sean 300D,

I have only worked on a 1986 190E sunroof, one that only slides the movable panel under the steel car roof (no tilting feature) so take this information knowing it does not directly apply to your car, and may not apply at all.

To figure out what is going on you need to remove the interior fabric liner from the movable panel. On my 190E the cable is connected to a cross beam at the rear of the movable roof panel. This connection, a galvanized sheet metal clip screwed to the cross beam with two screws, rotated when one of the screws fell out and I tried to open the roof. When I closed the roof it allowed the cable to push out of the guide tube a little too far, and really mangled the clip. It also allowed the cable to become disengaged with the drive screw down at the motor end.

I got some help on this site to fix it, which ended up being to replace the clip and buy a new screw. I installed the clip and screws and the job was done. Total cost was $0.38 for the clip.

To get more details this subject is often posted, so try doing a search. If that doesn't work, ask some more questions about the specific things you find.

By the way, can you move the roof panel at all?

Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)