I haven't got a sunroof and I want one!

[Scorcher]

I'm planning on keeping my car for a long time yet, and the only thing it lacks (IMHO) is a sunroof.

Other than one of those wonderful eBay stick on fake ones, what options do I have?

With the amount of engine and exhaust work I have had done it's not feasible to just chop the car in for another model that has one fitted.

I've seen quite a few companies on the internet that offer the service from around £400+

Has anyone had this done to their car, or can recommend a company?

ta!

 

[Howard]

Forget it , you'll ruin the car . Sunroofs that weren't fitted at the factory never work or look right .

In an E55 as nice as yours it would be sacriledge ....

 

[jaymanek]

Webasto.

http://www.webasto.co.uk/general/en/am_automobile_3016.html

Have had a CLK once with a webasto roof fitted.. the fitment was very neat and id say looked better than factory. The switch looked obviously non OEM but was placed out of view.

 

[BlackC55]

DONT DO IT!

It will leak, look crap and ruin the overall look of the car.

 

[jaymanek]

All depends on who does it and the roof you go for...

Decent fitments will cost around 1K.

 

[Meldrew2]

Years and years ago, I had a webasto sunroof fitted to my (then brand new) Audi 80.

No leaks, no wind noise, no problems.

 

[popuptoaster]

I've put sunroofs into cars before, if you cant weld/do body work the easiest way to do it is to find a body shop that will replace a roof skin, get a quote then get down the salvage yard and buy a roof from a merc with a sunroof in it. pretty much all of em are just a bolt in cartridge and a roof skin with a pressed hole in it. you can get any wiring or switches you need and the headlining might be a different shape, might be easier to buy a whole car and scrap what you dont use.

 

[BlackC55]

The A-class (168) and ML (163) have webasto Llamella sliding roofs as an option. They are awful.

I have replaced at least 10 in my MB career. They jam up (the worst thing), leak and are a pig to fit and repair. My advice is to stay away.

 

[GRAV888]

With the amount of engine and exhaust work I have had done it's not feasible to just chop the car in for another model that has one fitted.

Would be easier to buy another with a sunroof and swap engines etc

 

[jaymanek]

The 163 and 168 rooves are rubbish.. but they are the horrible plastic ones made to provide a panoramic opening... the complications always occur when you go for a roof too big for the car... just like the W203 coupe rooves...they are troublesome too.

Proper double glazed glass webasto rooves are really solid... go to a stockist and look at the difference.

 

[A210AMG]

I had a quote for my ML for a OEM style glass one and it was from memory £900 fitted.

I don't see why that should look naff? its the only option you would have had from Merc?

I did love the long ones on the older ML's but have read these can cause problems.


http://www.webastoshowroom.com/4_5000info.html

 

[st4]

Will a sun roof not take away some structural rigitdy from the car, add weight and raise the COG, and at the same time eat into the head room.

Don't waste your time and money. Spend it on more power mods

 

[A210AMG]

Don't think a tunned E55 will notice a little extra weight.

If you could tell the difference driving the car strength wise with a roof....I doubt it.


Convertible of course but a standard size roof....??


Headroom I will agree

 

[st4]

Don't think a tunned E55 will notice a little extra weight.

If you could tell the difference driving the car strength wise with a roof....I doubt it.


Convertible of course but a standard size roof....??


Headroom I will agree

Under high speed cornering the higher COG and lack of rigidity I bet can be felt, although the more noticeable thing will be the lack of headroom. They are nice things to have, but it was just to make the OP fully aware the pitfalls.

 

[219]

Actually , fitment of a Webasto sunroof ADDS rigidity !

When you put in the frame it adds more strength than it takes away .

I have the full length fabric sunroof on my 219 ; it does leak slightly due to some cracks in the fabric these days , but only in torrential rain , and it IS now 52 years old . Never used to leak at all when I last used the car regularly about 15 years ago .

I have also had aftermarket glass sunrooves fitted to 'lesser' makes in the past , and no problems , it just comes down to finding a decent fitter .

A steel sliding roof will reduce headroom inside the car by more than you'd imagine : one of my 190E's has a sunroof and the other hasn't - it's AMAZING how much more headroom there is in the non-sunroof car . Of course , the 'traditional' fabric Webasto sunroof does not intrude into your headroom , and having practically the full roof open up gives you an open-air experience better than a convertible : all the sunshine you want , without the draughts !

 

[BTB 500]

In 2002 I ordered a 4WD 2.8 V6 VW Sharan - you were not allowed to specify a sunroof on that model because of the effect on bodyshell stiffness.

 

[verytalldave]

I went out my way to source a w203 that had several toys, one being a sunroof. That was on the advice of a friend, and am I glad I did.
It makes the cabin so much more bright and airy, even when closed.
Its well worth the hassle and expense I assure you and you wont regret it for one second.
Its rare to find a Mercedes that has had one fitted from new, and its one of the very extras that do add value and desirability. Even more than COMAND in my humble opinion. You can retrofit COMAND easily, but not a sunroof.

 

[A210AMG]

My Dad always specs a sunroof, a lot of money at around £900 but loves them.

He is 6ft 2 and in his E class etstate causes no problems,


I looked for one when looking at buying a facelifted ML w163 and buying second hand they are very very rare.


Lovely to have though I would love one, mainly as I miss not being able to put my roof down.....

 

[Benzowner]

My 2p, I prefer not to have a sunroof, they lower the headroom by at least 2" or 50mm and can be a preverbial pain in the butt when they start leaking. I have a sun roof and rarely, if ever, use it. Some cars, particularly performance cars, look better without imo.

 

[jeremytaylor]

OEM sunroofs are fine, until the drain channels block. I avoid them like the plague.

I think an aftermarket sunroof on an E55 would harm its value, never mind the other problems.