996 sunroof cassette vs 997 sunroof cassette. how different are they?

Hi Team, My 996.2 coupe sunroof is playing up. It started suffering bounce-backs when closing. The only way to get it shut was to hold the close button down the whole way. I took it to my mechanic. He found that when closing, the rear of the panel tries to lift before the roof has fully closed. He pulled the trim panel to inspect the cassette and the moving parts, pointed to one component and said "that shouldn't be doing that ... it isn't locking into place, and that's what's making the roof raise at the rear before it's fully shut." His verdict: that part isn't available separately. He went on to say the 996 cassette is no longer made, so I'd need to buy the 997 cassette plus a bunch of additional parts to make it fit a 996. All up, the 997 cassette + fitment parts comes to around $5,000 AUD . For reference, I called the local Porsche dealership parts guy and they said the original 996 cassette was only about $800 AUD when it was still available. So as I understand it, my options are a second-hand 996 cassette or a new 997 setup. A couple of questions for the brains trust: What is actually different between the 996 and 997 cassettes that supposedly requires ~$4,000 worth of extra bits to make a 997 unit fit? Everything I've read suggests the 996.2 and 997.1 sunroof assemblies are essentially the same unit (the motor P/N just superseded from the 996 number to the 997 number) � so I'm struggling to understand where the conversion cost comes from. Before I go down the whole-cassette path � has anyone diagnosed this exact "rear lifts before fully closed / component won't lock" fault and traced it to a single repairable part rather than the entire cassette? Is there any chance there's a new old stock 996 cassette floating around out there? Thanks in advance.

There is a broken thingy in the sunroof track. I can't describe it better, there is a small chrome plated part on each side with a roller wheel on it that holds the sunroof down until it's in the right place to lift up. One of those is broken.

Search EBay. I bought mine as a brand new in box but damaged piece for like $250. One of the drain nipples was broken. I just took my old one out and swapped the drain nipple from my old one onto my new one, swapped the rest of the pieces from my old one, and installed. Also, if you know what piece it is, and if that piece is removable from the cassette, I might have it in my old frame and would be happy to help. Ask your mechanic for a pic.

Quotes source post: 20602400

yea.. I think that is what's wrong with my sunroof... There's no option but to replace the whole cassette? No one has a 3D print file for them?

Is this the piece you are talking about?

Hi @AeroF16 (I htink I'm going to explain this wrong.. ) What I saw there was a latch/clip or something on the spindle that then hooked into the orifice/housing below that spindle. I got a little confused but I *think* he said that the latch/clip is likely worn out and isn't hooking into the housing.... or he said the housing's that is worn out... Happy to be schooled