Has anyone ever done a custom moonroof?

[Japandrew73]

Can i see pics of it?.... Can i see pics of your OEM moonroof? im considering buying one but am not sure.

[shmutzigE30]

this would be cool

[BrewCity11]

What do you mean custom? Like, a non-OEM moonroof and making it fit? Or just using the OEM one?

OEM moonroofs fit perfect and look great. I'm sure someone will eventually post pics of theirs.

[Japandrew73]

well i'd just like to see either. Im sure somebody has either retro-fitted a moonroof from another car or either gotten a glass panel and made it fit.

[318driver]

My pops was one of the top upholstry guys in the north east a couple years back. I always remember him installing custom moon roofs on cars. Theres a company that makes em, you simply cut and fit. Sounds easy. I forget the details of it. Google it.

[Kenji 325is]

Here's a picture of the OEM piece I used to have on my car.



But... The design is inherently flawed from an engineering standpoint. I'm no expert on sunroof/moonroof design, but I have an engineering degree. I should have known better installing this thing on my car. I think the adhesive may have broken down due to UV, heat, over its lifetime. Then this happened:





The moonroof flew off on the highway. The metal brackets should been a part of the frame holding the glass, not glued to the glass surface. Although I'm now $400 short, I'm lucky it landed on the ground before hitting anyone. For those that have this part on their e30s, I would strongly suggest checking the condition of the adhesive on the brackets before going on your next drive.

[E30_Pare]

I want a glass sunroof...

[Stephen]

What about smoked lexan or equivalent?

[IRON-E]

i want a glass sunroof...

^^^^^^^^^^+1

[Japandrew73]

if any company could make aftermarket moonroofs for an e30 please contact me. i'd buy them.

[BeirBrennerE30]

Here's a picture of the OEM piece I used to have on my car.



But... The design is inherently flawed from an engineering standpoint. I'm no expert on sunroof/moonroof design, but I have an engineering degree. I should have known better installing this thing on my car. I think the adhesive may have broken down due to UV, heat, over its lifetime. Then this happened:

The moonroof flew off on the highway. The metal brackets should been a part of the frame holding the glass, not glued to the glass surface. Although I'm now $400 short, I'm lucky it landed on the ground before hitting anyone. For those that have this part on their e30s, I would strongly suggest checking the condition of the adhesive on the brackets before going on your next drive.

pretty sure it wasnt installed correctly then... there are special mounts used for the glass roof to compensate for the extra weight of the glass and to provide access for the slider. also the moonroof kit includes reinforcemnents for the slider mounts and several otehr areas that need to be rivited on. also pretty sure that the attachments points for the actual glass part arent held on by glue... looks like you got a bad unit

[BeirBrennerE30]

oh and the oem moonroof is sweet...

[Apex381]

I have heard more than a few times that you can use the moonroof out of some SAAB. Its in a thread here somewhere. Probably some old thread from 2004. I would search and find it but I gotta go.

I've never seen it done though. Might just be one of those R3V myths.

[UNHCLL]

I have heard more than a few times that you can use the moonroof out of some SAAB. Its in a thread here somewhere. Probably some old thread from 2004. I would search and find it but I gotta go.

I've never seen it done though. Might just be one of those R3V myths.

E28 BMW's can use a Saab glass roof. Not E30's.

[Kenji 325is]

pretty sure it wasnt installed correctly then...

How do you know this when you haven't even seen my install? Can you give more details on how it's supposed to be installed? I'd like to learn from my mistake.

there are special mounts used for the glass roof to compensate for the extra weight of the glass and to provide access for the slider.

Are these special mounts you speak of what I have pictured? I was able to slide the sunroof panel back and forth with plenty of clearance with what I had...

also the moonroof kit includes reinforcemnents for the slider mounts and several otehr areas that need to be rivited on.

I don't see how these parts are related to the moonroof itself. It sounds more like these "supports" are for the slider. You can see in my picture I didn't have the slider.

also pretty sure that the attachments points for the actual glass part arent held on by glue... looks like you got a bad unit

Maybe I did receive a bad part. Whatever the case, I know what epoxy looks like. I do not see any other areas where this metal bracket was attached, and no evidence of repair. Just to make this part clear, the metal brackets are epoxied to the glass, the metal bracket has holes that line up to the original mounting points. The moonroof had BMW logo on the glass, so it's likely not a replica.

Have you owned one yourself or have any pictures of the "proper" unit you explain of?