Suggestions on Sunroofs

[Frisckey1]

My mom is buying me a sunroof installation for my explorer for my b-day, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/warnings about any particular types or manufacturers? Anyhelp is appreciated. I was acutally hoping for a moonroof...but can they install that aftermarket?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tim K]

I don't have an answer...just a question...

What is the difference between a moonroof and a sunroof?

I always thought they were two different words for the same thing.

 

[espnfreak]

my god

seriously, moonroof opens back, sunroof pops up

 

[Bill Kemp]

our local Maxi-Muffler/Ziebart guy has put in two sun roofs for me in the last six or so years. Not had any problems and still have the cars.
Be sure to use someone who has been around for a while and ask to talk to a few of his customers. Good shops are proud of their work and welcome questions. The roof is only as good as the service/installer.

 

[Peter Weber]

Originally posted by Tim K
I don't have an answer...just a question...

What is the difference between a moonroof and a sunroof?

I always thought they were two different words for the same thing.

The aftermarket sunroofs are normally pop-ups (kind of like the rear side windows in a Sport) made out opaque glass or plexiglass.

A factory sunroof in a passenger car normally is a section of steel roof that slides back under the roof above the headliner. A moonroof has an additional second piece made out of glass that can be kept closed when the steel roof is retracted. It can be retracted separately. At least that's the way it was in my BMW. The problem with this arrangement is that you loose some headroom in the backseat.

 

[Frisckey1]

So...

Is a moonroof identical to a factory sunroof? Meaning, unless mom spends big bucks, they won't do it? Will I loose structural integrity? I mean other than the obvious change of having glass overhead instead of solid metal?

I wonder how pricey? I guess I will find out this weekend! Too excited. I have asked several people who have sunroofs aftermarket, but no one with moonroofs aftermarket. All say they are happy. Hope I am not the exception!

Any other suggestions/thoughts are welcome

 

[Peter Weber]

I don't think you're going to find anybody to install a sliding sun (or moon) roof. The aftermarket install's that I have seen are all the flip-ups.

My neighbor had one installed in his '98 Limited and it was about $800.

 

[Frisckey1]

OUCH!

A little steep. Mom put off her visit until this weekend. We will see then. I guess I will just have to settle unless she hit the lotto or something! Of course is she is willing to spend 3-4 hundred, why not 8? Right? Woohoo! I'll let you all know how it turns out 8~)

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Frisckey1]

Update

I have an appointment to get my sunroof installed!!!! Yeah! I am getting a 38" long by 22" wide sunroof (pop up) w/ tinted privacy glass. I can't wait!!!! I am getting it this Friday. ($480.00 installed) Anyhoo...my question is about the honeycomb type tinting on the glass. The place I am going to says their sunroofs don't have it, just privacy tint. I have looked around but have seen anything like that...wondering where I can have it added? Is it a tint, does anybody know?

Oh yeah..btw...I did get a price on the moonroof (power) and it was $850, but the place I called didn't actually do the work, they only sold the sunroof and referred me to some other company I had never heard of. Thought I would stick w/ someone I knew, plus $800 was a bit too high.

 

[sirhk100]

I recently purchased a 92' explorer with a aftermarket power moonroof. It has 4 buttons on the roof. one pops it up like a normal sunroof. another slides it back into the headliner. the third one closes it from either oposition. The 4th one if pushed in automatically closes it when the ignition is turned off. (Pretty cool feature)!! It has the headliner cover below the glass that can be manually slid open and closed to explose the glass. The install looks perfect. The only reason you can't tell it's factory is cause the buttons just don't look Ford like but they do look fine. Off the top of my head it's made by either ASC or ACS. I'm not sure of the price cause like I said it was in the vehicle whan I bought it.

 

[Frisckey1]

Yeah!!!!

I got it!!!! Oh My Gawd! I love it. Too cool. The thing is huge. Wonderful installation and the first place I took it was to the car wash to assure a waterproof seal. Was just fine. Its a pop up 38" by 22".

I did loose my overhead dome light, though. Wondering where to put it so the map lights will still be useful? Any suggestions? Or perhaps a new overhead dome light? I really like the map lights though.