Guys,
What is really common on these cars is for the plastic lifting blocks to break. They look kind of like feet (sorry wish I had some pictures) Also some other misc parts usually break as a result of these feet breaking. There is a kit with basically all of the parts to fix this including the actual drives that attach to the cables which drive the roof. If all of this needs to be replaced it is a labor intensive job which is why it can cost up to $1,000. Its hard to tell how much damage has been done without removing the glass lid and doing some inspection. Most dealers will charge a couple hours of labor (hence the $200) to get in there and check the damage. This also allows them enough time to put the roof back together in the event that the repairs are declined. Once in there they can diagnose exactly which parts need to be replaced or if a entire new cassette is necessary. Most of the time a new cassette is not necessary and just the plastic components can be replaced. Unfortunately I havent seen any write-ups online for how to do this repair. Maybe one of you can write a DIY for the forum.
DT
