Sunroof leak repair (1 Viewer)

[ITRJ]

I came up with a repair for my leaking sunroof that I thought would be useful for the community. My sunroof seal had seen better days. It leaked during heavy rainfall and had a pretty bad wind noise on the highway. I looked into a replacement seal but it comes bonded the sunroof glass so you have to buy the whole thing. For a bit of back-story, I’m a tech at a BMW dealership so luckily I’ve got lots of experience with sunroof leaks and access to repair parts. I decided to try using a BMW sunroof perimeter seal to fix my leak. I remove the sunroof glass and cut the old seal out with a razor. I cut underneath the top of the seal to retain the finished, oem look. The new seal is a peel and stick design and fit perfectly around the edge of the sunroof glass. I used BMW part number 54-10-7-485-602 but any perimeter seal for a panoramic sunroof would work. They are available online for under $100. The seal itself is a bit tight so the sunroof motor needs help to open and close, but it should relax over time. This isn’t an issue for me because I never open it anyways.

Jay

 

[MUDZLLA]

Yes! I need to do this! Or... glue the thing shut with silicone. Hmm...

I assume you just wiped the edge of the frame with alcohol or brake cleaner before sticking the seal on? How much needs to get trimmed off - and do you fill the gap with silicone? Will the seal stick to the roof over time and get pulled away from the window - or how can that be prevented?

As a BMW tech would you recommend 3rd party providers?...

GASKET​ ES#: 4206177 Mfg#: 54107485602 Lifetime replacement item​

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$22.53
SALE
Save 41% | $38.47​

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[ITRJ]

No silicon was used. I cleaned the edge of the frame with alcohol before sticking the new seal on. You need to cut just underneath the top of the original seal as it is the visible, finished part of the seal. It’s pretty obvious wear to cut once you have the glass removed. Cutting the seal out was pretty easy to do as well. I don’t know about aftermarket seals. My concern would be the quality of the 2x sided tape.

 

[Marvelicious]

Yes! I need to do this! Or... glue the thing shut with silicone. Hmm...

I assume you just wiped the edge of the frame with alcohol or brake cleaner before sticking the seal on? How much needs to get trimmed off - and do you fill the gap with silicone? Will the seal stick to the roof over time and get pulled away from the window - or how can that be prevented?

As a BMW tech would you recommend 3rd party providers?...

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GASKET​ ES#: 4206177 Mfg#: 54107485602 Lifetime replacement item​

[td]Qty: 1[/td]

[td]
$22.53
SALE
Save 41% | $38.47

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As someone with a sunroof siliconed shut by a PO, PLEASE don't go the silicone route. It's only a temporary solution, and it's a mess to clean up. I'm really curious if this does relax enough to be usable once it settles, but if you're planning on leaving it shut anyway, it's definitely a better choice. Also, if you're just chasing a wet carpet, but sure it's your sunroof and not your windshield.

 

[Kernal]

How strong/permanent is the adhesive on the replacement seal?

Has there been any locally heavy rains since you completed the repair, or have you taken the vehicle through a car wash yet ie: where pressurized water is sprayed directly downward onto the roof? IME (after getting a shower from above) that's a good test of a sunroof.

 

[ITRJ]

The car wash at work was a sure way to make it leak before the repair. It doesn’t leak anymore. The adhesive is strong. It’s an oem part and is used for a moving sunroof. I’ve never seen one fall off and I’ve work at a bmw dealer for 16 years.

How strong/permanent is the adhesive on the replacement seal?

Has there been any locally heavy rains since you completed the repair, or have you taken the vehicle through a car wash yet ie: where pressurized water is sprayed directly downward onto the roof? IME (after getting a shower from above) that's a good test of a sunroof.

 

[Marvelicious]

They are available online for under $100.

Way under. (First link I tried)

54107485602 Genuine BMW Slide Rail Gasket | BMW Parts Deal

Genuine 54107485602 Slide Rail Gasket fits 2019-2024 BMW models. BMW Parts Deal offers 54-10-7-485-602 for $35.20.

www.bmwpartsdeal.com

 

[Malleus]

Why would you install a BMW part on a Toyota, when the Toypta OEM part was readily available?

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Why would you install a BMW part on a Toyota, when the Toypta OEM part was readily available?

I believe you can't buy just the seal from Toyota. OP stated he found that the seal is bonded to the glass so you have to pay for the whole enchilada.

 

[Malleus]

Yes, the OEM part is an assembly, which uses a continuous seal. The part pictured in the OP's photo is a strip. How do you seal the ends?

 

[ITRJ]

Yes, the OEM part is an assembly, which uses a continuous seal. The part pictured in the OP's photo is a strip. How do you seal the ends?

I cut off the end as close as possible and used a bit on weather strip adhesive to seal it but it’s not really needed. I positioned the seam in the middle at the rear which is directly over the rain gutter so any small amount of water that gets through will drain out the tubes. It’s done the same way on BMW’s.

 

[Marvelicious]

Why would you install a BMW part on a Toyota, when the Toypta OEM part was readily available?

Simple answer:

My twice-totalled FZJ80 is not exactly a candidate for restoration, but I'd still like the sunroof to work and seal.

You're looking at it the wrong way: people ARE sealing their sunroofs shut with silicone (whether or not you would) because the total assembly is, what, over a grand on amayama. This is a simple fix for a similar price to a few caulk tubes and if later, one decides to spend the money on the OEM replacement, it doesn't require scraping away a silicone mess.

 

[Malleus]

Better reason not to buy from online websites. Use a real, live person and pay a quarter of that for an OEM part. I've never paid more than $350 for the sunroof glass assembly.

 

[Marvelicious]

Okay... so only ten times the cost of that seal rather than thirty, provided you have local dealers who are customer friendly. I think my point stands. You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[White Stripe]

Better reason not to buy from online websites. Use a real, live person and pay a quarter of that for an OEM part. I've never paid more than $350 for the sunroof glass assembly.

I believe the toyota sunroof glass is no longer available

 

[Malleus]

I believe the toyota sunroof glass is no longer available

It is, but you have to buy the one listed for the 70 series. It's the same sunroof, just newer.

 

[Mandrake]

What ever happened to just using a cut up bicycle tube to fix the leak?

 

[ITRJ]

It is, but you have to buy the one listed for the 70 series. It's the same sunroof, just newer.

Good to know.

 

[Malleus]

Widely reported, often forgotten: 63201-60024, Glass FJ80PN RFX A3