Sunroof Addition!?!?

[Pmpkinhead]

I'm going to get a quote on a sunroof. Any thoughts from the gearheads. This is my first car I have ever owned w/o a HOLE up there. Will this kill rigidity? I don't care about resale.

88 1.6L 323GT Turbo
99 1.8L Prot ES and NOW

#1244 (mspo) (getsome)

PS: For the Zoom Clunk Update, They are Polyurethane with grease fittings. Summit Racing # ENS-9-5157G (Akron/ Talmadge, Ohio)

 

[funnylittlman]

Yes, and you might have leaks.

Don't do it.. just hang your head out the window.

My buddy got a sunroof put in his car, and he has had NOTHING but problems

 

[chuyler1]

They don't offer one in the MSP because the suspension will cause the glass to crack...thats what the dealer told me.

 

[AGR]

I highly 'do not' recommend cutting a hole in your MAZDASPEED. Sunroofs are trouble; Unless they are factory installed.

 

[spoolboy]

My dealer told me that they have a company that they send their cars to. he told me I would have to leave my car with them for 2 days, they would send it out to get the sunroof installed and that it was garuanteed for the life of the car. $1100 canadian. I'm thinkin about getting one too, but have heard many bad things.

 

[20ESGUY]

I got to agree with everyone else on this....sunroofs unless factory installed are nothing but trouble. They tend to not seal, leak water, and kill the body ridgity. Someone correct me if i'm wrong on this, but i believe on the non-sunroof cars there is actually a main structral roof support that runs horizontally across the roof for support where the sunroof would go.

 

[MP5Raycer]

there is a kid here in my town that took his MP5 and had a custom slidding rag top put in place of his factory sunroof and it was the same slidding rag top that would be used from Mazda if it was done and he has not had a single problem with it and he poured buckets of water on it and nailed it with a high pressure hose at a car wash and still bone dry ..so it is all up to who is doing it and doing it right i say ..... also the MSP never had that option because Mazda felt that it would take away from the aerodynamics of the car and since it was spawned off of the racing team of mazda they said it would be a restriction of air flow over the car ( I read this from somewhere important ) .... My advise would be to find a place that does it and dont just see ther dispay models .. ask to see pictures of there work or cars that they have already done ..and i would not only check with one place ... but if thats what you want then go for it bud and let us know how it comes out

 

[Pmpkinhead]

I'm getting a quote from the guy who puts on all of the dealer options at Mazda of Bedford (Cleve, Oh). I will try to use factory Prot ES headliner W/ sunroof hole, factory sunroof control, and whatever sunroof he recommends.


88 1.6L 323GT Turbo
99 1.8L Prot ES and NOW

#1244 (mspo) (sun)

PS: For the Zoom Clunk Update, They are Polyurethane with grease fittings. Summit Racing # ENS-9-5157G (Akron/ Talmadge, Ohio) 6 days, Still No Zoom Clunk Zoom Clunk WOW!!!(boobs)

 

[t3ase]

Neighber had an aftermarket sunroof installed on her Mustang and sold the car three weeks after the installation. She loved the Mustang, but the installation caused wind noise, leaking while washing and fogged up randomly.. Dunno.

 

[Swerny]

i'd be really interested in this as well. This is the fisrst car i/ve had without a moonroof and it's killing me already.. It's not even summer yet!

I know all about the horror stories with the aftermarket crap, especially the pop up kind.

I don't see there being a problem with an ES roof and gear. Provided the hole is cut right that is.

Just a question i always wondered about.... You bring the car to the shop, they mess up cutting the hole....what happens??

Do they but your car? Any kind of insurance for this?

I cdon't see it as being a rigidity thing. How much of a cross member could there be in the roof ??

I could see it if you were going for a convertible, but not a sunroof.

On the flip side, the Acura ITR didn't have one either. The Spec does though, and it handles well.

Just my $0.02.

MS MSP -Spicy Orange

 

[AGR]

.....to cut a hole in the roof of your $20,500 MAZDASPEED?!! No way, baby!!

Know this: There is no turning back once it is cut. So; if there is any problem, you will have to live with it.

There is a huge markup in the sunroof business. They will try to sell you. It's money in their pocket.

My Nissan SE Limited had a roof, and cruise. I will get along without either.

 

[PA_MP3_Man]

I priced sunroofs around here and to get the moonroof style (kind that slides back under the roof of the car) it's $1000, and that comes with a lifetime warranty against leaks, and manufacturers defects. So I'm definately thinking about getting one put in my mp3. There was another guy on here that had one put in his MP3. I talked to him a while ago about it. I think I'll do a follow up and see if he still likes it or if he wish's he would never have done it. I'll report back.

 

[Dexter]

i would not do it.

 

[Limited Edition]

Pmpkinhead, Everyone is recommended not to get a sunroof, but i say, if you really like one and really wanted to get one, why not do a bit of research and find someone who specializes in this area where they've done sunroof for years. Get those people who install them day and night and no nothing, but sunroofs! I am very sure that it will not effect your everyday driving or even spirited driving. On the other hand, if you auto X, then there's probably a slight noticable body flex. Anyhow,there's a Mp3 in my area with what looks to be factory installed sunroof and i can asure you, it looks really good! it's powered and likely has the tilt feature. It looks stock i tell ya!
I'm sure if you get a good install, you will not have any problems with getting an aftermarket sunroof.
Btw, i hope you're getting a fully automatic one, right? Not some cheesy flip up.
However, i think a good job will be costly. Probably more then a factory option (if there was one)

 

[PaulMP3]

Im pretty sure the roof is stamped differently for a sunroof protege than one with out one. So it will effect rigidity. i wish i had a sunroof, but i would never cut a hole in my mp3. Like AGR#7 said " there is no turning back". Sure it wouls be great, but is it worth it. Its all up to you. I'd say dont do it.

 

[boostisgood]

Everyone remember the Windshield cracking issue with the MSP ? thats due to the rigidness of the body and the tightness of the suspension. An addition of the Sunroof was eliminated at MAzda, becasue the stress it would cause.

Anyone ever own a Camaro or Trans-am with t-tops and big v-8 ? Those suckers would pop out because of the body twisting from the torque. Essentially the Tight suspension of the MSP would do the same with the sunroof.

I also suggest not doing it. Think of it this way, you just spent $20,000 for a car, the car did not have the option of a sunroof. Ask yourself why a 20k car did not come with one, along with all the opinions you got here bro. That, like AGR said, is a BIG gamble with a 20k investment.

 

[Logan]

Cars without sunroofs are stronger cars.
Plus, the extra weight of a sunroof overhead can be a factor in performance...

 

[KzA]

dude...I know you all are saying it will effect the rigidness...but wouldnt that be in like EXTREME situations...I dont know about you guys...ubt I dont whip my car around turns like a psycho often, if EVER...Not enough to make the body twistin a fasion that would crack a sunroof or a windshield! Anyway, I realllllllllllllly want a sunroof in my MP3, it would juyst be AWESOME for those gorgeous Spring/Summer days when your cruising down by the beach..Onthre other hand, I know of the troubles one can have with an aftermarket installed sunroof..Thats why I will get mine done (if i even wind up doing it) and a very reputable shop..

 

[Daemos]

They don't offer one in the MSP because the suspension will cause the glass to crack...thats what the dealer told me.

that's probally gotta be the funniest thing I've read. Mazda didn't put one on to save money where they could. Sunroofs don't cause any noticable loss of body rigidity (which is a myth) unless if it's one of those HUGE ones that like sprawl across the entire roof (I believe the optional one on the mini cooper s is like that). It was to save money like with removing cruise control.

I don't think the body ridgity would cause the sunroof to crack. The EVO has a much stiffer chassis, and it still has an option for a sunroof. I think the most logical answer would be it was taken out to meet the under 20K price range, because of all the other performance stuff put in, some convience features were taken out. It's a trade off.

But I'm with everyone else here...unless if you get an EXPENSIVE aftermarket sunroof (like in the 1G area), they're usually gonna cause you trouble...but still if you do go with those expensive sunroofs...there's no guarntee it won't leak.

The only good sunroof is a factory one. There are two companies I've heard nothing but good things about though, alot of the sentra owners who didn't have factory sunroofs have them.

The companies are Webasto, and the other one is www.classicsofttrim.com .

I hope that helps you But I agree with everyone else on the fact, that I don't like aftermarket sunroofs they can cause alot of troubles. I know how you feel, though, I love my sunroof, it just feels good on a nice spring/summer day.

IF you do go for an aftermarket one...do alot of research...I gave you those 2 companies, that could be a start. Makesure the company you go with has some sort of warrenty on leaks and what not.

 

[2K3 MSP]

that's probally gotta be the funniest thing I've read. Mazda didn't put one on to save money where they could. Sunroofs don't cause any noticable loss of body rigidity

If you know anything about body rigidity and how important it was, you would know that a sunroof is a killer...I can see why you would think Mazda was just "skimping", but have you ever noticed hoiw the Integra Type-R never had one?? There is a reason. It is a RACE CAR that they decided to make availabe for the public. They didn't leave it out because they wanted to keep the price down. If that was the case it WOULD have been an option.