General Maxima Discussion This a general area for Maxima discussions for all years. For more specific questions, visit one of the generation-specific forums.

Another potentially silly question (prolly not)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-12-2003, 03:21 PM
  #1  
Jedi Knight
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
nupe500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,615
Another potentially silly question (prolly not)

is it possible to put the factory sunroof into a car that did not come with one from the factory? Are the cars structurally different in the roof? anyone ever take a gander to know?
nupe500 is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 03:25 PM
  #2  
I'm needing a caw
iTrader: (82)
 
Jeff92se's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 34,147
I don't think so. In my 3gen, you can see some additional sheet metal there when you open the roof. I suppose if you got some serious talent with a welder. OR if you happen to have that part w/o the sunroof(but I really doubt it)
Jeff92se is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 03:37 PM
  #3  
Jedi Knight
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
nupe500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,615
thanks all knowing Jeff!
nupe500 is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 03:57 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
EZEMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,430
i asked a body shop once and they said, they can graft the roof on made with the support and mounting brackets for the sunroof. Or locate a donor car from a junk yard and swap the roof part....they said it's like replacing your quarter panels... cut of the part and weld in the new part....basically a R&R if you have the correct parts..
EZEMaxima is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 04:50 PM
  #5  
Jedi Knight
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
nupe500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,615
too bad you're in Hawaii...there's a guy who says he can do it here...but I'm skeptical...u know? we'll see...reason I ask is that some is interested in buying it but I was already thinking about this and wanted to see how feasible it was.

Thanx
nupe500 is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 05:26 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Frank Fontaine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,883
Re: Another potentially silly question (prolly not)

Originally posted by nupe500
is it possible to put the factory sunroof into a car that did not come with one from the factory? Are the cars structurally different in the roof? anyone ever take a gander to know?
After watching Discovery and TLC, anything is possible. Even if you had the resources to do so, I don't think the results are worth the effort. Just buy a 95 SE with moonroof for 3 grand, and you can have an entire car for probably less that what it'd cost to cut off your roof and install another one.
Frank Fontaine is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 06:30 PM
  #7  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
BioMaxDDS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,442
I had a sunroof put into my 3000GT back in 97, never had any problem with it. i think it cost around $1k
BioMaxDDS is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 07:04 PM
  #8  
Member
 
Infinitbird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 79
My moms 2001 gxe didn't have a sunroof from the factory but the dealer put one in for her so i think its very possible.
Infinitbird is offline  
Old 08-12-2003, 08:28 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Dave Holmes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 866
I would be leery about the structural integrity of a roof that has had a hole cut in it without factory reinforcement. Now I could be way off base, but here is my reasoning. A post on this board said that a sunroof equipped Maxima is 65 lbs heavier than the identical car without one. I've removed my sunroof glass, and seen the motor, etc... I can not see how that would add up to near 65 lbs. This makes me believe that there is significant strengthening of the roof. Plus, I think if there wasn't, and the car rolled, there would be a huge liability for the manufacturer when the roof caves in compared to a non-sunroof equipped model. It's not like the safety glass will be supportive, because it won't be intact.
If it was me, and I didn't have a sunroof but wanted one, I'd get a car from the factory with one. I just don't think it would be worth the expense/hassle to have one installed (not to mention possible air/water leaks).
Those are my thoughts, and they could be wrong...

Dave
Dave Holmes is offline  
Old 08-13-2003, 05:09 AM
  #10  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
Re: Another potentially silly question (prolly not)

Originally posted by nupe500
is it possible to put the factory sunroof into a car that did not come with one from the factory? Are the cars structurally different in the roof? anyone ever take a gander to know?
A lot of work dude...
deezo is offline  
Old 08-13-2003, 12:28 PM
  #11  
Jedi Knight
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
nupe500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,615
I have decided that I'm not even going to put any sunroof in the car...just deal without it...my first car without a sunroof...I've been so spoiled!..
nupe500 is offline  
Old 08-13-2003, 01:20 PM
  #12  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
Originally posted by nupe500
I have decided that I'm not even going to put any sunroof in the car...just deal without it...my first car without a sunroof...I've been so spoiled!..
Now you won't have to worry about fixing it when it goes bad.
deezo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
hcarter1112
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
42
07-18-2022 03:35 PM
Unclejunebug
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
10
04-02-2016 05:42 AM
doctorpullit
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
60
12-12-2015 09:39 AM
Socalstillen
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
1
09-26-2015 12:01 PM



Quick Reply: Another potentially silly question (prolly not)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:21 PM.