Sunroof Help Needed

[andrewwynn]

Initialized wife’s sunroof: back to normal.


–awr–

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[ChiefRider]

Originally Posted by miloh

I remember seeing in a youtube video someone made a plastic sunroof insert for e46/e39. Color coded plastic to seal the roof and remove the sunroof. I always thought that’s be cool to do for the x5. No concern of drains, no sunroof.

Mine had a few leaks last night, out in the rain. I'll be running a bead of some kind of sealant around all the gaskets- If anyone has a suggestion for what might work well that would be great.

I hate doing this sort of thing, but I'll be driving this X5 until it is completely used up (It is actually still in very nice condition, but I've already had it 9 years, and nothing lasts forever).

[andrewwynn]

Seal n peel. I’ve not used externally but if you used a thin enough layer I think it will not auto-peel but will come off cleanly should that be desired. I love the stuff for winter sealing of old house windows


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[workingonit]

As I stated in post #13 above, I permanently sealed mine using VViViD 3M clear Paint Protection Film. I used the 6" wide film (2 rolls equalling 120 inches length), which ended up just a bit short, but still worked.

As a backup, I bought 2 rolls of Xpel clear PPF, equalling 144 inches (better too long than too short), to be ready to replace it if it starts cracking or lifting, after 4.5 years of exposure to Texas Sun...but it is still good.

It's installed with about 3 inches of film on each side of the opening, and it stays in place without attention. I check it once a week.



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[andrewwynn]

I wonder is crash wrap is clear enough. You could cover the whole thing in one piece.


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[miloh]

Silicone and keeping the glass up there is probably fine, idk. This plastic E30 one was what I was thinking of. It'd be nice to have an aluminum one for the E53. Even some sort of plastic would be good. I just assume aluminum would be better in 105F direct sunlight through the years. Removing the whole tray from above the roof, etc. An E53 version would need to have a handful of screw mounts for where the headliner attaches, where the tray attaches to the actual roof - aside from whatever seal material would be used to perma-seal it to the roof. I guess it's more trouble than it's worth to do that stuff.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by ChiefRider

Mine had a few leaks last night, out in the rain. I'll be running a bead of some kind of sealant around all the gaskets- If anyone has a suggestion for what might work well that would be great.

I hate doing this sort of thing, but I'll be driving this X5 until it is completely used up (It is actually still in very nice condition, but I've already had it 9 years, and nothing lasts forever).

Hey Rider,

Have you checked your sunroof drain tubes under the A-pilar trim on both sides? I am in Boston area and just about every winter the freezing weather would cause the drain tube rubber to shrink/move and a kink would develop blocking the drain. When one or both drains are blocked water woudl drip through the upper center console.

I tried to secure the drain hose with zip ties, etc, and they woudl still kink.

[ChiefRider]

Originally Posted by Effduration

Hey Rider,

Have you checked your sunroof drain tubes under the A-pilar trim on both sides? I am in Boston area and just about every winter the freezing weather would cause the drain tube rubber to shrink/move and a kink would develop blocking the drain. When one or both drains are blocked water woudl drip through the upper center console.

I tried to secure the drain hose with zip ties, etc, and they woudl still kink.

Yes- that has been a regular maintenance task! The last time I added the zip ties, hoping it might extend the time between doing this. I'll do it one last time after I seal up the sunroof.

I think I'll try the 3M paint protection method and see how that goes- Sure looking forward to a consistantly dry interior!