Sunroof Wind Deflector Help Needed

[kherova]

I just got my 03 PR5 last weekend and I am excited! It is fun and I love the sun roof, but hate the noise the wind makes so I want to put a Wind Deflector on, but I want to get the right one.
Not sure to go oem or aftermarket. Tape, screws, or clips.

The first place I saw was aftermarket ones: http://www.autoanything.com/deflectors\sunroof/index.aspx
and the one for pop out sun roofs says it doesn't work with roof racks.
Also one of the guys that posted a comment says he didn't like how he could see the tape after applying, but still gave a good rating.

Then I found a couple of Mazda ones around the net,
http://mazdagear.com/moonroofwinddeflector-309a-protegeprotege5.aspx
http://www.mazdapart.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=5952
even a $10 on on ebay (Slavrenz says that's how he got his:http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4519661&highlight=Deflector)

but the thing about the roof racks stuck with me. Not sure how to proceed. I want a quality product, but would like not to have to pay a lot for it, and I want it to look as good as it functions. Any advice or experience to relay?

 

[bazooka joe]

i'd get the mazda one...i;m surprised you don't have one on the car?

 

[slavrenz]

The deflector from eBay is the OEM Mazda one. I'm not sure where the seller gets his parts, but mine came with the Mazda Instructions and everything. I love being able to have my sunroof open and barely hearing the wind.

The only thing I'm not sure of is if it will fit your P5 with the roof rack. If you go with the eBay one though, you're only out the $15 for shipping.

 

[boostedprotege]

I'm sure it'll fit.. if not u can lose the roof rack or as i told my high school sweetheart "we'll make it fit" haha

 

[kherova]

Thank you

I am going to get the ebay one.
I will let you know how it works out, but it looks good.

bazooka joe: Now that you mention it, it is a little odd that it wasn't on the car. I wonder if there was one and it was taken off at some point because when I was retracting the sun roof, there is the little plastic and rubber bar that flips up at the leading edge (I am assuming to deflect some of the wind?), and it has two sections (about 3in each) cut out.
I wondered if that was normal or something the previous owner did to fit an aftermarket deflector? When I was looking at it, I thought the notches were designed that way (because the cuts where precision), but I wondered what possible purpose there could be for them. From the pic of the oem one https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned), it doesn't look like installation should interfere with that flap?

Does your sunroof lifting flap have sections omitted?
----|______|----|______|----

 

[boostedprotege]

yeah on the p5 theres a black flap that pops up when u open the sunroof i got it on mine also

 

[kherova]

Installed

So I installed the deflector this weekend, and I very happy. It fits with the roof rack on and it was pretty easy to install. Wind noise is cut way down. The place on ebay seems to be legit too. Genuine Mazda part for half the price of an aftermarket. I was all freaked out when it arrived because the box looked like someone sat on it (never mark fragile on a box unless you want FedEx to use it as furniture), but it was protected well in the box so everthying was fine.

If you are considering putting one on you Mazda, this is my opinion:
Pros:
easy install
great reduction in wind noise
improved exterior appearance
reduction of some sun glare through roof

Cons:
Minor cost expenditure
reduction in airflow into the cabin
reduction of some sun through roof

For me it was definately worth it.

 

[kherova]

Pics

One other thought about install. The instructions said to attach the hook to the deflector (with just enough tightening of the nut to get it on), then to put the deflector in place and mark where the hook will be. This is so you can take it off and place clear protective stickers where the tabs will be. But if you go back to put it in place for good, it is harder to line up (because the metal hooks rotate arround. I found it easier to put a peice of tape over the metal tab not attached to the visor, line up, and attach the nut. But something I didn't concider until after it was already done is why not save all of that hassle, and wrap the protective tap arround the metal tab hooks in the first place (instead of on the car).

 

[slavrenz]

Congrats dude - looks good. I know a lot of people on here aren't partial to the sunroof deflectors, but I'm definitely a fan. Sometimes I even forget that I have the sunroof open, it's so quiet

 

[boostedprotege]

Looks good i like =) think i'ma have to get one for my p5 now lol