Who installs sun/moonroofs aftermarket

[Ryland]

So far I have found Webasto sells an aftermarket sunroof but all of the installers are about an hour away. Does anybody know of any other makes that I could try to track down installers for?

 

[Pacfanweb]

I repair water leaks, wind noises, and sunroofs for a living.

Take my advice: DO NOT have an aftermarket sunroof installed in your car. They all suck, every single one of them. If you have to have a hole cut in your roof, let the factory do it.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I repair water leaks, wind noises, and sunroofs for a living.

Take my advice: DO NOT have an aftermarket sunroof installed in your car. They all suck, every single one of them. If you have to have a hole cut in your roof, let the factory do it.

my bud's '79 (i think) firebird leaked from the factory 🙂

 

[steppinthrax]

Isn't there something with the structural integrity if you cut a whole like that in your roof.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I repair water leaks, wind noises, and sunroofs for a living.

Take my advice: DO NOT have an aftermarket sunroof installed in your car. They all suck, every single one of them. If you have to have a hole cut in your roof, let the factory do it.

my bud's '79 (i think) firebird leaked from the factory 🙂

T-Tops, I'm pretty sure those weren't build with sunroofs. And yes, there has never been a set of T-tops that didn't leak.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Isn't there something with the structural integrity if you cut a whole like that in your roof.

Yes. Factory roofs that are made for a sunroof are rolled in. They are different than non-sunroof cars.

I usually pass on trying to repair aftermarket sunroofs. They are usually crappily built, crappily installed, and just generally suck.
And trying to access a 5 year old or older headliner that's been butchered beyond all recognition, then trying to reinstall it is a joke.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Isn't there something with the structural integrity if you cut a whole like that in your roof.

No. The structural pieces of a car's roof run along the edges, like a roll cage. The big center area is just a thin piece of sheet metal that has no real structural importance.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Isn't there something with the structural integrity if you cut a whole like that in your roof.

Yes. Factory roofs that are made for a sunroof are rolled in. They are different than non-sunroof cars.

I think you're mistaken. A non-sunroof car is not structurally stiffer than a car with a sunroof. The physical structure of a factory sunroof opening is indeed different, with rolled lips, but the overal structural integrity/rigidity of the car is not affected.

This comes up all the time on 944 message boards where it's a popular myth that the rare non-sunroof models are more rigid than cars with the sunroof (and therefore more desireable as track cars) and it's been shown time and time again that the hole in the roof of the 944 for the sunroof does not have any negative effect on the car's overall rigidity.

ZV

 

[Pacfanweb]

But you are referring to a factory-built sunroof....not an aftermarket add-on. Since Porsche designed both versions, there shouldn't be any real difference in integrity. There's no uniform size that aftermarket roofs are cut. Big ones, small ones.

We may both be correct, depending on what car we're talking about.

I'm actually replacing a factory sunroof assembly on a 2004 Expedition tomorrow. I'll take note of whether there seems to be any additional bracing compared to a non-roof model.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
But you are referring to a factory-built sunroof....not an aftermarket add-on. Since Porsche designed both versions, there shouldn't be any real difference in integrity. There's no uniform size that aftermarket roofs are cut. Big ones, small ones.

We may both be correct, depending on what car we're talking about.

I'm actually replacing a factory sunroof assembly on a 2004 Expedition tomorrow. I'll take note of whether there seems to be any additional bracing compared to a non-roof model.

Interesting. I know that there's no additional bracing in the sunroof-equipped 944, the only difference is the slightly heavier sunroof panel compared to the thin piece of metal in the non-sunroof version. And, of course, the mounting points for the mechanism.

The sunroof on the 944 is most of the roof too, there's maybe a 4-inch outer perimeter, so even removing most of the roof shouldn't make a difference.

Note the size of the removable panel on the 944.

ZV

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I repair water leaks, wind noises, and sunroofs for a living.

Take my advice: DO NOT have an aftermarket sunroof installed in your car. They all suck, every single one of them. If you have to have a hole cut in your roof, let the factory do it.

my bud's '79 (i think) firebird leaked from the factory 🙂

T-Tops, I'm pretty sure those weren't build with sunroofs. And yes, there has never been a set of T-tops that didn't leak.

If I can find a 91 MR2 turbo hardtop in good condition for a good price, it's soo mine.

 

[HiTek21]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I repair water leaks, wind noises, and sunroofs for a living.

Take my advice: DO NOT have an aftermarket sunroof installed in your car. They all suck, every single one of them. If you have to have a hole cut in your roof, let the factory do it.

my bud's '79 (i think) firebird leaked from the factory 🙂

T-Tops, I'm pretty sure those weren't build with sunroofs. And yes, there has never been a set of T-tops that didn't leak.

If I can find a 91 MR2 turbo hardtop in good condition for a good price, it's soo mine.

hardtops and sunroofs are so hard to find. like you if I could find either hardtop or sunroof i'd buy one

 

[Ryland]

A place about an hour away wanted $1100 and after having talked with a friend decided not to do it. I traded the Tribute in for a Mazda3 instead (as per my other thread).

Thanks all and you guys just reinforced that having one installed after market is a BAD idea.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
But you are referring to a factory-built sunroof....not an aftermarket add-on. Since Porsche designed both versions, there shouldn't be any real difference in integrity. There's no uniform size that aftermarket roofs are cut. Big ones, small ones.

We may both be correct, depending on what car we're talking about.

I'm actually replacing a factory sunroof assembly on a 2004 Expedition tomorrow. I'll take note of whether there seems to be any additional bracing compared to a non-roof model.

Interesting. I know that there's no additional bracing in the sunroof-equipped 944, the only difference is the slightly heavier sunroof panel compared to the thin piece of metal in the non-sunroof version. And, of course, the mounting points for the mechanism.

The sunroof on the 944 is most of the roof too, there's maybe a 4-inch outer perimeter, so even removing most of the roof shouldn't make a difference.

Note the size of the removable panel on the 944.

ZV

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but this discussion came to mind today as I worked on an aftermarket POS sunroof.

The answer to the question is, YES, there is additional bracing in many, if not all factory sunroofs.
Plus, the rolled lips most certainly add a lot of support to the sunroof opening. Especially when compared to just a hole cut in a non-sunroof car.

But yeah, I've seen additional bracing, which is actually what lots of factory sunroof rails bolt to inside. I've also noticed that add-on sunroof tend to be a lot more..."floppy". The actual roof panel, that is.