Rear side window sunshade repair - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

NewYorkM5 · 12th July 2006, 04:22

The spring has sprung on one of my rear quarter window shades. Is this something that I might be able to fix at home? I can't see an easy way to get into the mechanism. Does anyone know how much it would cost to fix?

I find the shades very useful with two little kids in the back seat.

Thanks.

E55AMG2 · 12th July 2006, 04:59

I think they have to be replaced, which would entail removing the rear door panel.

cosioboy · 12th July 2006, 19:00

I just took my friend's doors apart last weekend as I helped him install MB Quart speakers. If it is only the small triangular shade you are taking about (the one that pulls sideways), you don't need to take the door trim out. However if it is the long window shade (the one that pulls up/down), you will need to take the door panel out.

NewYorkM5 · 12th July 2006, 21:39

It's just the small triangular shade. But I couldn't see an easy way to take it apart, and didnt want to force it. Any idea how to do it, or would it be best to take it to the dealer and cough up the dough to get them to fix it?

cosioboy · 12th July 2006, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewYorkM5

It's just the small triangular shade. But I couldn't see an easy way to take it apart, and didnt want to force it. Any idea how to do it, or would it be best to take it to the dealer and cough up the dough to get them to fix it?

OK, good news is you don't have to take the door panel out and it is relatively easy.

Basically, the shade is rolled into its plastic encasing, which in turn goes over the door trim. It is litteraly snapped in, but the only way to get it out is by pulling from the top end. The lower end of the plastic encasing has a stationary bracket which is part of the actualy door panel in which it pops in, but since it is stationary it cannot move. The top clip on the other hand is a metal clip, and despite it being screwed to the door frame, there is enough 'wiggle' room so it will release after a pull. If you want to be really precise and use as little pressure as possible, you can stick a small screwdriver from the side opening of the plastic encasing (the ones they sell as part of a sunglass repair kit) and unlock it that way. Alternatively you just pull. I think there is little risk to actually brake the plastic encasing if you do it thoroughly, but chances are you have to replace it anyway if the roller mechanism is shot. Reverse install is a 1 second snap-in.

On my friend's car, because I think these shades were taken off once before, even though they were snapped in, they were moving a bit. So when we took the shade off, we adjusted the angle (hence the clamping strength) on the top metal clip and now it is there solid.

PS:
Where in NY are you, if you do ever come into NYC I can do it for you in less than a minute, just PM me. I know the pricing of the $tealers around here, you will leave with a big bill for a next to nothing job.

NewYorkM5 · 12th July 2006, 23:15

That's great information, cosioboy. I actually live in NY -- the Upper Eastside of Manhattan. I'll call BMW and find out how much they're going to slug me for this shade. And if I feel like I'm going to tear the side out of my window removing it, I'll give you a shout. Thanks for the kind offer.

cosioboy · 12th July 2006, 23:57

No worries, I am actually in midtown.

But I think you should be able to do it by yourself. Hopefully the dealer won't skin you should you decide to go that route. Keep us updated, good luck!