bmwe21.net forums

Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop a sunroof leaking? I've put a new seal on it, but there seems to be a small gap in the middle. Also just rolled it back, and scratched the top of the roof following the full respray which was just finished 2 weeks ago - gutting

I think your sunroof is not leaking. mostly the waterdraining is the problem.
Check the corners in front. there should be two drain holes (often more )
Make sure water can run through them free into your sills, yes that's by design.

One other thing that can happen is the plastic hose come (rot) off the exit pipes in the corners.

I had the scratches too after adjusting the sliding roof, made me furious

I've checked out the drain holes - they're there and seem to be doing their job, the problem seems to be at the back edge - water seems to be coming between the seal and ending up on the underside of the head lining, then raining onto my head when I go round corners!! Apparently there is supposed to be a back drip catcher too, but I cannot see it (perhaps therein lies the cause!)

Luckily I've just the 2 drainage holes - just had the whole car stripped and re-painted, so hoping not to find any nasty metal for a while

I'm in half a mind to just seal it shut using black seal and not worry about it any more, or to actually weld it shut, retrim the inside and wrap the roof in black to contrast the shiny alpinweiss-ness of the rest of the car.

There are also two back drains
They end up behind de rear side windows (ventilation holes) and can be the issue.

Of course the rubber should hold as much water as possible but they do leak through.
And that water must find a proper way out.

Reading better now

Apparently there is supposed to be a back drip catcher too, but I cannot see it (perhaps therein lies the cause!)

There should be a blackpiece shaped in a U-vorm at the back indeed. That should catch the back drips.
Number 12 on this pic.

Once it has stopped raining I shall go have a look to see if it is there, someone mentioned it may get trapped behind the roof if it is slid back, so will have to take a torch and investigate.

So, as the underside of the roof is a bit rusty (as I'm sure many are), if I were to buy the following part :

Part number: 41 31 1 840 176
Roof panel

As per bmwfans.info, to weld that in place of the old one, is this the non-sunroof roof?

Mine pisses water through and fills the footwells up. Think im just gonna have to cough up and take it to a specialist fitter