Stripped torx in the sunroof motor - advice please!

[CoreyC]

Hi all, well, this summer my sunroof gave the proverbial CRUNCH! and wasn't retracting quite right.

I went for the quick fix - ordered the 'slide' parts for the sun-shade. But, mine were not broken. Found out the spiral coil is bunching. So, my cassette is cracked somewhere. No worries, I'll pull the headliner in the spring, and see if I can't fibreglass the cartridge back to snuff.

BUT - in all my frantic efforts, I stripped the manual adjust torx head in the sunroof motor. It's a very soft metal. Grrr....

I need help! The motor is fine! Anyone know if I can get a replacement torx bolt for the motor (fat chance I think....). Or, for the tool/die types, can I re-tap the stripped torx head?

Help please!!

Many thanks in advance!
Corey.

[slemmer]

can you cut a straight line with an abrasive wheel so that a flat screwdriver can be used?

[toy4to]

I hate having stripped bolts. I've used the 'Grabit' line of screw/bolt extractors and it worked very very well for me. Canadian Tire sells it, under the house brand name. Use it with a drill and in reverse mode. Then flip over the bit and use the other end, but do it by hand with a bit driver and slowly you'll get it out! They have infomercials for this thing...but it works very well!

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

And a youtube video showing how to use...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8RCsu3BzUM

[Nick_V]

Originally Posted by CoreyC

It's a very soft metal. Grrr....

I've cursed BMW more than once for using those fasteners. If they are old they seem almost guaranteed to strip. I usually just clamp down as tight as I can on the bolt head with some vice grips - usually does the trick.

[CoreyC]

Thanks peeps. Slemmer, I'll try that.

I can't try the Grabit, or the vice-grips - this is the tensioner bolt (maybe I shouldn't call it a bolt). It actually stays in place in the motor assembly - but turns, and engages the threaded metal cable.