The one thing I wish my TDI had was a sunroof. Anyone have any sage advice for determining which type of aftermarket sunroof to consider and/or how to select a decent installer? I'd love to have a W123-style manual sliding roof, but that might be cost-prohibitive. The old pop-up/removable glass type may be more my speed price-wise. Anyone?

Thanks!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I just finished doing some research on it. There are 2 companies that make the systems, ASC/Inalfa, Webasto.

Google for the sites and you will get a local shop/franchise, to install it. It's easier than I thought, with the power one's starting at $750.

Thanks for the info! For the life of me, I cannot find anyone who offers a MANUAL sliding roof. I'd prefer that to electric, to be honest, and I'd imagine it SHOULD be cheaper, to boot. One of my bigger concerns is workmanship. I want to find a place that's going to treat the edges of the cut roof, for instance, to prevent corrosion.

Chris

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

most of these aftermarket sunroofs (all in fact) a few years down the road you will find yourself regretting intalling when seals dry up etc and replacement parts are no longer availible.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Or when you're sitting at a red light and a bird craps on your head.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

I had some recent experience with a couple of aftermarket sunroofs.
A few weeks ago, I stopped at my local Nissan dealer to get a part. I checked out a new Altima in the showroom and noticed it had a German Webasto sunroof - something one doesn't usually find on a Japanese vehicle. Salesman claimed the dealer installs them so customers won't have to buy an expensive package to get a sunroof, which is the only way the factory installed one is availible. I didn't try to test that sunroof installation for sturdiness.
Then last week I had to work on an '89 Misubishi Montero with a jammed-open aftermarket Webasto sunroof. It was the type where the glass panel lifts up and slides back over the roof. One of the plastic tilt&slide brackets had cracked. The local Misubishi dealer informed me that they don't stock parts for dealer-installed sunroofs.
I was able to get the sunroof to close tightly, then disconnect the switch wires to prevent it's getting jammed open again. I also noticed while getting that sunroof closed that no significant reinforcement was added to the Mitsubishi when the roof-hole was cut and I could flex the roof panel about 1 to 2 inches. Webasto is a good make and it's supplied as factory equipment on a number of German cars, but I hesitate to recommend an aftermarket one.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

These are allr easons to get a MANUAL sunroof. I have one in the Mustang (over 10 years old) and the g/f has one in the 97 Taurus... neither leak, or are in any way broken.

Webasto does make aftermarket sunroofs... check out their website. They look pretty interesting! I am gravitating toward one of the top-slider variety:

http://www.donmar.com/sunroofs/tslider.htm#

It would look at-home on a Jetta, and is MANUAL!

__________________
1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)