Sunroof Woes

[C320Girl]

Hi
Thursday night last week, closed the sunroof, heard grinding noise and a spring and a piece of plastic flew up into the air. When I investigated it is on the passenger side of the sunroof, there is a metal rod about 6cm long that had popped up with the spring over it. Had a job to push it down so I could get the sunroof shut. Motor etc is fine it just appears there has been some failure of that part.
I bought the car 26th Sept 2005 as a Mercedes Approved. Is it covered by 12 mnths warranty? it is going in tomorrow. Any ideas or is it a common fault, I remember my old company car - "A" class in 1999, the sunroof cables "rusted" and it was £1500 for a new one (Paid for by company)
Anyone else had this problem?
thanks

 

[Shude]

Should still be under warranty. I suppose the lubrication could have dried up causing some friction.

Sunroofs are ALL evil, I have never owned a car with one

 

[Howard]

Sunroofs are ALL evil, I have never owned a car with one

No problems with the sunroof on my 15 year old w124

 

[stats007]

Your paint reflects all traces of sun, Howard so it never gets hot

 

[Howard]

Lol !!

 

[C240Sport97]

Sunroof is a must have for me.

Sunroofs are ALL evil, I have never owned a car with one

 

[Alps]

as shude said, lubrication is the key, often missed by dealers during service, the warrenty should cover it, let us know how you get on!

 

[Satch]

Sunroofs are ALL evil, I have never owned a car with one

Having once paid nearly £600 in parts & labour to get a jammed (open) sunroof sorted whilst away on holiday and then having to leave it be because it quite tempramental afterwards, swore I would never, ever have a car with a sunroof again.

That was 6 years ago and not once have I missed the things. Work of the Devil, I tell you.

 

[stats007]

Panoramic roofs are the way to go!

 

[High-Lo]

Thats exactly what happened to my W202 sunroof. Got mine fixed privately by Steve the Mechanic where he fitted a revised mechanism. A pig of a job apparently. It now runs a smooth as ever.

 

[wongl]

Sunroofs are ALL evil, I have never owned a car with one

Agreed, air-con is much more effective at cooling the car down. My US VW Corrado had both as factory fitted options. Never really used the sunroof (beside playing it with when I first took delivery). Will never pay for a sunroof.

 

[BTB 500]

Sunroof can be handy to prevent the interior heating up too much when parked (assuming it's got a vented 'blind' that can be drawn across). I tried to order one on my VW Sharan because the dogs live in it when we're away at shows, however it wasn't available with 4WD .. presumably because it reduces the stiffness of the bodyshell a little.

 

[glojo]

Sunroof can be handy to prevent the interior heating up too much when parked (assuming it's got a vented 'blind' that can be drawn across). I tried to order one on my VW Sharan because the dogs live in it when we're away at shows, however it wasn't available with 4WD .. presumably because it reduces the stiffness of the bodyshell a little.

Hi Bill and anyone else that is interested,
On my 'stretched limo' I have just had fitted a solar panel. This supplies a continous trickle charge that keeps my auxillary battery topped up. Have you considered buying one of these £20-ish options and then perhaps running a very small fan to keep the air circulating within the vehicle? The solar panel simply plugs into a spare cigar lighter socket and would hopefully keep the battery okay?

I personally think sun roofs are just something to go wrong IF you are fortunate enough to have air conditioning.

John

 

[BTB 500]

Hi Bill and anyone else that is interested,
On my 'stretched limo' I have just had fitted a solar panel. This supplies a continous trickle charge that keeps my auxillary battery topped up. Have you considered buying one of these £20-ish options and then perhaps running a very small fan to keep the air circulating within the vehicle?

You can actually get solar-powered roof fans, which a few people I know have fited to their vans:

http://trade.selectsolar.co.uk/pics/pic02002IC02.php

I wouldn't go as far as that, but I would have had a sunroof if it had been possible!

(In general I get plenty of air circulation ... the dogs are caged, so the tailgate is wide open and in hot weather all the windows too - plus reflective sheeting positioned to give shade).

 

[C320Girl]

It is a broken bracket - waiting for a reply from MB to see if it is covered by my approved warranty. At worst it is £30 for part and £20 to fit but it is a point of principle - you pay through the nose to buy from aa MB main dealer with a warranty. You don't get the booklet with the terms and conditions until you have stumped up the cash and they post it on to you. All the MB Aopproved used advertisements lead you to believe their used warranty is as good as new manufacturers warranty.

 

[stats007]

It should be covered - though I don't know how many claims you can make in a year or an excess? In this case it may be cheaper to buy the part and fit it.

 

[Shude]

It is a broken bracket...

Have you been told how or why it is broken?

 

[BTB 500]

In the late 80s I had a Rover Montego estate, the electric tilt/slide sunroof had a drop-down flap by the switch so that you could fit a spanner (which was supplied, and lived in the glove box) to wind it shut WHEN the mechanism failed!

(Actually it never did)

 

[glojo]

It is a broken bracket - waiting for a reply from MB to see if it is covered by my approved warranty.

Think positive thoughts before you write off the warranty . Remember your glass is half full! Or is it half empty

Good luck,
John

 

[stats007]

In the late 80s I had a Rover Montego estate, the electric tilt/slide sunroof had a drop-down flap by the switch so that you could fit a spanner (which was supplied, and lived in the glove box) to wind it shut WHEN the mechanism failed!

(Actually it never did)

Not sure that's any different to the spanner for the roof on the R129 Bill! A Montego though? You've gone down in my estimation .