Aren't these sunroofs becoming harder to get? Also, the EURO is showin' up the dollar more and more these days.... so.... $$$$

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.

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.. :?

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

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!

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!:)

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! :-)

Any luck on this effort?

Does anyone have an old gear they can send me?

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.