about weeks ago my brm was mint

[belfastbrm]

first i needed new tyres........
then it was my battary......
then it was the exhaust........
and now my fxxking sunroofs leaking


i need some moral support and also somewere to get a new seal

[BenH]

The sunroof can be a complete pain. Mine started leaking in late 2007, and it's difficult to get individual seals for them, although a sunroof specialist in Bristol (where I live) had located some suitable ones, although £££.

The metal channel around the glass needs thoroughly cleaning and restoring, and the new seal bonding in place properly.

In the end, I taped the damn thing up with waterproof gaffer tape until the 'summer', and then during the couple of weeks proper sunshine in May/June this year when the entire roof was baked bone-dry, I sealed all around it with clear silicone, and put the fuse in the bin.

Nearly 8 months on it's fine, and as I never used it anyway, I don't miss it!! :)

Looks a little bit messy close up, but no big deal though. Function over form and all that. :)

[rovamota]

The sunroof seal around the glass is supposed to let a certain amount of water in, which is why there are drain holes in the sunroof aperture. Sunroofs usually leak when the drain holes get blocked, so water has nowhere to go and once the channels have filled with water it overflows and drips or runs into the car.

Clean out the drain holes with a blast of air, or poke a straightened wire coat hanger down them.

Simple enough, really.

Kev.

[BenH]

My drains were fine, and I checked by syringing water down them from the top, and it all came out near the sills properly. The water was coming in and somehow missing the drip tray, and soaking the headlining. Complete pain! :):)

[Jon_A]

Absolute pain the sun roofs, I searched high and low for a good used one but it seems they rust like mad even on later cars. Mine never leaked badly luckily but the rust was starting to take hold.

It is very easy to change the glass and most scrap yards I went to only want £10-20 for a used glass panel.

[chrisl]

I have now repaired 3 of these sunroofs, the first was leaking as you describe, ie all over the headlining and then dripping down..

There will be nothing wrong with the seal, it will be the rusted metal on the sunroof that will be causing the problem..

Its not difficult to fix as long as the metal surround is not too badly rusted..

1 - On the inside of the car looking up at the sunroof, take the plastic covers off the sides of the sunroof runners. Undo the 3 hex screws on each side of the sunroof runners (inside the car) (its a bodge but if you get the right size screw driver it wil fit in the hex bolts!)
2 - Once the sunroof is out peal the seal off carefully, there is a little bit of glue on one part of the seal, you might need to get a knife underneath it.
3 - Once the seal is off the rust on the metal part of the roof will become obvious.. Get a small screw driver and clean the channel up thoroughly. The other side willalso need preparing.
4 - Then use a wire brush to clean the channel and other side even more. Tape up the glass area and spray the channel with hammerite or a suitable paint. Give it several coats.
5 - Thoroughly clean the inner channel of the rubber seal, it will be full of lumps of rust..
6 - When the paint on the roof is dry put some silicone sealant in the channel, gently pop the seal back in the channel on the roof. You will need to stretch the seal in oredr to makeit fit. Dont stretch it too much tho otherwise you will have too much at the end!
7 - Once the sealant has had a chance dry, on the outside of the roof, put a small amount of sealant between the rubber seal and the glass, this will stop water getting back into the channel. I mask the glass area and seal and then force the sealant in.

This should give you a few more years out of your sunroof!

[belfastbrm]

i cleaned out the drains and its been ok.... also i will need a seal soon as my other 1 has been eatin by something .... has any1 seen the seals for sale, i asked xpart and they said the seal comes with the glass and quoted 250..... needless to say i told the guy not to order me one

[mgr220]

You can't get the seal seperate, so if you don't want a new glass and seal then the other options are to repair as suggested or the scrapyard for a good used glass and seal

[Taff]

all good points, i'd say 'we' BRM owners are experts on leaking sunroofs, lol. its not just the brm's though, its all the 200 models and of course, the same design and components for the mgzr! so they suffer to. not a big job, and if u hve to spend 200-250 for a new one, id say its money well spent as it will do you for another 10 years. but defo look in the scrappy for a second hand one, 10-20 quid and your laughing. good luck.

as for tyres...... www.dragontyres.com great place for them.

[belfastbrm]

cheers for the replys lads it gets abit lonly over here lol