zara

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

Detrich

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.

Silver06

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).

Detrich

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.

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.

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...... )

Silver06

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.

sobamaflyer

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)

zara

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?

sobamaflyer

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

zara

yea but the non-moon roof one comes with full Mazdaspeed Body kit....that kinda sounds more tempting to me

Low Fly'n 8

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.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

More trouble than it's worth.

restiller

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.

Socket7

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.

DubbsLuvs8s

iTrader: (1)

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).

Silver06

zara

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

RotaryP7

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.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

oooooooh, some people just got owned. I was just searching for that thread.

sobamaflyer

^ ummm, how did anyone get owned when the OP was really focused on this:

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!

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

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

Instead, I got owned.

sobamaflyer

^ LMAO, sorry to ruin your Monday :D

zara

lol yea my point was on installing a factory sunroof, or even the whole roof panel, not so much an after-market one