bmwe21.net forums

Hi all, here's a mind boggling controversial one!

I'm in the process of looking for a project E21 and would love to have a sunroof, however it seems most people have nothing but troubles with it. Well, I guess it's not worth mentioning it if there's no trouble.

So, here's the poll:
Would you recommend having sunroof, Yes or No, and your reasons.

Thank you and Happy New Year...

Or get a Baur!

In the more humid countries rust is an issue with the inner parts of the sunroof. And you can have mechanical trouble but that usually is the result of someone fiddling with it by someone who doesn't know what he's doing, there are some real experts out there and the sunroof system is not unique for BMW's but used on pretty much all contemporary German cars. I'm no expert either, but at the local dealership there's a specialist on the topic. If it works fine, make sure the mechanism remains clean and lubricated and it'll last.

To me a sunroof is a must on a closed E21, especially over here where E21's with A/C are rare as hen's teeth. One thing though, you loose some inside headroom on the car, believe at least 4 centimeters, so if you're a taller person the sunroof might be in your way. That's why E21's equipped with a sunroof came with slightly lower seats.

My car didn't have a sunroof, so I cut of that roof and welded on a newone. Now I do have a sunroof

Everything Jeroen says is right and over there a sunroof looks to me like a great option. But I just like fresh air in my car, thats why I love my cabriolet.

My vote: Jay!

100% no sunroof...every e21 i have owned with a sunroof as had issues with rusty cills(rocker panels?) as the water from the sunroof drains into the cills.on the latest e21 i have with a sunroof it has lost the lower 50mm of the inner and outer cill along the full length the left side and above that the metal is rust free....plus when its hot i like to be in the shade .....

Right, and who ever has read my topic on the restauration of my 323i has seen how this is to be solved. Especially in a project, thats easy to be done.

Ok, from what I gather so far, I should get a solid roof or a Baur if I am tall or in UK and other damp locations, but otherwise it's ok, especially if restored properly.
Well, no height issues here Jeroen , not as much humidity, plenty of sun, and the sunroof looks great.
Sunroof it is then!

One question though, how hard is it to clean the drainage channels regularly to keep free of debris and unblocked?

It's that little dent, that is the drain. Look in my topic, around page 19, 20 and onwards, you can see the inside of the sills. If you are gonna do some work on the car, than I recommend strongly to get the hose out of the sill, like I do.

Yep, reading through it now. You've done a lot of work there and covered it well. I hope to see the inside of the drainage points and the whole path but taking my time as I don't want to miss anything.

100% pro sunroof. Its such a nice option, i always set it tilted when driving, summer and winter!


Despite the drainage in sill problems i wouldn't have a car without it. Never!

I think it is possible to reroute the drainage hoses fairly simple, without opening the sills, if you want to.