anyone w/ an aftermarket sunroof? [Archive] - Grand Am Owners Club Forums

airee85

01-25-2004, 10:42 AM

Does anyone have an aftermarket sunroof installed on their Grand Am? I recently thought that I could trade my car in for another Grand Am with a factory sunroof, but I guess I haven't made enough payments on my current one yet to do that. So again, I'm looking into aftermarket sunroofs. Does anyone have pictures of them installed on their cars? I've seen a few that are hideous, where they are not flush with the roof, but I've also seen a couple that are very close and look almost factory installed.

Now, I've heard from a lot of people on messages boards who don't even have an aftermarket sunroof installed preaching that they leak. If you don't have one, how do you know? I've heard from tons of people (real life and on the net) with an aftermarket sunroof (whether it be an electric or manual one) that they have never had a problem with leaks. It seems like more people have leaks with factory installed sunroofs than aftermarket ones, from what I've heard. And where I want to get mine installed has a lifetime warranty, so I'm not that worried.

I'm just looking for anyone with pictures of their aftermarket sunroof or any help you can give me.

-Eric

Vintalage

01-25-2004, 11:13 AM

Wait until you make enough payments and then trade for another Grand am with a sunroof if you really want one. Trust me. I had an aftermarket on my previous car (alero) and it leaked about 7 months after I got it. I got rid it because the car itself was giving me too many problems. Got a fully loaded Grand am GT1 with sunroof. The factory sunroof operates much better than the aftermarket I had and the tint on the factory sunroof is much lighter so more sunlight hits my face when the roof is closed. :) The aftermarket had darker tint and I hated that. :mad:

The aftermarket sunroof was from ASC.

3 DeeJay

01-25-2004, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by Vintalage
Wait until you make enough payments and then trade for another Grand am with a sunroof if you really want one.

yupyup, that was one of my reasons for trading in my 99 GT for the one I have now, cause it had nothing and this one has everything.. :)

airee85

01-25-2004, 12:13 PM

Aww man, this sucks because I'm impatient, lol. I've had '99 Grand Am for almost 6 months now and I'm getting jumpy thinking about a sunroof. I really wanted a sporty car with a sunroof, but when I first got my car, I had no clue a Grand Am would be a possibility. So after showing me my current car in the lot, I couldn't pass it up. I feel kind of stupid now, because I know I could have found another one with a sunroof at the same price I paid for mine. But oh well, that's over and done with. So maybe this summer once I get my new job I'll be able to get this taken care of.

airee85

01-25-2004, 12:18 PM

Hey, btw, nice 2003 Grand Am =) I love the sc/t spoiler...do 2003 SE's have those rims as stock or did you get those afterwards? Looks great!

redgrandam

01-25-2004, 12:20 PM

I believe those are the chrome tech rims you are refering to ;) availble at the factory.

3 DeeJay

01-25-2004, 01:49 PM

My chromies came with the car. :) If you talkin about the ones in my avatar, I bought them on ebay.. :) Eagle 077s in 17.. I is the only one so far that I know of with a fully loaded SE1 eco 5spd. :D

HighwayProwlerz

01-25-2004, 06:17 PM

We had an aftermarket sunroof installed in the Alero. When calling around we found out that there is no such thing as a factory installed sunroof.... the dealer takes them to places to have them done before delivery or before they are put on the lot and sold. We called a few dealerships around here and found out where they got them done at but would also deal with consumers, and not just the dealership. We were directed to a place called AutoHaus by 3 different dealerships, so we went there. We got the spoiler sunroof (which is what is "Factory" in most GM cars) for $900 installed. They also offered the kind that slides into the roof for $1300. We figured if the dealerships use that place then they must do good work.

I suggest calling around to the dealerships and getting some info first. It would be cheaper in the long run to probably just do it yourself instead of waiting and trading your car in. Just do some homework first.

HighwayProwlerz

01-25-2004, 06:20 PM

And we had no problems with it. The guys did A++ work and it never leaked and looked factory. When we traded it in the people at the dealership thought it was "factory" installed. We told them that it wasn't and they got kinda weary about it. They asked where we got it done at and when we told them AutoHaus they were like all "wow" and "okay, we'll just say it's a "factory" installed sunroof then" when they were running numbers to give us a price on the trade-in.

JoeyK

01-25-2004, 08:09 PM

My GA has a power moonroof/ sunroof that IS factory/ built into the car at the factory. Havn't had any problems yet. I have had 3 aftermarket sunroofs put in 3 diff. vehicles by the same person & had absolutely no problems w/ them at all. The one car I had for over 5 years. I guess you get what you pay for, I paid a little more than the average for them but he lifetime guarunteed his work & also the sunroof manufacturer would cover any damage cuased by leakage as long as it is/was installed by a qualified/ approved installer. Look around & see if you can find that sort of warranty, if you do you can hardly go wrong. I've heard of all sorts of leakage stories, people will try & scare you. Most of the pople I know that have had problems w/ aftermarket sunroofs went to the cheapest they could find & then were supprised when they had trouble. Sometimes it's worth the extra $ to insure a quality job & product. Don't let anyone scare you, just be wise & make sure the quality's there & a gauruntee.;)

TA^Guy

01-25-2004, 08:22 PM

Ours is also Factory installed. But dealers are known for added sunroofs to vehicles on the lot if that is what the customer is looking for. When we were purchasing our GA they had one on the lot simular to what we wanted and they said for $1000 they could have a sunroof installed that is the same style installed from the factory. We decided to locate the vehicle we wanted and wait for delivery.

I would ask a dealer and see what they can do for you or where they can suggest for you to go.

airee85

01-25-2004, 08:42 PM

My dealer wasn't that helpful...when they were helping me look for cars there, I said that I really wanted a sunroof and they said I could go "somewhere" and get a manual pop up one installed. That was the best help they gave me. I definitely don't want a manual pop-up on such a nice car or a cheap looking electric one that isn't flush with the top of the car at all. I've never heard of having a dealer do it or a place that installs factory ones...? I'm definitely interested in that if there's such a thing though. I love my car (the color, audio controls on the steering wheel, and overal condition) and would never think about trading it in if it had a sunroof, but it doesn't and I really want one. $900 isn't bad at all for a sunroof that is basically factory...can you give me anymore info Highway Prowlerz/Joey K?

jason0617

01-26-2004, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by 3 DeeJay
I is the only one so far that I know of with a fully loaded SE1 eco 5spd. :D

Hey, did ya forget about me? Or you not counting mine since its a stripper?

Black99GT3

01-26-2004, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by airee85
Aww man, this sucks because I'm impatient, lol. I've had '99 Grand Am for almost 6 months now and I'm getting jumpy thinking about a sunroof. I really wanted a sporty car with a sunroof, but when I first got my car, I had no clue a Grand Am would be a possibility. So after showing me my current car in the lot, I couldn't pass it up. I feel kind of stupid now, because I know I could have found another one with a sunroof at the same price I paid for mine. But oh well, that's over and done with. So maybe this summer once I get my new job I'll be able to get this taken care of.

well look at the bright side..it's too cold and snowy right now to even put your sunroof to use, so why not just wait ya know?

3 DeeJay

01-26-2004, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by jason0617
Hey, did ya forget about me? Or you not counting mine since its a stripper?

:lol: a stipper? Yours is fully loaded too?

airee85

01-26-2004, 02:44 PM

I'm just thinking for the future, so I can get a car or sunroof and get the most use out of it this summer as I can, I don't want summer to come and then be like hey, I need to start working on this. Just thinking ahead.

3 DeeJay

01-26-2004, 04:18 PM

and once ya get one, you'll never not want to have one.. I'd go crazy if I didn't have one.

Black99GT3

01-26-2004, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by 3 DeeJay
and once ya get one, you'll never not want to have one.. I'd go crazy if I didn't have one.

Yeah i definitly agree! Along with the radio controls on the steering wheel..i'm gonna be picky with cars to have the controls on the steering wheel from now on

Vintalage

01-26-2004, 05:41 PM

Originally posted by 3 DeeJay
and once ya get one, you'll never not want to have one.. I'd go crazy if I didn't have one.

Yep, yep. That extra light pouring into the car and onto my face is great! :) Makes the drive more enjoyable with a sunroof. You have that open-air feel. Can't go without one ever again. Every car I buy will have one.

That's the other reason I hated aftermarket. It wasn't flush with the roof.

Crackers

01-27-2004, 07:27 AM

I had a couple of sunroofs installed. It seems that once I opened them in the winter, they leaked from that point on; as if the seal was dammaged by me opening them, or maybe water got in and froze.

I don't like sunroof's now that don't have a cover; I get a headache from the hot sun in the summer!

Artic

01-27-2004, 12:20 PM

I don't miss mine outta my gt yet but wait till summer its gonna drive me crazy alright.

jason0617

01-27-2004, 06:05 PM

I 'have had them, and they're nice, but it's not a necessity, really. Just my opinion, though.

airee85

01-31-2004, 11:13 PM

Thanks for everyone's input, I still am unsure of what to do. I do love my car and I think there are a few things unique about it that I might not be able to get if I trade it in. I love the color of mine and it's kind of rare, I have the steering wheel audio controls, and I don't know, I just haven't had any major problems with it. If I trade it in, I might just get a usual color (which I guess isn't that horrible) and a lot I have been looking at don't have the audio controls on the steering wheel, which I've found REALLY convenient (like Black99GT3 said), so maybe I will go for an aftermarket sunroof. And then in the future I can trade it in and get the real deal. I can afford the sunroof, but doing a trade in might be difficult right now.

3 DeeJay

01-31-2004, 11:21 PM

Just make sure they do a good job on the sunroof.. would suck to see a awesome car with a roof leakin.. :( Paint your mirrors.. :D

edit: ooooooo and vinyl over the amber corners!! look sweet in that color.. :)

airee85

01-31-2004, 11:41 PM

Yeah, my mirrors really do need to be painted. I thought they looked good in black, but the color looks kind of warped now, it's not glossy or anything. How much would it be to get my mirrors painted, just an estimate for experience? I should have had them do it when I was in my accident and they had the paint ready. And I'll make sure to do a lot of research on places that install sunroofs around here first.

3 DeeJay

01-31-2004, 11:45 PM

I paid 67 dollars for my mirrors to be painted at a body repair shop.. Did a great job and color matches really good.. Very pleased with them and they look great painted.. :)

airee85

01-31-2004, 11:56 PM

That's not bad at all...kind of makes me wanna get it done right away now! I was also thinking about some yellow reflective overlays, do they make those for SE's?

Vintalage

01-31-2004, 11:57 PM

I need to get my unpainted black mirrors on my Black GT painted. Cheap GM!!! :mad:

3 DeeJay

01-31-2004, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by airee85
That's not bad at all...kind of makes me wanna get it done right away now! I was also thinking about some yellow reflective overlays, do they make those for SE's?

They make any color you want.. :)

3 DeeJay

01-31-2004, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by Vintalage
I need to get my unpainted black mirrors on my Black GT painted. Cheap GM!!! :mad:

Do you have mickey mirrors?

airee85

02-01-2004, 02:23 AM

What color of badge overlays would look best on my car? I was thinking white carbon fiber or reflective bright yellow...something about yellow and green, I love it. I just got a vision...my car with it's new sunroof, yellow reflective overlays, and new GT style chrome rims, yay! Maybe even a GT body kit? Ooo! Maybe I should take this one step at a time, hehe.

3 DeeJay

02-01-2004, 02:37 AM

Do yellow and green if you like it.. :)

airee85

02-01-2004, 03:01 AM

Are we the only ones up at 4 AM discussing car mods? LoL...I love it! And yeah, I think I'm definitely gonna go with bright yellow...I think it's the only color that I would like to see on my car. :-D

3 DeeJay

02-01-2004, 03:07 AM

We might be.. :lol: Just not matter what anyone says, do you want you like to your car even if it may look ugly to someone else.. your car, your driving it and your the one thats gotta look at it everyday.. :) I went with purple, even though its kinda girly, but I think purple and silver look good together and I think there's more people that do blue than purple anyways..

Vintalage

02-01-2004, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by 3 DeeJay
Do you have mickey mirrors?

No, I have the dual posts mirrors. GM decided to cut a corner on the black cars and leaved the mirrors unpainted. So now, it looks awful. Serious fade.

2003 GT1 SILVER

02-01-2004, 10:23 AM

I got purple decals on my silver GT I should post some pics it looks really good on siver.:P

Stacy

airee85

02-01-2004, 12:08 PM

Yes, take some pics! I kinda wanna see what they look like, especially at night. You know, purple might even look good on my car now that I think of it :lol:

3 DeeJay

02-01-2004, 12:42 PM

Yeah post some pics.. cause I thought about purple overlay, but I didn't know if it looked purple or if it looked pink.. :)

Black99GT3

02-01-2004, 02:21 PM

i think purple only looks good with black like highwayprowlerz car...with your type of green i think yellow might be your best bet..if you had the darker forrest green you would have more options, but with that type of green you are a little limited..but whatever you think looks good is all that matters!