Sunroof glass exploded while car was sitting idle
11-05-2016, 09:55 PM
#1
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Sunroof glass exploded while car was sitting idle
I found this lone thread describing a similar issue and a few threads on the E90 forum but no much on here.
https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...nroof+exploded
Initially I thought this was an act of vandalism but the way the glass is damaged it curves upward which I do not think is the signature of an external force.
Anyone know the cost of replacement?
https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...nroof+exploded
Initially I thought this was an act of vandalism but the way the glass is damaged it curves upward which I do not think is the signature of an external force.
Anyone know the cost of replacement?
11-06-2016, 07:12 AM
#3
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My Ride: 2010 Manual E61
Happened to me while driving 70 in a driving rain storm. As I had the sundshade back, I was showered with glass.
Insurance covered my replacement, and investigation found it is an unacknowledged problem with a suppliers lot of glass. Under certain thermodynamic stresses a flaw in the glass will cause it to explode.
Happened to me 3 weeks after picking up the car, luckily I had not yet sold the Allroad, so I had a backup.
Insurance covered my replacement, and investigation found it is an unacknowledged problem with a suppliers lot of glass. Under certain thermodynamic stresses a flaw in the glass will cause it to explode.
Happened to me 3 weeks after picking up the car, luckily I had not yet sold the Allroad, so I had a backup.
11-06-2016, 08:55 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
Happened to me while driving 70 in a driving rain storm. As I had the sundshade back, I was showered with glass.
Insurance covered my replacement, and investigation found it is an unacknowledged problem with a suppliers lot of glass. Under certain thermodynamic stresses a flaw in the glass will cause it to explode.
Happened to me 3 weeks after picking up the car, luckily I had not yet sold the Allroad, so I had a backup.
Insurance covered my replacement, and investigation found it is an unacknowledged problem with a suppliers lot of glass. Under certain thermodynamic stresses a flaw in the glass will cause it to explode.
Happened to me 3 weeks after picking up the car, luckily I had not yet sold the Allroad, so I had a backup.
11-11-2016, 11:38 AM
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My Ride: BMW 530xiT (E61)
Model Year: 2007
this happened to the previous owner (a family friend) of my E61 as well. He said it occurred on an extremely cold winter day when he was at highway speed.
I have his repair invoice - the front glass (part# 54-13-7-140-777) was replaced. Parts were $635 and labor was $891. I *think* the dealer will totally remove the headliner to access the sunroof mechanism, which is why the labor cost is so high. it looks like you MAY be able to remove the torx screws for just the glass without taking the headliner out. TIS says "remove and dispose of the torx screws...securing the glass panel to the mechanism" There appear to be three of them on each side. TIS says to take out the headliner but since the glass is lifted out from the top, you may be able to get creative and access the screws with the headliner in place. likely, you'll need to remove that plastic accordion like thing first to get to the screws.
edit: looks like you can buy the glass on ebay for about $250-300. I think the glass for the E61 was the same as the panoramic roof in the X3 and X5 for those years.
I have his repair invoice - the front glass (part# 54-13-7-140-777) was replaced. Parts were $635 and labor was $891. I *think* the dealer will totally remove the headliner to access the sunroof mechanism, which is why the labor cost is so high. it looks like you MAY be able to remove the torx screws for just the glass without taking the headliner out. TIS says "remove and dispose of the torx screws...securing the glass panel to the mechanism" There appear to be three of them on each side. TIS says to take out the headliner but since the glass is lifted out from the top, you may be able to get creative and access the screws with the headliner in place. likely, you'll need to remove that plastic accordion like thing first to get to the screws.
edit: looks like you can buy the glass on ebay for about $250-300. I think the glass for the E61 was the same as the panoramic roof in the X3 and X5 for those years.
Last edited by BostonJon; 11-11-2016 at 11:43 AM.