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.