MY son has been driving my cooper so I hadn't noticed a problem with the moon roof. When you trigger full open the moon roof starts moving toward the back. WHen it is almost all of the way open the passenger side bind up and I get some clicking. The drivers side continues to to move so the moon roof gets a little crooked then the drivers side advances a little to almost even up the moon roof.

At that point I can close the moon roof. THere is a little clicking as the moon roof starts to close but then it closes correctly.

Does this mean the cassette is bent (this seems to be a horror story) or does it just need some lube.

One way or the other I am going to have to lube it. Does that require removing the moon roof panels? type of Grease? I found a document that tried to point out where to lube but from the pictures it looks like the panels are out.

 

I browsed through the Haynes service manual but it says sunroof issues whould be addressed by the dealership.

After playing with it some today, the sunroof really binds up on the passenger. WHe it stops moding on the passenger side, it moves another half an inch on the drivers side which ***** the sunroof.

ANy thoughts on how I maight be able to tackle this/

 

I'd try squirting some lube in the track to see if that fixes it.

 

Gen1 sunroofs are usually pretty good....but often neglected when it comes to lube...
BMW/MINI does sell a special grease....but I always just used a good red or blue waterproof grease after a good cleaning....then ran it a few times, and removed excess...too much will attract dirt...
If the sunroof was forced open from the closed position (common) it could be bent, but USUALLY when the car has been broken into this way, the clips on the end break, resulting in a rattling sunroof when closed. Those clips unfortunately are NOT sold separately last time I looked....

 

Thanks for the comments guys. I tried squirting some dry lube in the track. it didn't seem to do much for me but hard to tell if you are in lubing the correct spot.

If I wanted to apply some grease, where to you apply the grease? To the exposed track when the sunroof is open? Any body have a picutre? Would it make sense of remove the glass to get better access (looks like there are 4 or 5 torx screws) or is that going to mess things up even more?

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news and hope I am wrong, but I think you're probably screwed. My 2006 R53's sunroof makes the exact same clicking noise and binds up when opening. You can give it a bit of a manual assist, but it's not great. I took it to the dealer who said I need a new cassette, and I was quoted ~$2300 to do the repair. So, now I just don't use the sunroof anymore, sadly.

I was also told to expect this problem to worsen over time and that continued use of the sunroof could get me stuck in an open position without the ability to close, and at that point you'd have to bite the bullet on the expensive repair.

FYI, I did have a lube done in order to see if it would help, but it didn't have any effect.

 

Thanks. I must admit that is what I suspected. HOpefully someone else will have a different experience. The OEM cartridge is about $400 but installation must be a bear (removal of head liner, etc)

I wonder if there is a way to prevent the sunroof from opening all of the way to the back i.e. perhaps just tilt up.

Ian

 

I have a different problem with my roof. when I'm closing it get a bang from the driver side. it looks like it the piece that comes up to meet the glass to completely close it.

 

The binding of the gears / cables on the motor in the center or the track is messed up.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html





When I bought an R56 , the first thing that was cleaned and greased was the sunroof, cleaned the drains, then the gear motor greased and greased the cables.

 

Thanks Browsed the link you included. Does checking the sunroof motor, greasing the cables/track require removing the headliner?

 

Welcome , cleaning the drain tubes and making sure they are connected , yes. Cleaning rails and motor, no. Top side, tilt up the sunroof, and motor connection you have to take down the overhead center trim.