Aftermarket Sunroof?

[Scotty Tav]

HI Everyone, does anyone know a lot about aftermarket sunroofs? I was thinking of putting one in a XR5 or a Mazda MPS. I know it is not a factory option but I saw one has been done on Carsales and it cost $2,500 and was done by Mazda. Would this wreck the car? What should I look out for? I think the Mazda has bars in the roof that need to be cut and that is why they aren't a factory option. Would that seriously affect the car?

Any help would be great. Thanks!

[Fat-Tony]

I have a Ford sunroof, aka Holiender which isn't a factory built roof, has not wrecked my car.

[aiboart]

HI Everyone, does anyone know a lot about aftermarket sunroofs? I was thinking of putting one in a XR5 or a Mazda MPS. I know it is not a factory option but I saw one has been done on Carsales and it cost $2,500 and was done by Mazda. Would this wreck the car? What should I look out for? I think the Mazda has bars in the roof that need to be cut and that is why they aren't a factory option. Would that seriously affect the car?

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Sunroofs are great fun and way cool, however the reason that sunroofs are not standard on most cars is because they come at a non trivial design cost.

The main design issues are are,

1/ they take up head room, this may or may not be a problem depending on the driver and the car.

2/ they add considerable weight (20kg+) to a very sensitive position in the car.

Somewhat less important is the fact that sunroofs can often add wind noise.

20kg may not seem like a lot of weight in a car, however, vast amounts are spent on cars such as the new M3 replacing the standard metal roof with carbon fibre. This is done to save say 6kg of weight from the roof, which is of course a small fraction of the weight of a typical single panel sunroof. Therefore if designing with performance and handling in mind, saving 20kg from the roof by not spending a couple of thousand dollars on installing a sunroof, is an obvious choice to make.

On the other hand modern sunroofs are typically exceedingly well made and fitted; generally presenting as a factory installation. They are rarely a problem provided that the drains are kept clean.

Its is your choice.

Regards,

aa

Edited 30/01/08 09:48 AM by aiboart

[NVYDF6]

correct! So if you get one aftermarket from them it will be exactly the same as the factory sunroofs you get from FPV, I only have 1 problem with mine so far, when I put my foot down hard enough the bottom lid to the sunroof flies backwards

[fordboy1981]

I used to install these back in my uni days...

it really depends on the car as to whether it will "ruin" the car...

just remember, if you're going to do it, do it properly! Also if you want it looking good, consider a rolled edged installation.

if you're in Melbourne, go to Prestige.

[Flukey]

Prestige have fitted roofs to 3 of my cars and they exactly the same as factory.

[Scotty Tav]

The Mazda MPS I am looking at has a Prestige Sunroof in it. Are they really that good and have they been around for a fair while? The Mazda has a brace in the roof that needs to be cut to install it. Would that wreck the car?

[sunny]

Hi Scotty as I have my own sunroof business I can tell you that just about any model car can have an aftermarket sunroof fitted , all sunroof fitters follow the manufacturers guidlines to ensure you get the best possible result that will give you years of trouble free operation . Yes all cars have cross braces but this is not the reason that they don,t have sunroofs . Some car roofs have cross braces that are designed to withstand side impact forces certain models require us to fit an additional brace to the sunroof so as to retain the same strength . GMH and currently Ford are still fitting our sunroof through FPV , Expensive Daewoo now have a online sunroof fitted whislt the car is being built . Ford still fit theirs offline either at FPV or through some one like myself at a dealer level Regards Howard.

Edited 19/02/08 03:37 PM by Dagabond

[Scotty Tav]

Wow! Are you saying that essentioally all FPV and HSV Sunroofs are essentially aftermarket roofs anyway?

[Desert_phantom]

I hear sunroofs will not be an option on the FG, due to structural integrity?

Sunrofs rock, I love it, very pimpin, and just adds another dimension to the car from the inside and outside...a bit like the boss bonnet haha

However the wind noise between 120 and say 200+ is frustating...