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If memory serves me, there is a Rennlist member who did it himself in his garage. A search (as bad as it is) may turn up the post. I believe he was in Arizona.
Indeed, the 15lb weight savings isn't what's driving my decision, rather its the overall look that I want.
While a 15 lb savings might not sound like much, the sunroof is at the highest point on the car. Except for unsprung weight like wheels and tires, up high on the is the best place to save weight, for better handling. Better than removing 15 lbs at the floor pan level on the car, Lithium batteries, lightweight glass, and replacing that heavy rear seat back with the lightweight GT3 rear carpet set are also useful handling upgrades, because the are all mounted above the center of gravity of a 911..
So I finally found a glass sunroof on eBay. These things are super rare, especially to find a good one that's reasonably priced. The install was literally all of 20mins.
It's a really simple process:
1. Pop the sunroof up but stop it retracting back all the way. You just want it to lift to reveal the six torx screws.
2. Remove the six torx screws and lift the panel out. If you're tall like me you can do this by yourself.
3. Put the new glass roof into place. Try to align the torx screws using the markings previously etched into the paint from the removal from the donor car.
4. Do not tighten the screws. Just leave them enough so they are snugly holding the roof in place.
5. Close the roof. Observe the alignment by the seal compression into the roof line. This should help guide adjustment to either move the panel, backwards, forwards, up or down at each of the four corners. Pop the roof again and start by aligning the front from what you observed.
6. It will take several tries to get it nicely aligned.
You're done! This is how much you pop it to start Look ma, no roof! See the three torx screws? Complete!
did you happen to weigh metal vs glass? I always liked having more light vs the actual opening of the roof
Nope - but the metal was definitely a bit lighter. For me the decision was about the look, the aesthetics. I don't race it on the track, I'm not going to corner it at 140mph where it would matter. And look better it does, for me at least, especially from the inside.
So I finally found a glass sunroof on eBay. These things are super rare, especially to find a good one that's reasonably priced. The install was literally all of 20mins.
It's a really simple process:
1. Pop the sunroof up but stop it retracting back all the way. You just want it to lift to reveal the six torx screws.
2. Remove the six torx screws and lift the panel out. If you're tall like me you can do this by yourself.
3. Put the new glass roof into place. Try to align the torx screws using the markings previously etched into the paint from the removal from the donor car.
4. Do not tighten the screws. Just leave them enough so they are snugly holding the roof in place.
5. Close the roof. Observe the alignment by the seal compression into the roof line. This should help guide adjustment to either move the panel, backwards, forwards, up or down at each of the four corners. Pop the roof again and start by aligning the front from what you observed.
6. It will take several tries to get it nicely aligned.
You're done! This is how much you pop it to start Look ma, no roof! See the three torx screws? Complete!
Bump - looks great! did you have any adverse issues since the installation? I see that a dealer told someone the glass roof might wear out the motors quicker because of the added weight... not sure if that's a real issue or not.
Also, looks like you can't retrofit the shade right?
Bump - looks great! did you have any adverse issues since the installation? I see that a dealer told someone the glass roof might wear out the motors quicker because of the added weight... not sure if that's a real issue or not.
Also, looks like you can't retrofit the shade right?
Not sure why a dealer would say that. There are no part differences on the motor and rail assembly. Sounds like a made up issue I've had no issues and I've had it open at speed too. It's definitely a worthwhile change.
I guess you could retrofit the shade if you pulled the entire headliner out Way too much work... I personally don't have any issues with that missing bc it doesn't really get hot enough to need it in Southern CA, USA.
Not sure why a dealer would say that. There are no part differences on the motor and rail assembly. Sounds like a made up issue I've had no issues and I've had it open at speed too. It's definitely a worthwhile change.
I guess you could retrofit the shade if you pulled the entire headliner out Way too much work... I personally don't have any issues with that missing bc it doesn't really get hot enough to need it in Southern CA, USA.
thanks for the quick reply! agonizing over a 991 purchase, and the frontrunner car i'm interested in has a metal sunroof, but if i can swap it, that might seal the deal lol. i've got a fixed glass roof on my existing car that doesn't open or have a shade, so i'm sure i'll deal with it.
04-09-2021, 12:37 PM
I've had no issues and I've had it open at speed too. It's definitely a worthwhile change. 
Way too much work... I personally don't have any issues with that missing bc it doesn't really get hot enough to need it in Southern CA, USA.