-05 X5 4.8is Panoramic Sunroof problem
 

I'm having some problems with my panoramic sunroof. They're more annoying than real problems for me, but i just want some more info on the issues, maybe there's some simple solutions to this.

1. Sometimes (not often) when i push the button for the tilt-up, the front part of the roof "pops up", almost as if it's rubbing against the rear part.
Feels like a very necessary problem to solve as i fear the whole roof will break. This seem to be happening more often when it's cold outside, so i guess it could be the cause?

2. Also, a very annoying sound from the middle part between the front and rear glass appears when i hit bumps and holes. Almost as if something isn't adjusted properly, maybe some screws or some kind of bushing that's loose. It sounds like the interiour is loose. And when i put my hand on the middle part and push the plastic part towards the sunroof, the noise stops. Definately something that's loose.

Could these two problems be caused by each other? Like i said, it's not a big deal, more cosmetic to me, but it's annoying as hell.

I appologize on beforehand if my english spelling and grammar is lacking. :)
Very hard to describe the issues. :)

Do you also get a lot of wind noise up front?

I don't have problem 2 that you describe, but I have that squeeking noise, which I think you are describing in the second problem. No one but me really notices this, so I haven't bothered looking into it, but I will some day.

I read before that there was an updated seal for the pano roof, maybe that is what you need.

Here is my zero $ / 2 min fix: Sunroof has a a calibrate function.
Push the roof button up (as if you want to open vent) and hold it. After a few seconds, the roof will start a full cycle opening and closing roof and blind.
Keep holding the button until the cycle is over and here you go. Sunroof memorized fully opened and closed positions as new calibration.
That fixed the rattling noise I had !!!

I don't have any wind noise, just the sound from the midsection. I will definately check with my dealer if there's an update of the seal.

jmagne

Thanks for the post, i will try your instructions today and see if it works! Great tip!

Tried your instructions, but it did not help the popping of the front part of the roof. It only pops when it goes upwards, not down. It's like the front roof is too tight against the rear.

I have the same problem as you V.
I had mine at BMW to repair it and they said its just a seal issue and that the front moonroof does sit too close to the rear to allow it to open properly on cold/wet days. It only happens for me on the wet days, so I've learned to only open the moonroof when its dry OR I just slide it back a few cm's and allow the wind to pass over the black weatherstrip for a few minutes and dry it out and then I close it and tilt it just fine.

Clockwork

Did they tell you if the new seal would improve this? I'm thinking about ordering the seal and change it this weekend.

I guess it's the following seal:

nr. 3 in the diagram
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/q/l/378.png

There is also the seal all around the panoramic sunroof, nr. 3 in this diagram:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/e/367.png

V, your second link and part is correct. The first link looks like the seal around the small glass. Not sure if that needs to be changed.

they never said if the seal would improve it really, but they applied a thin bead of silicone that BMW uses for this and other known problems where lubrication is an issue.

I had these two problems back in 2009 while my 2004 X5 4.4 was under warranty. The dealer found that the sunroof bolts had become loose and needed to be re-torqued. After this was done I had no issues with the rattle or the "pop" you hear when the roof tilts. After rough winter driving and a couple of years of wear it is making the same noise but is no longer under warranty. I have not had a chance to try and fix it myself, but that is my plan. I hear the headliner must be partially removed. I am going to use some thread locker on the bolts.

X5one, thank you for the reply!

Sounds like that could be the cause. I'm going to check the bolts as soon as i get a hold of a warm spot where i can work nice and quiet without freezing my nads off (we got about -15 degrees celsius here, so it's not really an option to be doing it outside. I changed my battery this Tuesday when i was outside. It was a real pain! :)

Since my first post, i have not yet checked the bolts. The pop did reduce after i recalibrated the roof, and also it pops a little less due to the weather. However, a new problem has appeared.

About two weeks ago, the roof started to like "erase" the memory. For example, if i start the car and tilt the roof, it works perfectly, but sometimes when i push the button to close it, the roof goes down as it should, but then it pops right back up. I've recalibrated it every time but it seems to drop the whole cycle. Really weird. Is there any software out the that could possibly fix this? I replaced the battery a couple of months ago, maybe it has something to do with that?

V. I now have the EXACT same problem too, so I'm thinking its a problem with loose screws holding the entire moon roof in/up to the body of the vehicle.
We'll probably have to remove head liner to see problem and fix. DANG!!!

V. Did you ever get to fix this? I'm STILL having the issue (no repairs made yet tho) but I plan on taking headliner out this weekend, IF I can find an DIY. I'm a bit cautious about doing it myself as I'm not sure where all the snaps/screws are located. Its a lot of work tho but I'm sure it wont be that bad.

OK, So I did the painstaking headliner removal to reveal nothing out of place.
Still didn't see any loose screws to my sunroof rattle, but I KNOW it must be something that simple. The loose screw must be hiding above the 2 large metal tracks but I didn't wanna have to remove them and the glass sheets at the time (as I didn't have time). I didn't think the pano roof racks would be so well concealed.
Now I know how to remove the headliner tho and if I find time this summer again I'll try to pop the glass sheets out and attack from above this time. there MUST be a loose screw in there somewhere. Everything looked perfect tho, no cracks in any plastic sliders or tracks. It looks perfect, so that makes me even more frustrated. And now when I have the pano roof tilted, it will not close when I am parked, unless I press and HOLD the switch. I figure that defect is related to the "rattling" glass sheet issue.
Anyhow, V, I hope you managed to figure your issue out.

Would you mind sharing with us how you removed the headliner? Any pics?

Had my Panorama roof repaired not long ago.
Headliner removal not necessary to fix it so
Don't go thru all that work.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ck-repair.html

alecu, X5SND has just finished updating his diy for headliner removal. see here. http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-included.html

Thanks for the link on the headliner removal. Don't need it now, but who knows when I might need it.

please see the parts I typed in red above.