sun roof
 

so on monday im dropping the speed of at the dealership for them to ship it to a shop to install a sunroof. anyone got a sunroof on their speed3??

Bullshit.

I'm getting T-Tops put in on mine next week. :mullet:

Waste of money.

to each is their own. i wish mazda put in a sunroof. its nice to have, but not a necessity.

car without sunroof = racecar






whats racecar spelled backwards?

racecar...

You just blew my mind.

uh....no sunroof because stiffer chassis without it.

congrats, you weakened the car a bit!

Troll.

i wouldn't do it, but to each their own

In before my sunroof leaks now.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Aftermarket sunroof = recipe for leaking.

... Rice


Sent from my dizzLe using RaWr powers!

It would be nice to have from the factory, but aftermarket installs are notorious for leaking. Why hack into a perfectly good pu?

I'm heading down to get one of these installed next week...

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image.../sunroof01.jpg

InB4 Mazdaspeed3 ute

I think I saw someone on youtube had one installed on a ms3. Probably an m247 member, that's not the type of mod you'll find here too much.

tapatatapa... DROID 2 Global... etc etc

I like the idea of a sunroof, don't let all the haters get you down.
There is no structure in the roof area that will make it weaker, if anything a sunroof brings it's own bracing and will connect the roof better. Some cars have a large structure connecting the B pillars, but the Mazda3 is not one of them.
The worst thing about a sunroof is the extra weight. The MS3 is already overweight, so an extra 30 lbs or so won't really matter.
Some of the installs offer lifetime leak guarantees too.

i have a daily with a sunroof and i never use it :wtf1:

My last car had a sunroof and I used it like 4 times in 3 years. Not worth it IMO.

Actually (at least with the Gen Won), there are extra roof braces connecting the two sides of the car (at the B pillar and elsewhere) that the regular 3 doesn't have.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...of009Large.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...of007Large.jpg

That's why the MS3 isn't offered with a sunroof/moonroof from the factory like the regular 3 is.

Regardless, you're probably right about the fact that you're most likely creating an even larger detriment when it comes to the added weight at the worst possible place for it to go (in terms of how it affects handling/chassis dynamics): the roof.

I'd like to see the bare roof of the 3 and MS3 to see the difference.
It's hard to tell in that photo how strong those braces are. In many cars they are just keep the roof panel from bowing in the wind or a car wash.

I believe the lack of a sunroof is more about pricing, marketing and weight, not structure.

Those crossbeams are useless. I remember when the guy on m3f got it 6 years ago he was chastised. 2 years ago, still no problems.


And look what worked in a rollover....
Attachment 73112

It's not a fucking roll-cage...they're braces. If you don't think they reduce chassis flex/twist, I don't know what to tell you. They aren't meant to hold up the weight of the car in a roll-over...

Again, go back and read all of the automotive press from the original MS3's launch.

There was specific mention of the fact that a sunroof/moonroof was not offered because of the added structural bracing in the roof of the MS3 (vs. the regular 3).

Aftermarket sunroofs are garbage. I've seen my share of cars with aftermarket sunroofs come through the shop and they never look good. What I mean is, they don't look OEM, it looks like some JDM MADMODZ bullshit.

I'm glad my MS6 has a factory sunroof. I use it all the time. Even in the rain. :headbang:

I'm 6'3 with short legs. I hate sunroofs with a passion..

Being held on with glue, I don't put much stock in them being needed. Regular 3's have em removed for sunroofs no problems. Modern moonroofs are equivalent to oem in quality.

Removing the braces for a moonroof will not hurt the ms3.

So are you like Cotton on King of the Hill? All torso, chest and long ass arms that drag on the ground?

they look like they're bolted in at either end. The glue is to support the roof structure and prevent shear, has nothing to do with rigidity.

Lateral braces bolted on either side, on a roof structure, do significantly aid rigidity, as little as you think it may. Why do you think convertibles get such a bad rap with rigidity? No roof structure to tie it all in. If you can stiffen the roof structure but keep weight low, that's optimal....and that's usually done via multi-point roll cage which also helps keep c of g low.

They're actually welded to the roof rails on either end, but @chimmike has the right idea.

These things are not decoration, and removing them and putting in a sunroof/moonroof will likely reduce structural integrity and definitely raise the car's center of gravity. Will it reduce rigidity and raise the COG enough for it to matter to the kind of person that puts an aftermarket sunroof/moonroof in an MS3? Probably not, but I sure as Hell wouldn't do it.

almost. 32" legs...you do the math. torso of someone ~6'7. fuck anything that impedes headroom. I used to drive an altima around with a sunroof and I had less than 1/2" between head and roof. with the speed I drop the seat and have 3"+ which I love.

The braces are there to support the roof sheet metal from bending under flex because nobody wants a roof with a bunch of waves in it. They do contribute slightly to lateral stiffness but mostly id worry about the thin ass roof skin deforming.

This thread is funny.

There's a couple guys in here who have a basic understanding of how monocoque chassis work in a high performance car.

The rest of you may as well be flinging shit at one another.

And, stop saying the roof braces only keep the roof from flexing. This isn't a 1985 dodge van. Those braces are an integral part of the entire chassis. If you fuck with one, it affects the entire car.

Sunroof installed in my mazdaspeed 3 !!! WOOHOO! :) 56k be warned... - Mazda3Forums.com

After 5 years, I pmd him and he advised no leaks, no problems when I pm'd.
@manelscout4life, do you have a sunroof? I see the user there has it.


and OMG, m3f went vbulletin.

I guarantee you that asshole has no idea what is going on with his chassis as a result of this.

Some guy who had it done claiming there's no ill effects means jack shit to me unless he's knowledgeable about monocoque chassis in the first place.

You can't just take some idiot's word for it. Do you honestly think he noticed that his rear tire doesn't lift as much as it used to when entering a driveway at an angle??

No. He doesn't have a clue it's happening at all. He thinks everything is fine. And, in his case, everything will be fine until he either gets in an accident or pushes the car too hard the wrong way.

Then, of course, it's too late.

So you are saying if I cut the roof supports out and possibly notch the frame as well, I can get the car to pivot or twist in the middle and maintain all 4 tire contact on uneven surfaces??? Why hasnt anyone ever mentioned this sooner?!?!
In for MS3 rock crawler...

probably sent from a freight train at work

Technically, yes. But, you'd only make it over 1 rock before the whole car was useless.

Then explain how the regular 3 with a sunroof added factory has no roof supports, and is fine. That is the difference. This is a repost thread from somewhere, as it was researched in-depth, with pics and chassis comparisons between the 3 hatch with mooroof and not, and the difference was the 2 crossbars were removed.

After years and tens of thousands of miles without a leak or other ill effect, it is safe to say adding a moonroof to the MS3 is safe.

Safe? Yes. I don't think most of us are really arguing otherwise...

An improvement?

Well, that depends largely on one's perspective.

It does not improve the car's chassis dynamics.

It does improve its ability to throw fresh air into the cabin, as well as increase the amount of light that is thrown into the car.

It also increases the likelihood that the roof will one day leak (a factor that depends largely on the quality of the components and install).

I had an aftermarket sun roof on my gen one mz3, and it never leaked in the 4 years of ownership. It was noisy at 80+ though. It was great for nice days, and such, but I rarely used it. You can get them with pretty decent features too. Mine closed automatically when you shut the car off.

most valid post of the thread. something tells me the op wont be tracking the car so any ill effects of the chassis wont be noticeable.

How do you guys think sunroofs are installed? They add new braces for the sunroof that connect the side rails. It isn't just hanging on the sheet metal roof.
If I cut out one small cross brace and add a a box frame (2 cross braces) did you really weaken the car?

The only real issue is weight.

I doubt that there is much structural engineering analysis put into most aftermarket sunroof/moonroof kits to confirm that they are at least retaining the OEM rigidity values with their (likely bolted-in) bracing, but I am pretty sure the Mazdaspeed engineers used actual data to determine that the car would benefit from additional roof bracing over the regular 3. Yes, it's merely conjecture and I don't have any hard evidence to back it up, but I think it's pretty solidly grounded conjecture at that.

Regardless, if you're adding weight to the roof, you're detrimentally affecting the car's chassis dynamics.

Check out page 12/13 of this PDF.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/down...3_brochure.pdf

The Mazda engineers just add shit to say they added it right?? Right?!

Id install one and put a roof scoop to cool off my scalp, but that's just me

I have one, it was installed as soon as I got the car. Had no choice, at the time it was between a used BMW 1 series with a factory sunroof and a brand new MS3. I wanted the MS3, my other half wanted the BMW with a sunroof. We compromised, I got the MS3, and a sunroof went in. It's a Webasto power moon roof and works well. Webasto makes some of the best after market power moon roofs. It works well, does not leak, etc. Although with all of that said, I DON'T recommend one. It does creak and groan a little when I go slowly over irregular surfaces at an angle- rain drainage easements, angled driveways, etc. And with the sunroof being just overhead, the sound is right near my ear and it's annoying. So my advice is to not get one on this car.

well i didnt think that me posting this thread will start a argument. i honestly dont give a F*** about the added weight, taking my speed to the track or anything else someone will say about it. i enjoy having a sun roof and i use mine all the time. this one i got has a lifetime warranty for parts and leaks so let it leak. it opens and closes at a touch of a button, when i turn the car off it will close by its self. if in the end it destroys my roof then its on me and im going to have to deal with that when and if it comes. total cost for install and warranty was 999 out the door. made my wife happy and like the speed more then a sti so another win.

Added weight, reduced headroom, even hotter in the summer with our shitty a/c, flat so it ruins the lines of my roof, ruined infrastructure compromising both the integrity and spirit within the car (while likely making you less likely to survive a roll-over, let alone how it will react in a collision now) ...

Sign me up.

my a/c is a beast.

get some pics from inside tooo :lew:

does it have a cover? if it's just open glass then it's pure fail in my book

i really wonder what the metal looks like under the rubber gaskets, did they treat the metal? since if it starts to leak out of warranty wouldn't it rust?



^does it matter its not visible.

anyway is this how they did yours?

"How To" Sunroof Install - Scionlife.com

LOL are you fucking retarded?
It definitely matters if they didn't treat the metal beneath.

i do not know how they did it, i dropped it off and two days later it was done.

that is the link to a video i made of the sunroof.

Very nice. What was the cost around to install?

Reading comprehension FTW. ;)

it actually looks pretty well done.

still not my thing, but honestly if I didn't know it was aftermarket I wouldn't think twice.

i like it, i wouldnt mind getting one myself after my warranty expires among other things. How is the noise level? any creaks/ groans from the roof during spirited driving?

i bought an MS6 sport over an available GT because i hate sunroofs that much.

that being said, yours does not look bad after install. For 1000, i'd hope it looked decent.

How's that noise at 80mph?

mehh..i thought the only ms3 option for a sunroof was in the block?? :poke:

Just checked out a VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon with a monster sunroof in it. Wonder if you can get this in the speed...

What's that old phrase? Proof is in the pudding. ^^^There's the fucking pudding.

The biggest concern is safety, fellas.

I'd hate to see one of these after a hard side impact collision or roll over. Nasty stuff.

last saturday i took it out on some twisting road at 100}+mph and the roof held up no wave affect like some said might happen, there is no creaks or groans from it moving just hear the motor when its moving other then that nothing.

if i dont have the windows cracked there is a little over pressure noise like if you only have the rear windows down but not as bad in fact like 1/10th of it. i just did a 550 mile drive with it open and in vent postion for the rain no water got inside the car.

if you can find the manufacture or a aftermarket one and someone is willing to install it and you pay for it its all can be done. shit i was thinking of a carbon fiber roof for mine, far down the road

and now we have new pudding...

Which pudding are you referring to?

I hope you're not talking about the guy who thinks everything is fine. Because that's not pudding, it's an opinion. And, not an educated one at that.

Regardless, I made my point. Whether people choose to heed it or not is entirely up to them.

Maybe he was referring to this line?

You were taking one persons negative review as "proof in the pudding" that it will ruin a car. Now we have a couple positive reviews. One review is not proof either way, but you seemed to take it that way.
You have your opinion on what a sunroof will do to a car, but Mazda disagrees and puts them in their other models. I hate to tell you that most OEM sunroofs are purchased from the same companies that make aftermarket ones.

Mine only creaks from the body flexing when going over over very irregular surfaces. And the creaking did not start until about a year after it was installed. On straightaways and faster driving, it's perfectly fine. It looks good, was professionally installed by a Webasto dealer. It also has a retractable shade so you can have the shade open and the sunroof closed just to let the light in. It cost me 1K. No issues other than the creaking. I suppose I could bring it back to a Webasto dealer although the closest dealer is 75 miles away and I work 11 hours a day so I just live with the creaking.