letting dealer install a sunroof?

[Zardi]

I hope it's ok to post this here!

Just yesterday, I traded in my 2002 NB for a gently used 2010 one (former rental). Pending final inspection, I will be picking up the new one tomorrow.

Though I have been wanting to trade in my old NB for a while now, I am having a hard time letting him go, so I am making plans to personalize the new one as quickly as possible. Which leads to:

I really wanted a sunroof in the new car, but were no sunroof-equipped 2010's (new or low mileage used) in this area of the US for sale. I have heard horror stories about aftermarket sunroofs leaking on Beetles, because of the curved roof not matching the straight lines of the sunroof.

However, what if I let the dealer install it? Wouldn't it then be the same sunroof they put in NB's at the factory? Or would it still have the same problems with leaking?

I REALLY want a sunroof, but not at the price of a ruined interior or rust.

[SMG]

They wouldn't be installing an OEM moonroof that's for sure. It's possible but they'd need the whole roof panel, headliner, moonroof assembly and a ton of switches and wiring.

Guaranteed they have a local guy who will come to the dealer as a subcontractor to do the work with an aftermarket sunroof even though they'll make it sound like an in-house job.

[TDI_bubble]

If you wanted a real sunroof you will need to get a top clip of a bug with a sunroof. There's support brackets and a lot of stuff for retraction that aren't just bolt/glue around the seal areas. Sounds like what you are being sold on is a pop up or possibly some type of outside retracting sunroof that bolts up only around where the edges are like a moonroof/popup.

[Zardi]

Lots of great info from both of you. Thanks!

Sounds like it's best not to risk it, since doing it properly would be such a major job. It's too bad there weren't any cars available with a sunroof already installed

Oh well. It'll still be fun to have all the other luxuries that my old GL lacked.