Removing sunroof tracks?

[Brian 89 325i]

Im trying to get out my sunroof tracks to get the headliner out and cant get at the screws under the the wind deflector. How do i get it out? Also, how do i get the inside sunroof cover off the car? THanks

Brian

[Herb]

This is from memory, but fairly accuate.

I'm not sure about the differance between a e36 and e30 sunroof set up, but when i replaced my head liner and later my entire sunroof assembly (e36 325is) I first removed the seal that went to the headliner surrouding the sf, then the doorseals, all the pillar guards and as gentlely as possible with a long flat head screw driver popped out the clips that held the hl to the sheet metal, gently slide back the inside sf panel (sf in vent position, the inner panel should slide back to allow air flow then gently push it the rest of the way, slight "pop", don't over force!!) unscrewed the torx screws at the front of the sf - between the sheet metal and sf hinge (right behind the wind delector but under the sf it self) driver and passenger sides sf hole front corners- (PITA: very little space and hard to get light to see) then the slider bracket screws - 3 flat wide bolts, think it was 1/2 inch or 13 or 15mm make sure to mark the leveling wedges before loosening so that your sf sits level with the top your roof when reinstalled. - then on the sliders looking down into the car you will see the 8 to 15 screws that hold the inner sf panel in place - you will have to move the sliders back and forth to find all the screws, but that will be obvious when you see it - then unscrew the sf frame from the inside of the car in the middle by the center pillar and by the drain hoses in the front and rear corners, then you're done.

I used my Bently, chiltons, and Haynes to figure it all out, didn't have any help, so leaned the front seats forward laid down with my legs proped up on the backs, used my feet to hold the hl and later sf frame (in socks for the hl, btw) and used long socket extentions to reach in this position.

If the assemblies are nothing alike disreguard and good luck.