Who makes a sunroof for 2008?

I don't know if there is a sunroof that's "recommended" for the Gen II Prius. The curved roof presents structural issues over and above the structural issues inherent with sunroofs.

Despite the fact that it isn't recommended, Chatters here have put in the Webasto 5300 and its cousin the Hollandia 730, which are both fairly large power inbuilt sunroofs, and cost about $1100 - $1300 installed.

I heard of another Chatter who put in a smaller pop-up/spoiler sunroof for less than $500 installed. I don't know if his sunroof was "recommended" either, but I can see how a smaller sunroof can be more structurally sound.

I think you should call a sunroof installer and ask it to search for a sunroof that's recommended by the manufacturer for the Prius.

Or if you want to, find an installer with experience installing sunroofs on the Prius and who's still willing to do it.

Personally, I think I'm going to have the Webasto 4300 (same as the 5300, but without auto-close) installed by a shop on Long Island that's done it before. I'm willing to assume the risks involved which I see as (1) Webasto doesn't recommend its installation on the Prius, and (2) the installation on the Prius may not be as structurally sound as it is on most other cars.

If I find a sunroof that's approved for installation on a Prius, I'll let you know.

 

I hate to be the one to spoil the party, especially since I'm interested in a moonroof, too, HOWEVER, there were some other posts here that mentioned the roof losing its structural integrity. There was one example where the sheet metal "popped" downwards when someone pressed down on it, but the problem was that it stayed that way with no method of properly fixing it. Investigation determined that there wasn't enough space to install supports within the roof and that other Priuses could potentially suffer from this same collapse. I can't find a link to the thread, but I'm sure someone else can pop in here with it.

Now, I'm thinking the chances of this "popping in" occuring are really low unless if you go through automatic carwashes a lot, so it might still be okay to go for it despite knowing the risk.

Fake Edit: Found the thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/32662-sunroof-installed-2007-prius-minneapolis.html

In that case, instead of a brace how about just filling the area with high density foam (assuming its in front of the glass and not behind where it retracts to when it's open).

Hm...

 

I wonder if craigk's installer is referring to the moonroof popping down (and not the Prius roof)?

In any event, I take some comfort in knowing that neither craigk nor the other Chatters who've installed the moonroof have reported any problems. But I am going to question my installer about this.

 

I've never been worried about this or seen any evidence of a problem.
Love that sun!

ps. The unit is a Webasto Hollandia 700 series, approx. 31 1/2" x 18 1/2".

 

Thanks for the update.

Very curious (skeptical actually) --- exactly which pictures from here supposedly show "buckling in the roof", "trim/seals not seated properly," and "etc."?

 

Thanks Michelle.

-- Don't know if it matters or if there are any differences, but craigk's moonroof shown is not the Webasto 5300, but the Hollandia 730.

-- I believe that strieby, who has the Webasto 5300, said something about the flushness of his moonroof on the Prius. I'll search later for his comments.

-- Yes, I was considering the pop-up/spoiler and smaller moonroofs too as they seem as if they might be more structurally sound on the Prius than inbuilt moonroofs like the Webasto 5300 and Hollandia 730.

-- If you're considering the Webasto 3200 or 3400 spoiler sliding sunroof, you might also want to check out the Hollandia 300 series of spoiler sliding sunroofs.

-- BTW, the Webasto 4300 is not smaller than the 5300. It's the same as the 5300 except it doesn't have the 5300's auto-close feature.

-- I'm going to be talking with my installer this week too. I'll keep you posted of what he says.

 

Michelle,

Looking at the photo in question more closely, as well as the other photos and video of craigk's Webasto Hollandia 730 moonroof and the moonroof photos of other PriusChatters, I just don't see what your installer sees ... I see no gap between the trim and roof at all. What appears to your installer as a gap in the left rear corner is I believe a bending of the trim to match the curves of the Prius roof.

strieby also says that his Webasto moonroof is completely flush with his Prius roof.

 

i haven't seen these pictures...but on the other hand, don't expect a perfect fit with the unusual roof line the prius has. there aren't any buckles in the roof in the corners, that's the shape of the prius roof!

when i went to the installer, my car was the least expensive one being worked on, they were all mercedes, bentleys, etc. being modified, so i had confidence they could work on my prius.

 

I just spoke with my Long Island installer who had installed the Webasto 5300 on Bobbyb's Prius.

I felt comfortable with this person's knowledge and experience. He explained the Prius roof structure to me -- that it had no "roll bar" but instead had a cage with one particular brace that they have to snip/trim a little. He didn't think that a pop-up/spoiler/sliding sunroof had any structural or fitment advantages over a similarly sized inbuilt sunroof on the Prius. He and his shop are established with a lot of experience with sunroofs in general (the great bulk of their business is from car dealerships) and have particular experience with the Prius.

So after speaking with him, and having previously read the experiences and seen the photos/videos of craigk, SaeGai06, Spur, strieby, Bobbyb and others on PriusChat and PriusOnline, I went ahead and made an appointment for Wednesday to install the Webasto 4300 ($1195) or Webasto 5300 w/auto-close ($1295) on my car.

I'll report back with a review and photos, probably on Friday or Saturday.

 

I eagerly await an update.

 

Finally Got A Sunroof

Picked up my Prius today from my sunroof installer who put in the Webasto SolAire 4300 Power Inbuilt Sunroof. Here are some pics:

Exterior - Roof Closed: Note the trim is generally flush with the roof. Although my installer bent the trim to follow the overall curves of the roof, he didn't bend it near the two rear corners to follow those three hills and two channels in the roof like craigk and others' installers did. I hope this won't present a problem.



Exterior - Roof Open:



Interior - Roof Closed: Love the Blue Sky!



Interior - Roof Open: Burger King! (I was hungry.)



Interior - Switch: I told my installer to make sure the sunroof's black switch is installed in that empty panel of the overhead map light assembly -- just like craigk's.



Interior - Headliner: They did a nice job with the headliner.





Based on the recommendation of Bobbyb, I used his sunroof installer on Long Island. Here are the installer's coordinates:

Sun Line Sunroofs (ask for Bud or Jeff)
112 Bangor Street
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
(631) 956-1910

The Webasto 4300 that I got is the exact same as the Webasto 5300 that several PriusChatters have installed, except that it doesn't have the auto-close feature which automatically closes the roof when you power off.

The total cost for my 4300, including 8.675% sales tax, was $1195 cash.

The total cost for the 5300, including 8.675% sales tax, would have been $1295 cash.

In terms of loss of headroom, I don't think there's any loss in the front seats, but there's about a half inch loss in the rear seats. I'm 5'6" and if I sit straight up in the back, the few remaining hairs on the top of my head will touch the headliner. But above the headliner there seems to be about 1" dead space.

Maybe next week I'll post some exterior glamour shots. (But they're going to look a lot like craigk's because we both have 2007 Prius Package #2 Magnetic Gray.)

My preliminary verdict: I love it. I should have gotten it when I first bought my Prius in 2007.

* * * * * * * * * *

Many thanks to craigk. If you haven't seen his thread http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/32662-sunroof-installed-2007-prius-minneapolis.html , you should. Lots of good photos from him and others, plus a good video of his sunroof in action.

 

Thank you so much for your post!!! I am so excited to get a sunroof installed in my 2008 prius package 5.

I'm going to take your photos and look up the place in long island.