Non-pano sunroof maintenance

[Salty B.]

Pretty sure I do not have an issue with the drains. However I tried snaking out the drains with a long thin brush on a flexible wire made for this purpose.

The right rear was fine. The brush head poked out from the back of the open roof frame. The left rear did not. I don't have any signs of leaking in the trunk area, but this kind of worries me that it's leaking inside the headliner even though there's no signs of that.

I can't see where the front drains are in the open roof, but I do see the rubber nipply things under the car so I can try pushing the wire up through those.

Second q: I bought some "Sil Glide" silicone grease for lubing it up. Prior owner had used that garbage spray white grease that gets absolutely everywhere and it looks dry, but opens and closes fine with no weird noises. Where should I apply this stuff?

[cn90]

Open tailgate and use a grass trimmer spool to poke it from the tailgate.

I wrote a trick in forum in the past with photos...

[Salty B.]

I have a flexible wire with a little brush on it that's about 8 feet long. That will show in the open sunroof frame when pushed in from the rt rear drain, but not the left.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SWSVZ8Z

[X5chemist]

cn90 has the idea. I used 0.095 trimmer string to clear drains. I push it through and pull out the other end. A little water helps to push it through and remove dirt.

[workingonit]

My X got a driver's floor full of water, back in '21, so I dried it out for days, and set out to prevent future sunroof problems, thereafter.

I couldn't push/pull my .065 or .080 trimmer lines thru the front left-side drain, from either direction, even after removing the A-pillar cover & un-kinking the hose. I used my air compressor (set to perhaps 20psi (I forget), and eventually it cleared.

I ran water thru all drains, just to be sure, cleaned, lubricated, and tested the sunroof operation, pulled the fuse, and used clear paint protection film (PPF) to seal it shut, and voila, no more worries. I also made a roof rack (from black powder-coated wire mesh industrial shelving, with .75" square openings) specifically to protect the glass and seal from hail and fallen tree branches, since my X is subjected to both year-'round, being always parked outside.

I check the PPF everytime I walk past or use my X (though it's not been driven since fall, last year, due to a fuel delivery problem I haven't yet fixed), and the film is still good (I have the replacement film on hand for a quick fix). I'm glad my sunroof is non-pano; I wonder if I could have sealed one up?

[dswilly]

Interested in this thread as I have the non pano sunroof. Which I prefer. Mine was known broken when I bought it. After a recent rain I noticed water leaking onto the passenger side floor from the a pillar. Dried it out and sealed it with PPF for now which is working great. Leak stopped. My question is if there is a repair DYI or kit for the non pano roof. All searched I find address the pano roof.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by workingonit

My X got a driver's floor full of water, back in '21, so I dried it out for days, and set out to prevent future sunroof problems, thereafter...

I check the PPF everytime I walk past or use my X (though it's not been driven since fall, last year, due to a fuel delivery problem I haven't yet fixed), and the film is still good (I have the replacement film on hand for a quick fix). I'm glad my sunroof is non-pano; I wonder if I could have sealed one up?

Well, I jinxed myself by boasting about my "fix". I was outside, cleaning my HHR Panel, and two trucks, as well, because they had lotsa sand and dust, but the X, having been unused since fall, had the most. My house is on top of a hill of sand, my backyard and rear driveway are unfettered by grass, so with zero rain for at least 1.5 months, all needed at least a quick shower (the X5's windows were opaque).

When I used "jet" spray setting across the X's roof, the rear edge of the PPF lifted, and tore off. I guess the 3-year estimated lifetime of the PPF had been greatly exceeded over 5 years in Texas sun. The Taylor indoor/outdoor thermometer outside my window (not touching any surface) reads 109F right now at 1730, down from 114F at 1530. I picked up the piece of PPF that tore off, and it's quite brittle.

So, tomorrow a.m., I'm removing the roof rack so I can clean the roof and sunroof glass, in preparation for PPF application #2. You never know when or if a pop-up T-storm will hit (always when you don't need nor expect a drenching rain, though we could certainly use the moisture), so a prompt repair ASAp is required.

Though this week is expected to be well over100F (as it has been mostly, all aug & july), next week will be worse, according to forecasts. Might as well get it over with!