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      01-19-2010, 12:46 PM   #1
Voltigeur
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Sunroof exploded spontaneously!

The most bizarre thing happened to me today: I was entering the on-ramp to the freeway near my downtown office - morning rush-hour so lots of traffic, am only doing 5-10 mph - then ... BANG!!

Sounds as loud as a shot-gun so my initial thought- hey, it's Texas - has someone shot at me/car?! Then the rain-of-glass from above commences. Look up and see my sunroof/moonroof is all crazed and that shards of glass are falling down into the car; about 1/3 of the total glass area has fallen. The residual is still affixed into the 'roof's frame.

No bridges (ie noone can have thrown something onto the roof), no foreign objects in the car (ie as result of falling from above), and no trucks nearby - and in any case, as I said was entering into heavy traffic so driving slowly. No potholes either.

Once I get out to check the roof I find that the residual glass is pushing outwards (skywards) not inwards. My take is some minute flaw in the sunroof glass + the stress of the seal had created a pressured environment that eventually caused it to shatter.

Exactly the same thing has happened to someone else:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100644

Only diff is that he was driving at speed whereas I was not (OK, and diff cars).

Called BMW Customer Care to report the incident. Busy day at work but will have to find the time to take it in to the local dealer & have them look the damage over.

Has this happened to anybody else w/ an E92 M3?

Now I want all of the glass gone from my interior (and some falling onto the rear aircon vents just behind the center armrest; and on rear seat / floor) and the 'roof replaced without ruining the interior.

Rotten luck, eh! Guess I should be glad I wasn't doing 70 and have a shard of glass hitting me in the face ....

Edit (more on p3)

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Last edited by Voltigeur; 01-23-2010 at 03:18 PM.. Reason: added photo
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      01-19-2010, 12:56 PM   #2
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Wow.
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      01-19-2010, 12:59 PM   #3
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It's been confirmed. Your car is jinxed! Good luck getting this resolved, and let us know if the dealer sheds some more light on this issue.

Long time no hear. You get the 335d yet?
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      01-19-2010, 01:20 PM   #4
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What is up with your car Voltiguer? Possessed? Glad you are OK. I guess the glass is experiencing loads it should not be experiencing--provided a collision of some sort did not cause this, and based on your description, that is unlikely. Hope they fix it quickly...
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      01-19-2010, 01:26 PM   #5
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I hear this happening on Audi when i used to have one. If i recall the audi dealer would sometimes cover it and replace it for free. Maybe BMW will be as nice.

You really do have some odd luck!
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      01-19-2010, 01:46 PM   #6
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Less beans.

That is really a bad surprise. Had the same thing happen to me in an Infiniti, albeit at 80mph in the dark. Quite a shocker....
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      01-19-2010, 01:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TLud View Post
It's been confirmed. Your car is jinxed! Good luck getting this resolved, and let us know if the dealer sheds some more light on this issue.

Long time no hear. You get the 335d yet?
Yeah, been a bit unlucky At least good news is that I was not going quickly at the time and not far from the office (imagine if it had been pouring!)

Had the 'd' a month. If you go to my profile page I've uploaded some photos (need to put some in the photo sub-forum). Guess what I will be driving tomorrow! Have rung BMW and they suggested I drop it off ASAP ...
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      01-19-2010, 02:00 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
What is up with your car Voltiguer? Possessed? Glad you are OK. I guess the glass is experiencing loads it should not be experiencing--provided a collision of some sort did not cause this, and based on your description, that is unlikely. Hope they fix it quickly...
Absolutely no collision. Just driving up the on-ramp at 5-10 mph and ka-boom!! Your take is mine exactly; but not being an engineer I can't fathom how the loads on the 'roof came to build to the extent that this explosion would occur. Must be some tiny flaw in the roof glass, surely?
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      01-19-2010, 02:04 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Georgeair View Post
Less beans.

That is really a bad surprise. Had the same thing happen to me in an Infiniti, albeit at 80mph in the dark. Quite a shocker....
Good one. Actually, been up in the NoCal so no beans for a while, just some Dim Sum

Agreed it was a shock: 1st the loud noise and then the consequences of the unexpected seeps in - worse for you mate, traveling at 80. At least my speed was moderate. Felt a bit shaken but no time to stop & reflect as had a public-speaking engagement to make in 30 mins....
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      01-19-2010, 02:07 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesal@Project 808 View Post
I hear this happening on Audi when i used to have one. If i recall the audi dealer would sometimes cover it and replace it for free. Maybe BMW will be as nice.

You really do have some odd luck!
Do a google and appears Audi is not alone. I hope BMW has this covered under warranty: should be in my view as no external influence.

Here's another tale [e90]:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67304
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      01-19-2010, 02:54 PM   #11
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SCS: Spontaneous Combustion of Sunroof. We can add that to the list of error lingo.
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      01-19-2010, 03:42 PM   #12
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A number of people on E90 post have reported the same in the past, and other BMW owners as well.

I guess the prevailing theory is that it is caused by stress fractures due to temperature fluctuations. Others have mentioned a pressure differential being the cause, but that seems less likely.

Anyway, glad you are ok.
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      01-19-2010, 04:17 PM   #13
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It's a known problem in the E9X sunroofs. They'll probably just replace it under warranty
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      01-19-2010, 04:35 PM   #14
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wow, at least it was at low speed and not when you were driving faster. Something like that could cause an accident
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      01-19-2010, 04:42 PM   #15
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tell them you feel in danger and want a carbon-fibre roof now!
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      01-19-2010, 04:46 PM   #16
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Precisely why I got the sunroof delete on my sedan!
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      01-19-2010, 04:50 PM   #17
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Quote:
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Precisely why I got the sunroof delete on my sedan!
LOL you got the sunroof delete because you figured the sunroof may one day spontaneously explode? :P
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      01-19-2010, 04:50 PM   #18
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It's your car's way of telling you it was meant to and wishes it had the CF roof
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      01-19-2010, 04:55 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CATCH_M3 View Post
LOL you got the sunroof delete because you figured the sunroof may one day spontaneously explode? :P
Exactly! My sales advisor thought I was crazy, looks who's laughing now...
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      01-19-2010, 05:01 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Metak View Post
Exactly! My sales advisor thought I was crazy, looks who's laughing now...
Your laughing at Voltigeur's misfortune?



J/k - Know what you mean.

Guess I am living dangerously, as no way I am giving up a sunroof.
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      01-19-2010, 05:09 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaypod View Post
Your laughing at Voltigeur's misfortune?



J/k - Know what you mean.

Guess I am living dangerously, as no way I am giving up a sunroof.
Not at all, I think it sucks what happened, but given the choice to laugh or cry I find it more theraputic to laugh. As far as sunroofs on BMW's, I think they are just too small. A larger panoramic roof like on the MB C's would be nice!
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      01-19-2010, 05:11 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 10M3MAN View Post
wow, at least it was at low speed and not when you were driving faster. Something like that could cause an accident
That was my thought after I calmed down!
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