DIY Sunroof removal

[g22]

Anyone know of a good DIY for sunroof removal? I'm removing it from my track car. I'm at the point where i don't know what to cut to remove the roof panel and how to bolt it back in. Thanks

[SkinnyVT]

I don't remember seeing any DIY's for it. Probably because everyone does it a little bit differently. Is it safe to assume you are at the stage where the headliner, sunroof motor, tracks, cables, etc. are all out?

There are only a few spot welds that have to be cut through, the rest of the cartridge is glued with some nasty adhesive to the roof. There is a roof crossmember that looks like it is holding the cartridge in, it isn't and should not be removed if you want to retain some strength in your roof.

The sunroof itself can be held in a variety of ways. I used some aluminum angle from the stock sunroof panel mounts to the sides of the cartridge (I had to keep the front of the cartridge in due to some rust and bondo from the PO). Others weld a couple tabs to the sunroof and then to the structural ridges on the roof.

[E30_Pare]

Removing the sunroof is easy, but im not sure if I understand the nature of your problem.

As for removal:

1. Roll sunroof about 50% back
2. Simply pull down the front part of the headliner (use some force)
3. After the headliner is loose from the sunroof roll the sunroof forward and into the up position
4. Now the headliner should be disconnected from the sunroof. Simply slide it back into the sunroof grove --->
5. You should be able to spot about 4 screws (* star looking) on each side of the sunroof track arms. Remove the screws to disconnect the sunroof from car.
6. Now that the sunroof is out you can pull the headliner out also.

-From there you can do what ever you want. Just remember installation is reverse removal.

[kishg]

^ that part is easy. i am assuming he wants to take the cassette out.

[g22]

Yes, that is correct. The car will not have a sunroof after I'm done

[PaintPro21]

it's not so much a cassette, as much as it is a welded in piece of shit. I should have cut mine out before I had the roll bar welded in :(

e36 guys are lucky it comes out as one assembly.

[g22]

I completely agree! I've got a DE in a couple of weeks. I'm going to somehow fab up some brackets and bolt the sunroof panel back in for a temp fix. I'm going to come back and remove my seat and bolt in roll bar so that I can get a real grinder in there and leave the dremel for detail work.

Any idea if the cassette adds any structural value? Seems like it would given that its welded and glued in...

[erik325i]

Any idea if the cassette adds any structural value? Seems like it would given that its welded and glued in...

There are six spotwelds and some glue. Don't worry about removing it.

When I did mine, I removed part of it at a time. I ground off the brackets that the cassette is welded to, and used a heat gun to soften up the glue. As I pealed the cassette off the roof, I cut off sections of it to keep them out of the way. I probably cut it into 4 pieces.
Take it easy to make sure you don't fuck up the roof.

Erik

[einstein57]

There was an article in grass roots racing in their e30 track car build.