Adding a sunroof

[automaticj5]

Does anyone have any experiences with putting an aftermarket sunroof in their explorer? I would prefer power, but is there a problem with leaks, and how much $$$ would I be looking at?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

i have heared that they leak..but i could be wrong..i was once

 

[Robb]

If installed properly, they won't leak. Leaky sunroofs are simply derived from poor installation.

You should be able to find a local shop that does good sunroof installs, just ask around. The price will vary greatly with the particular shop, size of the sunroof, quality of the roof, and the options wanted.

 

[4.6Runner]

I did have a 03 Cobra. I was going too add an after market power sun/moon roof to it. The SVT tech. at my dealership, told me not too do it, as he has never seen one that has not leaked.
But the place that does it locally always has a lot of Caddies sitting there grtting them installed. Go to a couple local dealers and see where they might send their cars.

 

[99SportX]

Black Magic had an aftermarket one installed in his sport.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Body flex would be more of a concern than leakage. Around here it cost between $350 to $1200 to install one. Although I've never seen an Explorer get done yet.

 

[Modemagic]

I used to install sunroofs in just about anything you can imagine. I did it for a couple years, and even spent a week in Michigan at a Webasto training session.

Popups are simple.. hole in roof... plastic sandwiches the metal with silicone to have a weathertight seal. No big deal.

The full power sunroofs (where the glass drops down and seems to disappear in the headliner) is actually designed to leak. The rubber seal around the glass simply closes the gap. There are four drain tubes located at the corners of inner basket that drain off the water. It leaks water but you never know it. Remember that the inner basket will be twice as long front to back as the sunroof glass and if u add the motor and gearing a little bit longer even.

Remember with any sunroof, the area in which the sunroof will be installed WILL have the cross ribs cut out of the car. On an explorer this isn't support threatening... especially if your going to install a full power model your bracing of the lower basket will support it and be stronger when all is said and done then factory. I pity the guy that puts a popup in a newer Kia or something along those lines and rolls it... those things are like pop cans.

Pricing is as broad as the ocean is wide. You want to stick with a name brand sunroof, Don-mar, Webasto, Leonardo, etc. Pick a shop that'll honor the lifetime installation warranty. Not so much you'll ever need it, because once they are in and working fine thats the way it is. A shop that offers it also takes great pride in their work and will do it right the first time... because its the installer that'll end up redoing it for free, not the shop. You can get a popup installed for just a few hundred bucks, and a full power can hit well over a grand. I used to install Full power roofs in dealership cars, (cars dealerships pick to have stuff put in as a last ditch effort to move the car or because a customer requested a roof put in) for in the neighborhood of 1300 bucks, depending on model of sunroof and model of car.

Hope that answers most of your questions and not confuses you more. Any questions email me off-forum or ask on here!

 

[karl_burns]

Dave hit it right on the head

The pricing is so variatn, but pop-ups are significantly cheaper than the moonroof (sunroof that goes into the liner). In fact, I purchased a moonroof off eBay from a 1997 Explorer pretty cheap, but now I can't find someone to install it since they all wanna make their money off the parts! That, and these New Englanders make everything as difficult as possible, "Why would you want a sunroof?"
Well, do a ton of research, and there are a few threads on here with some more information.
Karl

 

[EBInterceptor]

My Ex had one put in her car (1999 Cougar) and never had leak problems, hers is power, but slides up and over the roof of the car. It also had ridges on the top of the car, which wasn't very attractive, but on an X you wouldn't see that because it's much higher up. Cost was maybe in the $300-$500 range.

 

[automaticj5]

awesome thanks for all the info. I am going to have to go talk to a shop here in the spring.. thanks.

 

[Modemagic]

couple other quick terms for all of you tuning in at home... the power sunroof that pops up and slides back like you see on alot of Eclipses, Cougars, and other sports cars is what they call a sliding sunroof or slider. Most are power, there are a few that are manual. There's really no such thing as a "moonroof" anymore. There are a few manufacturers out there that still have them as an option, but not often. The difference between a full power sunroof and moonroof is the glass. The sunroof has a glass in it whereas the moonroof is simply metal painted to match the car. They aren't around much anymore because they aren't very economical. The full power roofs are also equipped with sunshades which totally block out the sun.

Hey karl, bring that explorer over to me.. I'll cut a hole in it for ya!

 

[bubbatruck78]

most all after market sun roofs and t-tops leak . and the reason behind that is the factory truck or car with the sun roof was made with the structure to susport the sun roof. Go to a junk yard and find to cars / trucks that are the same body style one with sun roof and 1 with out , pull the head liner out and you'll see the differance in the susport.