Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Moon Roof Add-on

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-05-2009 | 02:23 AM
  #1  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
Moon Roof Add-on

So I was wondering....is it possible to add a moon roof on a car without one? I was thinking drilling a whole in the roof and put a removable glass into it (sounds a bit simple?) But I then thought leak could be a big problem

Or is it possible to remove the whole roof panel and replace with one that has a moon roof. If so, where do you buy an RX-8 roof from= = Don't think stealerships will have in their catalogue "RX-8 Roof with Moon Roof"....would they
Old 03-05-2009 | 02:33 AM
  #2  
Detrich's Avatar
幹他媽!
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 3
From: San Gabriel Valley, CA
u can buy the moon roof glass & parts for it from the dealership. if they don't have it, they can order it from Mazda. some dealers will even install it for you.... ive' replaced the glass on mine before.

BUT

i would generally think that it's not a good idea on the rx-8 to install a moonroof that wasn't from the factory. the rx-8 has a very oddly curved top- moreso than most cars. i think it will be difficult for them to do a perfect job. maybe some of the members here who've had this done can sound in on this.

Last edited by Detrich; 03-05-2009 at 02:35 AM.
Old 03-05-2009 | 02:41 AM
  #3  
Silver06's Avatar
Zoom Zoom....
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Western Canada, eh?
Hi Zara.

As detrich said above, anything is possible....

In addition to buying the glass, motors, interior trim, etc... Adding a 'factory' sunroof, after-the-fact, would require the purchase of a "sunroof" steel roof panel from a wrecked car (or new from a dealer), and cutting the current roof off, and welding the new roof on.... Yikes!

Aftermarket sun/moon roofs are designed to have a hole cut in the existing roof, and then the unit (complete with tracks, cables, etc.) just drops in to the hole.

I have seen one '04 with an aftermarket sunroof, and it looked quite good from both inside and out.

HOWEVER.....

This thread : http: //www.rx8club.com/showthread.php some discussion of leaking, and has a link to another thread where a structural roof beam was damaged in the installation of an aftermarket sunroof.

I'd tread very carefully, as the roof of the RX-8 is quite structural (to accommodate the 'pillarless' rear doors, and for chassis rigidity).

Last edited by Silver06; 03-05-2009 at 02:48 AM.
Old 03-05-2009 | 02:50 AM
  #4  
Detrich's Avatar
幹他媽!
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 3
From: San Gabriel Valley, CA
Yes. If you park your car outside on a cold night and some water vapor collects on the roof, you'll see that right behind the center line of the roof there is a structural roof beam. (the mist will collect and highlight where the beam is.)

this is why the rx-8's moonroof opens up and over the roof and not inside it like other cars.
Old 03-05-2009 | 03:49 AM
  #5  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
I kinda mean that if the car(2nd hand) didn't come with a moon roof, and that I would like to add a factory one, not after-market. Sorry for the confusion.
Old 03-05-2009 | 08:07 AM
  #6  
sobamaflyer's Avatar
Should be working
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
I think they understood that as one of your options. In short, unless you own a body shop this is a bad idea. It would be far cheaper (and less problem prone) to trade in that non-moonroofed car on one with it.

(On an aside note you may end up with other niceties such as Leather, nicer stereo, heated seats, xenon headlights, etc...... )

Last edited by sobamaflyer; 03-05-2009 at 08:16 AM.
Old 03-05-2009 | 12:43 PM
  #7  
Silver06's Avatar
Zoom Zoom....
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Western Canada, eh?
Originally Posted by zara
I kinda mean that if the car(2nd hand) didn't come with a moon roof, and that I would like to add a factory one, not after-market. Sorry for the confusion.

No confusion.

If you have a look at a car with a factory roof, you'll see that the 'hole' in the steel roof is specially pressed into the metal. The tracks that guide the roof back and forth are held by the pressed sheet metal. The glass fits into the indentation with only a weatherstrip pressing upon the rim of the opening.

In my opinion, it would be Impossible* for a body shop to somehow form these indentations into an existing roof panel and make it work.

Therefore, the only option for a Factory Roof is to use a roof from an existing car and weld it to your present car.

This would mean cutting your entire roof off at the base of the windshield and the rear window glass. (You'll have a convertible, LOL). You can then find a roof from a donor car with a sunroof and weld it back on.

If done properly, this is technically feasible. Whether it is economically viable.... is very, very doubtful.



Hope this answers your Q.




* Don't flame me about the 'impossible' remark above - I am aware that nothing is impossible.
Old 03-05-2009 | 12:54 PM
  #8  
sobamaflyer's Avatar
Should be working
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
Very doubtful indeed.

Since you are at it just cut the roof off behind the windshield, get a tonneau for inclimate weather. Probably need to weld the doors shut and expect to "Duke of Hazzard it" unless you want a RX-Taco :D

(I crack myself up)
Old 03-05-2009 | 12:59 PM
  #9  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
Thanks for your replies. Yea I thought the only way was to weld another RX-8's roof with a moon roof onto the car. That would probably have a high chance of leakage.... Wonder if anyone has actually attempted such...or even made a convertible out of the 8
I know there was a thread a while back with plenty of Alfy's drawing regarding a convertible 8, and that Mazda has made one for show....but has anyone actually attempted making one?
Old 03-05-2009 | 01:13 PM
  #10  
sobamaflyer's Avatar
Should be working
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
Long ago I played around w/ VW's, I got a hair up my butt to make a chop-top weekend cruiser out of a carcass I had. I quickly discovered after I cut the roof off the doors didn't close quite as well (this is w/o it actually moving from my garage). This was mentioned above but the roof is a very important structural member in this car and trying to change bit of engineering after the fact would require some SERIOUS weight and re-engineering.

Certainly anything can be done "if you have enough $". You want a rocket powered 8 that will go in the lake like the old Amphi-car, sure, we CAN do that, how much dough you got? :D

.....but I guess what we are all getting at here is that diving into a project like this on an otherwise unmolested, full titled, daily driven vehicle is probably going to be way cost prohibitive.

You did mention the possibility of an aftermarket glass panel, I had one of those put in a Civic some 20 years ago (god I feel old) and loved it, looked ok and cost me about $200 to have done. Trick in this application would be that purdy contoured roof we have as a typical aftermarket unit isn't going to have those curved up edges. You would have to find one that's a little smaller than the stock unit. Search around, anything CAN be done
Old 03-06-2009 | 02:22 AM
  #11  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
Originally Posted by sobamaflyer
I think they understood that as one of your options. In short, unless you own a body shop this is a bad idea. It would be far cheaper (and less problem prone) to trade in that non-moonroofed car on one with it.

(On an aside note you may end up with other niceties such as Leather, nicer stereo, heated seats, xenon headlights, etc...... )
yea but the non-moon roof one comes with full Mazdaspeed Body kit....that kinda sounds more tempting to me
Old 03-06-2009 | 12:14 PM
  #12  
Low Fly'n 8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
This falls into the same catagory as converting an automatic transmission to a manual IMO. Way too much trouble. If you want a moonroof, buy a car with a moonroof. Be aware that you lose a couple inches of headroom with the moonroof.
Old 03-06-2009 | 12:26 PM
  #13  
Rootski's Avatar
DGAF
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
More trouble than it's worth.
Old 03-06-2009 | 12:26 PM
  #14  
restiller's Avatar
sofa king
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Great America, IL
i have a factory moonroof and, in retrospect, it's something i could do without. the more you will play with your 8 once you get it, the more you wish how your car was just a tad lighter.

i couldn't tell you the weight difference between an 8 with and without moonroof though.

enjoy your weekend.
Old 03-06-2009 | 12:55 PM
  #15  
Socket7's Avatar
ಠ_ಠ
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 6
From: Under the Dumbarton Bridge
You do not want to install a sunroof in a car that does not have one. There is structural material in the roof and if you cut into it, you run the risk of ruining your car.

There was a thread a while back about someone who tried to get a sunroof put in and I think the car ended up totaled from the damage done to it in the attempt.

Get it from the factory, or don't get it. the risk is to much.

Last edited by Socket7; 03-06-2009 at 01:00 PM.
Old 03-06-2009 | 01:45 PM
  #16  
DubbsLuvs8s's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Wantagh, Long Island
Could be extremely dangerous in the event of a rollover. As it is our cars don't have a middle pillar (I'm sure there's a letter associated with it).
Old 03-06-2009 | 01:52 PM
  #17  
Silver06's Avatar
Zoom Zoom....
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Western Canada, eh?
Originally Posted by dubbsluvs8s
could be extremely dangerous in the event of a rollover. As it is our cars don't have a middle pillar (i'm sure there's a letter associated with it).

b


Old 03-06-2009 | 02:57 PM
  #18  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
ok, yea I give up on trying to install one. I was thinking about buying a undamaged roof from a totaled 8....but that's quite an impossible task. Is there different structural reinforcement between a non moon roof 8 and a moon roof 8? I know the 8 doesn't have B pillars so roof is very important
Old 03-08-2009 | 08:59 PM
  #19  
RotaryP7's Avatar
Seriously.. FML..
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/custom-sunroof-113492/

Take a look at a thread I made a few years back.. Someone supposedly had a aftermarket sunroof made.
Old 03-08-2009 | 09:15 PM
  #20  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,786
Likes: 455
From: San Antonio, Texas
oooooooh, some people just got owned. I was just searching for that thread.
Old 03-09-2009 | 07:23 AM
  #21  
sobamaflyer's Avatar
Should be working
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
^ ummm, how did anyone get owned when the OP was really focused on this:

Originally Posted by zara
I kinda mean that if the car(2nd hand) didn't come with a moon roof, and that I would like to add a factory one, not after-market. Sorry for the confusion.
I think it was said all along that it was probably possible to find an aftermarket unit but we didn't have direct proof (so thanks for the photo evidence ).

But all the points above were highlighted by the thread where a Mazda dealer took a lady's car back and gave her a brand new one due to liability after installing one aftermarket unit!
Old 03-09-2009 | 10:37 AM
  #22  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,786
Likes: 455
From: San Antonio, Texas
TX

I just want people to get owned ok!! Why you gotta ruin it for me buddy?!!!!!

Instead, I got owned.
Old 03-09-2009 | 10:40 AM
  #23  
sobamaflyer's Avatar
Should be working
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
^ LMAO, sorry to ruin your Monday :D
Old 03-09-2009 | 02:18 PM
  #24  
zara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Soap Monla
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Auckland New Zealand
lol yea my point was on installing a factory sunroof, or even the whole roof panel, not so much an after-market one
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Warrior777
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
207
06-24-2019 04:47 PM
projectr13b
RX-8 Racing
20
05-14-2016 06:25 PM
p8ntman442
Series I Tech Garage
3
09-23-2015 09:18 PM
Tsurugi
New Member Forum
0
09-07-2015 08:27 PM
projectr13b
Series I Do It Yourself Forum
1
09-06-2015 01:04 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Moon Roof Add-on



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 AM.