L322 Vinyl wrap for leaking sunroof

so what's your thought on using paint protection film, basically clear vinyl to "wrap" the roof around the sunroof to stop my leak? I've siliconed it up for now but it's not pretty as I needed it done quickly but thought a vinyl wrap could be a neat and water tight seal. The motor is broken so no fear of it being opened in error

I would think if you had any type of air gap (between seals) it would go brittle over time and crack and break, thats not what its designed to do, or what its for

Just fix the leak?!

I would if I could, the motor doesn't work, and I never use the sunroof so no point in wasting money getting it fixed. The drains are clear so it must be the seals, it's not worth the time or expense to do a proper fix

I would have to fix the leak with a second hand motor or find out what's wrong but if you want to try the wrap you could get a small section and see what it looks like over the sealed edge.
In my mind it could start to lift over the seal but it may stick ok on the roof and glass either side of the seal or if you are going for it apply some contact glue to the seal.
Another solution would be some paint on sealer that I used to waterproof my RC models called plasti dip, I'll find a link and post it. You could just paint over the seal area with clear but that may start to lift over time.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151047448649

What about torch on roofing felt

tarphenry said:

What about torch on roofing felt

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Yeah the stone chip stuff should look quite pleasant if applied properly specially when spattered with bird shit. You would get a sort of country effect.

FLASH BAND ! The best thing since Sliced Bread !

Get some chip board and cover it up, if you want it to look better, paint it... "doesn't work" yea, so why bother to fix it right? what an attitude, if you cant be bothered neither can I.... bye..

why not go really overboard . . .


and do the interior as well.

The paint protection film is .2 of a mm thick and with heat molds to contours like the seal so won't be seen from the outside or inside.
I say why bother to fix it because the car has done 220,000 miles and will of course cost money to run so why spend time and money fixing something that I will never use. There is and will be plenty of things that need fixing anyway.

I say give it a go, i have tonnes of jobs to do on mine so as you say you have to prioritise, you have nothing to lose apart from a couple of quid. you can buy vinyl wrap edge sealer that may help.
if it don't work then try something else, all part of the fun !

Don't forget to allow for the relative 'movement' of the sunroof to roof.

As the car pitches, rolls and flexes; this movement will mean the sunroof and the roof move relative to each other.

If you place a vinyl 'wrap' around the sunroof edges, it must be allowed to stretch and move else it could tear or cause the vinyl to split along the sunroof edges....if that makes sense.

I did wonder if movement might be a issue. I've been told by a supplier that it doesn't set as such so does always have plenty of stretch. It's a tenner and maybe an hours work so no real loss if it doesn't work.

youmitegetian said:

I did wonder if movement might be a issue. I've been told by a supplier that it doesn't set as such so does always have plenty of stretch. It's a tenner and maybe an hours work so no real loss if it doesn't work.

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A tube of clear outdoor silicone is less than a fiver and a lot better seal.

Maybe. Although I'm not the neatest with the sealant gun. The film would be an invisible repair.

Duct/duck tape.

Haha that was the fix by previous owner. At least they'd used black tape I guess. Wasn't watertight though

youmitegetian said:

Maybe. Although I'm not the neatest with the sealant gun. The film would be an invisible repair.

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For a neat seal you ALWAYS push a sealant gun NEVER pull it. Then a thumb dipped in washing up liquid to carefully smooth the seam if needed. So would clear silicone unless you are six foot nine.

wammers said:

For a neat seal you ALWAYS push a sealant gun NEVER pull it. So would clear silicone unless you are six foot nine.

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Thanks for that, you learn something new everyday.