KITTRX8

Hello everyone. I just picked up a FACTORY moonroof assembly. It includes EVERYTHING, motors, wiring, module, glass, tracks, shade, switches.....everything. I wanted to add a moonroof to my car but choose not too based on reviews I have read and the curves of the RX8's roof VS the flatness of after-market moonroofs. My question is has anyone added an OEM moonroof to their car or heard of this being done. My plan is to take it to a moonroof install shop and have them do it. I figure the process is basically the same, only instead of popping in an after-market roof, they will install an OEM unit. Any info out there on this????

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i cant think of anyone that has done this. its been discussed a bit though. expect to pay a grand.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Don't for get to get the roof liner and, well, the roof.
The stamping for the upper is different between the GT and the base model.
Its gonna be a LOT more than $1k in labor and it will probably still suck.

expo1

How involved would it be to go from Sunroof to fixed and regain the lost headroom? Could you leave the glass panel in place, remove any parts of the mechanism that are in the way, get a new headliner or have one made. I hardly ever open the thing all the way.

KITTRX8

I just realized, it won't work due to the fact that cars from the factory with a moonroof have rolled roof metal that works to create a seal for the roof. I could not achieve this after the fact, thus causing it not to seal properly. I already got a quote on labor and you are both off, it was $475 to install (from a known and very competent shop that only installs moonroofs). I bought the complete moonroof assembly for $50 from a friend. So, had the sealing been able to work, I could have done it all for $525.......oh well.

expo1

How can you say "it could have been done for $525" and " I just realized, it won't work" in the same post?? Could you or couldn't you get a OEM like install without any leaks for $525??

KITTRX8

It COULD have been done, it just wasn't very feasible. You can do pretty much anything, wether the results are good is another story......

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

thats like saying i could add a turbo (ebay) to my car for $500. all i need is a downpipe. and a reliable turbo. and a new kit. the piping is probably good though.

man though, that $500 turbo sure is feasible.

KITTRX8

Yeah, let's pick apart wording here because that's what's important. Way to get the point of the statement. For those who really needed things spelled out for them, maybe this will work:

I got a great price on the install, to bad the equipment won't work.

There, are we all satisfied with that one? No? Ok, lets try this one:

With a price quote like that, its too bad I can't take advantage of it.


Now that we have completely covered phrasing and quotation, maybe we can move on eh?

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

hehehe.... they're just poking at you.... cause they already knew that you could get a sunroof put in for a few hundred bucks. but to get one put in that was OEM quality with no leaks etc would be easily a grand +

Outkast187

$500 seems about right, I have seen em done cheaper, and they are nice quality work. Its a 1 day job, $1K is way extreme.

PBlue

iTrader: (1)

What about going the other way?
Should i ever decide that autox is more important than having a sweet hair tan, Anyone ever consider chopping off their moonroof and putting on a ...... roof-roof?

KITTRX8

I would have no problems going with an aftermarket moonroof......but I have heard a lot of horror stories about them in the RX8 (due to the curves of the 8's roof).

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I don't think I've seen anyone add an OEM Moonroof to an 8. What are you going to do now Kitt?

Rote8

My understanding is the entire top (including the moon roof) between the two side roof seams can be replaced by a competent body shop.
Look on the top of your car, you should see two seams running front to back about 6 to 8 inches in from the sides of the car.
You need everything in between those two seams, both inside and out.

Good luck, you will most definitely need lots of luck and a very skilled body shop.

KITTRX8

I've personally laid hands (and eyes) on four 8s with an added non-oem power moonroof and they all turned out just fine and have been on the cars for years. I may just go ahead and try that route!

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

go do that and report back in 2 years

chrism

put a moonroof on an 8 that didnt come with it and your car is structurally unsafe...that is where most of the meat comes from with the lack of pillars between the doors...the ones with moon roofs already have a stronger and different roo than those without.....dont be stupid.....search more this has been discussed multiple times even with one person returning a car because the roof was aftermarket and unsafe

KITTRX8

True, but most people (if not all) who had issues with it, had so because their interior structure was cut due to having a moonroof installed that slid back inside the roof while open. The person who returned the car had this type of roof installed. I would install the type that goes over the roof (like OEM) while open. That requires no cutting or damaging of the interior bracing / structure.

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

ok let me make it simple.... the roof with and without OEM sunroof has different structural design.... you CANT just cut a hole in the roof and add an OEM sunroof. You're either going to lose structure, or your gonna have to re fabricate it the way it is on the sunroof models.....

like we've been saying, there is no proper and safe way to do it at a reasonable cost level(less than a grand'ish)

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i want to get rid of my moonroof.

secret8gent

don't forget the drainage system too (runs down a front and rear pillar)

longpath

iTrader: (1)

I, too, am interested in the feasibility of deleting the OEM moonroof. Since my 2004 was bought in the US, not in Canada, I had to get the moonroof to get the other features I wanted, and I would much prefer the extra headroom. I'm still searching to see if there's a dedicated discussion on the subject; but this topic came up during the process of that search, so I thought I'd put a feeler out, all the same.