Sunroof headliner removal

[savannah996]

Here is a reference that I used: http://e30.bmwdiy.info/sunroof-adjust/index.html

This guys writup is freakin spectacular. ↑

[gaineyz]

1. Crank or slide sun roof panel back halfway
2. Unclip headliner panel from metal panel (see front edge of panel) by pulling straight down until you pop all the clips free
3. Slide headliner panel back into the "roof" portion
4. Close sunroof, and tilt it up at the rear
5. Remove 6 torx bolts (3 per side) holding it to the the sliders - remove sunroof exterior panel.
6. Slide headliner panel back towards front of car - about 80% closed so you have access to the arms clipped to drain pan
7. CAREFULLY REMOVE arms from clips - the plastic clips slide onto little posts on the pan and you will need them - so no breakie ...
8. Lift headliner panel out - viola!

NOTE: INSTALLATION IS REVERSE OF REMOVAL AND CAN BE A COMPLETE BITCH TO DO.
6.

I went through the process of removing the sunroof headliner in my 87 325es for the first time and I would like to add the following to these otherwise very good instructions:

2.5 Once the clips are free, crank or motor the entire sunroof (headliner and sunroof) open and completely back into the roof. the headliner will drop down and you can now close the sunroof lid only leaving the headliner back in the roof. I tried pushing that stupid headliner back with the sunroof only partly open until I was afraid I was going to break the liner or my sanity.

7.5 To remove the arms from the clips on the slide bar, push the slide bar back until it is just inside the roof. The pan beneath the arms is too shallow to allow the arms to be pushed pout of the plastic clips until the bar is back into the roof. There's a depression in the metal farther back that allows them to pop out with very little effort.

OK. Now Viola!

[gaineyz]

I went through the process of removing the sunroof headliner in my 87 325es for the first time and I would like to add the following to these otherwise very good instructions:

2.5 Once the clips are free, crank or motor the entire sunroof (headliner and sunroof) open and completely back into the roof. the headliner will drop down and you can now close the sunroof lid only leaving the headliner back in the roof. I tried pushing that stupid headliner back with the sunroof only partly open until I was afraid I was going to break the liner or my sanity.

7.5 To remove the arms from the clips on the slide bar, push the slide bar back until it is just inside the roof. The pan beneath the arms is too shallow to allow the arms to be pushed pout of the plastic clips until the bar is back into the roof. There's a depression in the metal farther back that allows them to pop out with very little effort.

OK. Now Viola!

I'm adding a installation addendum to this because I had such a hard time getting the headliner panel back in place. I did everything per the instructions I could find online but no matter what I did, the damn clips stayed about 1/4 inch behind the holes they were supposed to clip into. Read more on this thread: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/arch...?t-144390.html

and found this:
"I'm having massive issues getting the sunroof shade back into position. I got everything replaced, but it's 1/4 an inch from sliding to the correct position to clip into the sunroof. Any tips? I suspect the sunroof rain try is running into the back of the sunroof preventing it from sliding all the way foward.
kronus 01-03-2016, 11:33 PM
You're probably not getting it seated fully in the rear clips.

When I reinstalled my header panel (I assume this is what you mean by sunroof shade), I slid it about 1.5" back from fully closed, and tilted the sunroof up. I then pushed the panel forward and up through the sunroof tilt opening, pulled back on it, and had a much better angle from which to push it into the clips on the sunroof panel. The front was able to be clipped in fully after that."

The only way I could find to get the rear channels on the headliner panel to go over the little metal rods that are part of the tracks was to tilt the sunroof up and directly push the panel up and guide it onto them visually. Then when I dropped the sunroof back down and slid it back I heard a click when the clips pushed forward far enough. :ohsnap:

What a pain

I hope this helps someone else attempting this fix.