[mellman]

has anyone had their roof liner out of their car? These nice summer days, and seeing some hatch's w/ sunroof's at the DNB meet this past weekend revived my desire for a sunroof again.

My parents just got a Webasto sunroof installed in their pacifica. It comes with a lifetime warranty for parts from webasto - and the shop that does it mimics that warranty.

Do roof braces REALLY exist? I don't know. People have 'heard' that they do, and people have speculated that they do. But do they really? Nobody knows.

Hm. There was a guy on here who claimed he had one installed. Did he really? nope don't think so.

Bani & others - you don't need to reply about how this would ruin my resale value - frankly I don't care - I plan on keeping this car for a long long time.

The shop: http://www.autoessentials.biz/aboutus.htm

If you found this post in a search (wow you used search! The updated post with pictures etc can be found here: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=76562.0

The quoted $999.99 installed for a power sunroof. (He said if I got 3-4 other customers he'd knock $100 off) It automatically closes when the car turns off. It goes inside the car like the factory hatch sunroof(maybe sedan too?) Its basically 5 buttons, 3 memory settings and an open and close. the install looks damn good, and yes, i would use my sunroof all the freakin' time if I had it

Not sure what the point of this post is, maybe hoping others who have experience with wabasto. I know many of you guys wanted a sunroof - have any of you gone and done it? Anyone raced a car with a sunroof? Any issues there? The shop has not done a speed3 - but he has done many mazda 3's. He said that IF he went to do it and saw there was additional bracing that is not present in regular mazda 3's that he would stop and put everything back together.

hmm..

 

[TrueRedSpeed]

Can't say I know anything, but if you really want one have him do it, since he will look first and if there is a brace then no harm done. If not you get your hole in the roof.

 

[racrickey]

I think there is about 5 braces about a foot apart in the roof. One day when it was snowing and just starting to stick you could see that there where about 5 1" thick what I would like to think as braces see how the more steel you have the cold it would be and the quicker it would stick. I mite just be on crack. but its what I saw and I wish I had a pic of it.

 

[warpspeed]

I guess the only thing I would worry about is the structural integrity of my car with a hole in the roof. Remember there was a simular issue with the WRX when it first came out..no sunroof. However in later models they reinforced the frame and the body so that having a hole in the roof wouldn't be a problem. I would like one and would like to see someone do it but I don't think its a good idea.

 

[mellman]

[quote author=warpspeed link=topic=73766.msg1310421#msg1310421 date=1175646401]
I guess the only thing I would worry about is the structural integrity of my car with a hole in the roof. Remember there was a simular issue with the WRX when it first came out..no sunroof. However in later models they reinforced the frame and the body so that having a hole in the roof wouldn't be a problem. I would like one and would like to see someone do it but I don't think its a good idea.
[/quote]

along those lines - the MS6 did not initially have a sunroof, but the 1/2 model years did. but yeah since the guy basically is willing to look - i guess its no harm no foul - though i want to find out if i can 'watch' them when they take the interior out - maybe snap pics if it turns out it does have braces.

[quote author=racrickey link=topic=73766.msg1310417#msg1310417 date=1175646197]
I think there is about 5 braces about a foot apart in the roof. One day when it was snowing and just starting to stick you could see that there where about 5 1" thick what I would like to think as braces see how the more steel you have the cold it would be and the quicker it would stick. I mite just be on crack. but its what I saw and I wish I had a pic of it.
[/quote]

lol - i had to laugh when i read this - but i do understand what you're saying

 

[Trubopower]

I can't remember who said they had one..

Matt if i knew how to drop the headliner I would do it tomorrow, I don't wanna touch anything with the airbags there though since they run the whole length of the ceiling. I don't know how these panels come off.

 

[mellman]

[quote author=TruboPower link=topic=73766.msg1310845#msg1310845 date=1175657289]
I can't remember who said they had one..

Matt if i knew how to drop the headliner I would do it tomorrow, I don't wanna touch anything with the airbags there though since they run the whole length of the ceiling. I don't know how these panels come off.
[/quote]

Yeah I PM'ed them but never got a response. They very well could have just been trolling...since they never produced any pictures.

The installer did ask if I had side airbags - so I guess they have to take that into account when installing it to remove the headliner.

 

[Trubopower]

I've got a good idea whats going on. I'm gonna try and tackle it tomorrow if it doesn't rain

 

[kokemon23]

Wow, I was just thinking about this same thing this morning as I drove to work. I would love to see pics to know if there really are braces or not. I've noticed that I haven't missed my sunroof all that much, although it has only been good weather for about a week and a half (and now it is back to below freezing and possible snow this weekend). Maybe next year when the new-ness of the car wears off a little, it would be a nice addition to spruce it up. Possibly.

Trubo, please keep us updated if you get the chance to take a look!

 

[alien3t]

there is a stripped down speed3 at the mazda warranty place by be, right next to a white one (in irvne ca so there is a white in cali but beat to crap) anyway, the red car is stripped completly, only left on it was the rear wheels so i can go look inside of it and see what the roof looks like if no one has pulled thier headliner. i dont have a camera with me but i can look and get an idea!

 

[bolack]

I know where I saw the sunroof. It was in the pictures of the Austin, TX meet and drive in the hill country. The guy had a Cosmic Blue, and in the picture of the car through the side view mirror you can see him wave through the sunroof. I believe they mention it in the pic also. You might want to look him up.

 

[kokemon23]

[quote author=aliennation95gt link=topic=73766.msg1311385#msg1311385 date=1175695832]
there is a stripped down speed3 at the mazda warranty place by be, right next to a white one (in irvne ca so there is a white in cali but beat to crap) anyway, the red car is stripped completly, only left on it was the rear wheels so i can go look inside of it and see what the roof looks like if no one has pulled thier headliner. i dont have a camera with me but i can look and get an idea!
[/quote]

Do it!!

 

[Trubopower]

I'm halfway there now, only thing I can't get off is the a-pillars. The rest of the car is great! It's like they designed it to be taken apart. I'm happy with the way things go together right now

 

[Trubopower]

Update: Headliner off.


There are braces. Weak but there. Pictures within the hour. Looks like a sunroof is doable though

 

[Pololo_MS3]

[quote author=bolack link=topic=73766.msg1311395#msg1311395 date=1175696129]
I know where I saw the sunroof. It was in the pictures of the Austin, TX meet and drive in the hill country. The guy had a Cosmic Blue, and in the picture of the car through the side view mirror you can see him wave through the sunroof. I believe they mention it in the pic also. You might want to look him up.
[/quote]

I was in that drive and NOPE... no sunroof... There were 4 CB(one of them is mine), 1 black MS3 and 1 MS6 (with sunroof) and I believe you are refering to the MS6.

You asked "some of us" to stay away of this topic and I was going to.. but the above statement is not true.

Carlos

 

[bolack]

Sorry, I could of swore I remembered it being a MS3.

 

[racrickey]

See so the snow was right. LoL

 

[mellman]

[quote author=Pololo_MS3 link=topic=73766.msg1311821#msg1311821 date=1175705718]
[quote author=bolack link=topic=73766.msg1311395#msg1311395 date=1175696129]
I know where I saw the sunroof. It was in the pictures of the Austin, TX meet and drive in the hill country. The guy had a Cosmic Blue, and in the picture of the car through the side view mirror you can see him wave through the sunroof. I believe they mention it in the pic also. You might want to look him up.
[/quote]

I was in that drive and NOPE... no sunroof... There were 4 CB(one of them is mine), 1 black MS3 and 1 MS6 (with sunroof) and I believe you are refering to the MS6.

You asked "some of us" to stay away of this topic and I was going to.. but the above statement is not true.

Carlos

[/quote]

Well the 'stay out' was meant more if you are going to come in and tell me what a horrible idea it is because that topic already exists, and i was hoping this would be more useful, like having trubopower tear his headliner out for me

[quote author=racrickey link=topic=73766.msg1311978#msg1311978 date=1175709053]
See so the snow was right. LoL
[/quote]

LOL true true! I really want to see how they install the sunroof, it sounds like they would be able to cut through small braces and weld up the sunroof frame to it - yeah it won't be AS strong - but i cannot think that it'd have any noticeable impact. Wonder if there are any warranty implications by installing one...

-Matt

 

[mellman]

[quote author=TruboPower link=topic=73766.msg1311700#msg1311700 date=1175703340]
Update: Headliner off.


There are braces. Weak but there. Pictures within the hour. Looks like a sunroof is doable though
[/quote]

DOOD! You're killin me smalls! within the hour was over 2 hours ago!

 

[Trubopower]

I had to get food. Hush.