How to Have a Sunroof Installed

You may not be aware that there are aftermarket sunroof products available for just about every vehicle on the road. Selecting a sunroof and finding a shop where you can have one installed is not necessarily a difficult task.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Finding a Shop

1. Ask your dealer or mechanic to recommend an aftermarket accessories shop that carries and installs sunroofs. Believe it or not, many of the sunroofed cars you see in car dealerships may not have had that sunroof when the vehicle was delivered from the factory. Instead, dealers often hire retail shops to install sunroofs.

2. Talk to friends who have purchased a sunroof and had it installed on their car.

3. Look in the Yellow Pages under 'Automotive Accessories,' 'Radio Shops,' 'Car Stereo Shops,' 'Trim and Upholstery Shops' or 'Glass Shops.'

4. Visit a shop and determine whether they do satisfactory work.

Making the Deal

5. Determine how much money you are willing to spend for the sunroof and its installation. The price range is wide, from $300 to $1,000.

6. Decide what type of sunroof you want. There are a variety of sunroofs available including: Pop up sunroofs that vent in the rear and have a removable glass panel; tilt and slide or spoiler sunroofs that vent like a pop up then slide open over the roof of the vehicle; internal push-button sunroofs which feature a panel that lowers and glides between the outside roof and headliner of the vehicle; folding sunroofs which feature rag-top sliders; topslider sunroofs that slide open in rails over the roof of the vehicle; and removable panel sunroofs.

7. Decide what features you want. Each variety comes with an assortment of features, ranging from a basic vent or manual model to a full-blown electronically controlled unit. Sunroofs also come with a variety of accessories including an assortment of shades and built-in lamps that serve as dome lights.

8. Consult with the installer as to the proper size.

9. Ask about the warranty. Most sunroofs come with some kind of warranty to the original owner against defects. Many sunroofs have watertight warranties covering water between the glass and seal.

10. Select and purchase the sunroof and have the shop install it. An average installation can be done in less than a day. Many models take only two hours to install.

on 6/30/2006 All sunroofs, whether factory fitted or aftermarket need some minor checking to keep them leak free and operating properly. In-built sunroofs have a drain system to carry water away when it does enter the sunroof framework. These drain tubes need to be kept clear, and you test them by pouring water into the drain channels and watch the water run out under the car (exit points vary car to car).
There are drains in the front and drains in the rear, which work depending on how the car is sitting.
If the drains are blocked then they need to be cleared using compressed air.
Tracks where the mechanism slides also need wiping clean and spraying with the silicon spray lubricant. If you are not sure take the car to your local garage or sunroof specialist to have them checked and cleared. As this is a commonly unknown item your garage may need to contact a sunroof specialist for advice too!

on 11/22/2005 Go to www.mysunroof.com. It will get you to a sunroof company called Webastohollandia. Webastohollandia has nationwide authorized installation centers.

on 11/22/2005 I had a T-top installed rather than a sunroof, thinking I'd get more of a "covertible" feel that way. I regret the decision because the panels are a pain to remove and replace. I would much rather simply push a button and open a sunroof without stopping.

on 11/22/2005 I'd recommend considering your climate before getting a sunroof. Sunroofs may seem cool, but it may turn into a "cloud roof" if you live in a rainy climate.