Over the life of the vehicle, BMW sunroofs can suffer from multiple problems, from rattling, refusal to close, to closing at an angle. On many BMWs the interior parts that control the opening and closing of the sunroof are plastic and can break over time. Fixing most issues with a BMW sunroof requires that the exterior sunroof top cover (the part that you see on the roof of the car) be removed.
Press the button that slides the sunroof back into the roof of the car. Do not slide it all the way back--only until the sunroof drops about 1/8 inch as it slides into the open position.
Slide the interior panel on the bottom of the sunroof back into the roof as far as it will go. Move the sunroof back to its normal closed position. Warning: Do not open the sunroof with the interior panel pushed back as it may cause damage to the sunroof mechanism.
Use a 17-mm socket and ratchet to remove the three large nuts located in the middle of the roof that hold the sunroof top cover in place. Push the rear of the sunroof up a little to allow you to access the front screws.
Remove the Torx screws located on the inside of the sunroof panel near the front of the sunroof. (These are difficult to access but can be removed.)
Remove the sunroof panel from the vehicle. Set it aside somewhere safe while the necessary repairs are made to the sunroof mechanism.
