So how was the sunroof designed?

[87e30]

You don't sound like you should work on cars...

Perhaps not. But diving into things and asking questions has gotten me really far. Sorry I didn't understand the sunroof design. I've figured out PLENTY on my car.


And I adjusted the sunroof which seems to have helped a lot. Also, my friend's late model has a little plastic gutter which runs along the backside that I appear to be missing. I believe that piece would fix all of my problems, though aligning the sunroof brought me 90% of the way there.

Google e30 sunroof adjustment and tehre is a good DIY on pelican I believe.

[AlpineIS]

I'd call it a poor design when my honda just has a rubber seal which keeps out all of the water + the noise. No fancy drainage needed. No moisture inside the car.

Anywho, perhaps I am missing some parts of it. The lining is also missing. I guess I'll need to inspect it some more.


So how can I access those rear drain tubes?

The rain gutter, which collects water at the rear (that you now see entering the car) is attached to the lining. If your lining is missing, this explains why your gutter is also. I bet you anything that your gutter was pushed all the way to the rear of the car (the rails do go back that far) the very first time you opened your roof after the lining was removed.

Do this. Remove the roof. Jump in your back seat and kneel so you can look back into where the roof is stored when opened. Using a bright flashlight, you'll notice a black piece of metal sitting all the way at the back. Yup, there's the gutter! Ok, so how to retrieve? I used two magnetic pick-up tools on each end to bring it forward. Once you have it visible, you want to align it so it sits right below the rear seal. This is where it would sit if it were attached to the lining. If you put the roof back on and pour water on the roof the gutter will collect the water and will channel it down the sides to the drain holes. If you have the lining off you can see the water come into the car past the seal and onto the gutter.

If you have the lining, now's the time to put it in because once you slide open your roof, the gutter will be pushed all the way to the rear again. The lining is attached to the gutter with the 2 brackets that hang off the sides. And of course, the lining attaches to the roof via the clips up front. This is how it all stays together.

Hope this all makes sense and it helps.

[Dirtboy]

Don't forget that there are front sunroof drains too. They go down the A-pillar and empty out right behind the front speakers. Right into the body.

There are drain holes in the body, but when they become clogged the water sits and the body rusts. I just spent 3 hours on the passenger side drain trying to get rid of the rust there. I ended up connecting a hose to the front sunroof drain and extended it outside the body. Once I deal with the rust, I'm gonna seal up the gaping hole in the body and hope that the extended hose solves the problem. Then I have to move on to the drivers side...

I really wish BMW had of came up with a better solution to the front sunroof drains...

[trig]

Perhaps not. But diving into things and asking questions has gotten me really far. Sorry I didn't understand the sunroof design. I've figured out PLENTY on my car.


And I adjusted the sunroof which seems to have helped a lot. Also, my friend's late model has a little plastic gutter which runs along the backside that I appear to be missing. I believe that piece would fix all of my problems, though aligning the sunroof brought me 90% of the way there.

Google e30 sunroof adjustment and tehre is a good DIY on pelican I believe.

I know you already adjusted your sunroof but you said you made it flush. I believe spec is 1mm under roof in front, and 1mm over in rear, possibly to help the drain "effect." Maybe making it even will keep water out altogether though?

Just for future reference...

[StereoInstaller1]

Don't forget that there are front sunroof drains too. They go down the A-pillar and empty out right behind the front speakers. Right into the body.

There are drain holes in the body, but when they become clogged the water sits and the body rusts. I just spent 3 hours on the passenger side drain trying to get rid of the rust there. I ended up connecting a hose to the front sunroof drain and extended it outside the body. Once I deal with the rust, I'm gonna seal up the gaping hole in the body and hope that the extended hose solves the problem. Then I have to move on to the drivers side...

I really wish BMW had of came up with a better solution to the front sunroof drains...

What I am doing is tubes through the body, so the drains actually connect to the outside world.

On the wifes car, I drilled 1/2" holes for her front drains...no more wet floor AT ALL, nothing, fucking bone dry.

[Dirtboy]

What I am doing is tubes through the body, so the drains actually connect to the outside world.

On the wifes car, I drilled 1/2" holes for her front drains...no more wet floor AT ALL, nothing, fucking bone dry.

Exactly what I'm trying to do. Did it on the passengers side but it's still leaking in. I'm thinking it's either disconnected from the sunroof at the top or I'm getting a leak from somewhere else, like the electrical connections in the door jamb...