutation for over £500 to fix it. After reading your post I went to the local hardware store and I purchased a washer and followed your steps to fix the roof and after resetting it, it works as good as new thanks for all the help and saving me loads of money

 

Had this problem occur over the weekend...thank god I saw this before it happened. Roof would open great, but it would not close. Motor would grind like gears slipping. Cracked her open when I got home and noticed that the left motor was dropping just enough to make the gears not catch to close the roof. Took out the hex screw and added a thick washer to put the motor back in place....works great now. Thanks benzworld.

 

03 W211 E500 pano fix, great post!!

2003 W211 E500 my pano was doing the famous click machine gun noise the lock washer fixed mine, opens and close with ease.............. great post

 

My problem has become a little more complicated. Washers worked on the sunshade but the previous owner had tried opening and closing the sunroof unsuccessfully so much that the teeth on the motor were ground down. This somehow caused my roof to misalign and has chewed up the gasket around the roof. She's going to the shop tomorrow. I am done with this project. Be careful going too far into this system. It is more complicated than you might think. I could strangle the person who designed it.

 

Genius!


Mike, this repair is pure genius!! I'm a car dealer and I've always shied away from the C Class when it had roof problems. Just on the off chance someone had come across this problem, I tried the forum! I will admit, I had my doubts that it could be fixed so simply. I follow your info and in 10 minutes it was working as good as new! I just know if I had taken it to the dealer he would have laid me out. You are the man! Thanks so much for your post! -Jim

 

Mike,

Thank you so much for saving me 1300! which I was quoted for 2 new motors and labor charge...I did as you said, and sunroof is back in working order. All it cost me was 1.18 for the washers.

Also, congrats on the Bucks winning the NCAA title:grin

 

There you go! Another great win for Benzworld members!

 

Red B, thank you so much for your advice, you were right about everything!

Rodney, thank you for the helpful digram!

To sum, All I could do was open, but not close the roof -unless having someone push the close button from the inside while I pushed the roof from the outside. I bought the original MB grease to lubricate as a last fight, but when closing after greasing (still with force), only one side went all the way down -one corner was still full tilt! I tried opening the roof again but it got stuck. So I went back and forth, opening and closing, while using force to try to re-align and keep both sides equally forward/back until I noticed that there were some broken plastic pieces in the tracks. I likely shredded the cassette assembly that was probably damaged by my past forceful closes. I eventually got the thing closed, but one corner is to-this-day about 5mm up (closed but not sealed -frustrating wind noise at higher speeds).
I should have known better... thinking back I don't know what I was ever thinking forcefully trying to close a sunroof.

Summary/Lessons learned:
1. Prevention: keep your pano roof lubricated
2. If problem occurs (early on; still opens and closes but just starting to make grinding sound every now and then): throw a washer under the motor and lubricate.
3. If problem persists: a. leave it alone, b. take it to a mechanic you trust (make sure no force is used), c. NEVER USE FORCE especially on a brittle little Benz.


Thanks again,

Ryan


***I apologize for responding so late!***

 

I'm new here, but already learning a lot. I just acquired an '04 C230 Coupe with 18k miles. The MB dealer was going to send it to auction because the roof "didn't work". Other than that, the car is pristine, so I offered to buy it knowing that this was a problem. At first, I was scared to even touch the button, but after reading here, I decided to stick a washer in and give it a try. It opened all the way back with no problem. Expect for the little arms that popped up in the track. I've decided that these are the linkage arms that push the wind deflector up when the roof goes back. I've located the replacement arms, but can't find anywhere that describes how to change them. Has anyone had to do this? The roof has no problem closing, I just have to hold both of those arms down and close it past that point.

Thanks in advance!!