My sunroof has a tendency to get stuck if I open it more than halfway, and I accidentally opened it today while trying to close it and drive at the same time (I can never remember which side of the button closes or opens it, due to lack of use). Now it's stuck and no amount of brute force seems to help, not to mention I don't even hear the sunroof motor at all. With my luck, I'm sure there will be a heavy rain tonight. Any suggestions?

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

Have you tried the manual crank in the trunk?

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Dave
1983 300D Daily Driver

Didn't know there was any sort of emergency crank. I hope it's not a long and difficult procedure?

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

What year W123? There are two styles of sunroof motor, pre 82 and post 82, or something like that.

Both have a manual crank. Look in the trunk, driver's side. Oh heck with this, Im gonna take a pic, Ill be back.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

It's actually very easy to operate the sunroof from the trunk manually. I was able to fit a socket on it and open and close it with a ratchet.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

OK.

The crank is in Pic #1. You need the tool, that comes in the car's tool kit, to operate the crank, thats in pic #2.

Inside that hex nut is a screw - do not put a regular ratchet on it, you'll just tighten the clutch (IIRC).

Others will need to comment on impromptu tool substitution for cranking the sunroof shut.

Good luck,
dd

Attached Thumbnails

   

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Sadly my car didn't come with any kind of handy toolkit...just this little car jack that just barely gets the job done.

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

OK. the goal is to turn both the inner flat screw slot at the same time as the hex portion. the little tool is basically a hex socket with a flat head screwdriver in the middle of it.

Remove the left hand trunk liner. Its the big plastic piece thats covering the sunroof motor area. do this by removing a plastic push pin type clip near the tailight assembly. Then, the plastic line will just pull out- sort of roll it out clockwise from the top.

You will now have much better access to the nut. Using a 17mm open end (it may be 19mm, i forget), and a big flathead screwdriver, turn the bolt+screw clockwise. This should close the sunroof for you.

when that works, post back. Lets get your sunroof working properly again. It could be something simple.

whatever you do, dont put any grease on the roof tracks. You need to use the Mercedes special white grease. Anything else works for a while, then dries out and makes things 10x worse.

Good luck,
dd

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car