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Subject: Some notes on replacing the sunroof seal Author: oaktown735 : member since January, 2006 : 220 posts Posted on: 2006-11-27 15:32:53

Did this job on Saturday. With all due respect to Bruno and his E34 site, I found it to be much more difficult and time-consuming than his instructions suggest. So I thought I’d offer a few notes on some aspects of the procedure that aren’t mentioned in either Bruno’s write-up or the Bentley manual:

First, the gauge of the “star screws” that hold the roof panel to the rails is not specified. Torx 25 driver worked for me.

Second, the E32 sunroof panel has some plastic skirting on each side of the trailing edges of the panel. The skirts must be removed before stripping off the old seal, and replaced once the new seal has been seated. (If you forget, as I did, you’ll end up reinstalling the panel twice.)

Third and most important, seating the new seal is huge pain in the thumbs. After cursing and grunting my way through half the job, I discovered that the core of the seal is studded with tiny metal clips embedded in the rubber. If these don’t open properly as you push the new seal over the flange of the panel, they can fold over inside the gasket channel, making a proper fit impossible. (The top of the gasket must be flush with the car’s roofline.) Once my buddy and I learned to locate and guide the clips, the process of pushing on the seal went a lot faster.

Still, unless you've had prior experience removing and reinstalling the sunroof, I'd reserve at least three hours to get everything on, lined up, and back together.

Two days later, my thumbs are still tender. But our winter rains were forcing the issue, and judging by yesterday’s downpour, the gain was worth the pain. The new seal appears to be doing a much better job of keeping water out of the sunroof drain tubes, one of which has a partial clog. We snaked it with wire rope and were able to push the clog down to the end of the tube, but couldn’t get it past the plastic wheel liner.

I plan to go after that problem the next time I have the car up in the air. I'm hoping I don’t have to remover the wheel liner itself -- if anyone has any ideas or pointers, please post ‘em.

Thanks,

’92 735i 167K miles
Oakland, California

• Some notes on replacing the sunroof seal (url) - oaktown735 2006-11-27 15:32:53 (4074 views)
  • e23 experience. - shadetree/pete 2006-11-29 14:37:40 (306 views)
  • Would compressed air work at this point - Patrick C 88 750 154K 2006-11-27 17:09:06 (269 views)
    • That's a good question. - oaktown735 2006-11-27 18:09:04 (259 views)
      • First, try using the mouth - Patrick C 88 750 154K 2006-11-28 15:25:39 (277 views)
        • Hmm. Interesting. - oaktown735 2006-11-28 16:14:30 (241 views)