I've been gandering at my car lately and have been debating whether or not to take the wind deflector off my sunroof. Envisioning it with it off, I see my car looking a nice bit cleaner without that bulbous thing sticking out like it does. The rubber trim piece is a bit worn out too (I did darken it up pretty good with some Forever Black and it does look significantly better) but am curious to see how my car would look without it.

I guess the only the thing preventing me from taking it off is my fear that the paint will be roasted from the rubber trim and will be difficult if not impossible to restore. I've got a bevy of polishes and a Porter Cable at my disposal so I do have the ability to get down and dirty with it, but if there's significant damage done to the clear coat, then it'll be tough regardless of what I do or use.

Also, once it's off, can it be put back on adequately or will I be fuxored if the paint is indeed scratched to shyt? Were the 4th Gen wind deflectors put on by adhesive or just fastened down by the 2 clips?


So what do y'all think, take it off or just leave it cause it'll be tough to put back on if the paint is indeed toast? Any regrets on taking them off or anybody have severely damaged paint from it out there?


Thanks for any of your experiences or thoughts you can provide me on this.

 

The car looks more streamlined without it. I got one from a junkyard a while back and put it on. Left it for a week and decided against it. It did leave a mark that I was never able to get rid of. Maybe you'll have better luck with it.

 

I agree, that's why I want to ditch it. I just don't want to take it off, realize that I can't get the paint back to spec and then not be able to get it back on (if it's supposed to be held on by adhesive) Sounds like your wasn't and something abrasive got trapped under there and scratched you up a bit. Sorry to hear, specially after only having it on for a week.

 

I've never seen any that were held with adhesive, just the two clips. It'll go back on the same way it came off. I made sure to clean both contact surfaces before putting mine on so no dirt got under it.

 

Aye. What do you suppose left the mark?

 

Probably a combination of old rubber and hot Texas heat.

 

You ever take some serious polish and a buffer to it?

 

my car has had one from day one, as far as i know, i took it off and theres quite the mark from it. i'll probably just clean it up real good and polish the roof and put it back on just to cover up the marks

 

Ah, are your marks abrasion marks or is it more of a impression mark from the rubber gasketing?

 

Sunroof deflectors are so lame.....look absolutely horrible.

 

I like mine It's your car though, don't let us decide for you.

 

I took mine off, it had it from day one back in 97. It left a mark but after I buffed it a few times its less noticible. IMO it looks better with a slight paint blemish than having the sunroof visor. I say take it of and if it is too messed up for your taste, slap it back on.

 

i put my own when cruising, but when racing it comes off and sits in the garage. very easy to put on and take off, so depending on your mood ride with it or without !

 

always had it on... never thought of taking it off

 

Well, since it is easily removable and can be put back on with no problems, then I'll take her off and see what I've got going on with the paint. If we didn't have water restrictions going on here right now, I'd go to town on it today, oh well.

Thanks for your input guys.

 

that's what she said...

 

damnnnnnnnn hahahahahaha. THATS HOW WE DO 'ROUND HERE.

 

When I got mine it had a cracked sunroof wind deflector. Unfortunately, when I took it off I saw that it had ruined the paint under it. So, I ended replacing the bad wind deflector with a new one.

 

i plan on taking it off around the end of summer also..it makes the car so ugly with it on..

 

loose it, and get ur drag coefficient back to 0.32

 

Without it on, open sunroof driving on the hwy can get pretty noisy with the air turbulence.

 

I know it, but honestly I rarely have it open to begin with, especially with the heat down here. If I do, it's usually when I'm driving around the city, so the added wind noise won't be such an issue. If my driving habits change, then at least I'll have the luxury to put it back on if I want to.