» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,541 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,295 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,266 Views | | | | | 02-12-2013, 11:51 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 86 | busted sunroof :/ 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 __________________ '74 2002ti (Departed) '82 320is (Departed) '87 535i (+360k Departed :'( ) '88 535is (200k en-route to being reitred) '98 318ti (150k Active) '04 330ci (Newest Member) | | | 02-12-2013, 12:22 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 351 | 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 __________________ Alpine Weiß 1995 318ti M50tu mostly stock, chip'd 413, AFE Intake. e36 M3 front brakes, e30 M3 rear calipers. e28 3.25 LSD + e30 axles. Custom stainless Magnaflow 2 in 1 out muffler. R.I.P schwartz 1990 325is | | | 02-12-2013, 06:24 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,464 | 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) | | | 02-12-2013, 06:34 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 86 | 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 __________________ '74 2002ti (Departed) '82 320is (Departed) '87 535i (+360k Departed :'( ) '88 535is (200k en-route to being reitred) '98 318ti (150k Active) '04 330ci (Newest Member) Last edited by e28forever; 02-12-2013 at 06:38 PM. | | | 02-13-2013, 02:04 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 351 | 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 __________________ Alpine Weiß 1995 318ti M50tu mostly stock, chip'd 413, AFE Intake. e36 M3 front brakes, e30 M3 rear calipers. e28 3.25 LSD + e30 axles. Custom stainless Magnaflow 2 in 1 out muffler. R.I.P schwartz 1990 325is | | | 02-26-2013, 04:58 AM | #6 | Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 86 | 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? __________________ '74 2002ti (Departed) '82 320is (Departed) '87 535i (+360k Departed :'( ) '88 535is (200k en-route to being reitred) '98 318ti (150k Active) '04 330ci (Newest Member) | | | 02-26-2013, 05:01 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | I looked the sedan sunroof for another member a few weeks back. The panels are the same PN#. __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 02-26-2013, 12:57 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 351 | Quote: 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. __________________ Alpine Weiß 1995 318ti M50tu mostly stock, chip'd 413, AFE Intake. e36 M3 front brakes, e30 M3 rear calipers. e28 3.25 LSD + e30 axles. Custom stainless Magnaflow 2 in 1 out muffler. R.I.P schwartz 1990 325is | | | 02-27-2013, 10:27 AM | #9 | Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 86 | sweet! thanks! i totally forgot about checking Real OEM..... cheers! __________________ '74 2002ti (Departed) '82 320is (Departed) '87 535i (+360k Departed :'( ) '88 535is (200k en-route to being reitred) '98 318ti (150k Active) '04 330ci (Newest Member) | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |