I saw an M3 at the NASA event this weekend, I was telling him how heavy my car is (3318 @ about 3/4's tank without me, 3558 with me and helmet etc.)

He then told me I should take out the sunroof at which point I said, I'm not cutting anything. He said I didnt have to and proceeded to show me his M3 that he had removed the sunroof out of and replaced it with a thin sheet of Carbon Fiber which was held in place by adhesive. It was brilliant, he said he installed it at home on his own and could put the original back with no evidence of it being gone. Also said it was popular with the M3 guys.

I need to have a CF roof panel build because this is the type of thing I'm ceratinly willing to do. Has got to be 50-75 lbs of weight that will also lower the center of gravity.

Headed to the garage now to see if I can figure out how to remove the sunroof.

 

That's a awesome idea, Dez. Since I never use my sunroof, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Heck, even a thin piece of Lexan would be significantly lighter than the OEM glass. And you could still see out of it if you really wanted to.

 

never seen that, but i've seen a lot of guys weld in a piece of sheetmetal

 

Now the challenge is finding the piece that goes there. Lexan wouldnt look to great would it? I want it to be black or silver, so whatever can be painted or CF is what I'd put on there.

Now we need a DIY on sunroof removal, and then to find a place to get the piece.


I know a local guy that works at a fab shop, going to contact him about taking my car over there and see what getting the piece would cost, I'm sure many of them wouldbe cheaper, but a simple piece of CF cant be too bad. If anyone wants in let me know. Whatever it costs us all to get done is what it'll cost.

 

This is a good idea. A DIY on removing the stock stuff, or instructions for
the shop, if it's not a DIY, and a source like Bumper Plugs (tm) to make a
plastic painted-like-stock clip-in top shell. I'd really like to know how much
it saves.

 

I have seen several M3's at Sebring with that done. if nothing else it looks very trick.
I as well as many others would be interested in some group solution to this.
Now is when we need Vivid to come up with one of there ideas we can all get in on a group buy!!

 

I see now...you're talking about replacing the entire unit, including the top. I thought you meant just the glass (which is the heaviest part).

Count me in. I'd be happy with unpainted black CF.

 

Yep, it will take a little cosmetic work (I.E. double sided tape) to fix the sagging head liner.

I would think taking the glass out only would be pretty hard no?

 

I can smell that GB

 

Ya, removing just the glass would probably be a PITA.

I just PM'd Eric at Bumperplugs to see if he has any input. This is exactly his type of thing.

 

Clarification, you guys have Glass?

 

LOL...

Nope, I sure don't. I was stupidly confusing it with my previous E46 M3's sunroof.
Haha...see how much I use my 996 sunroof?

That said; since we don't have glass...I doubt it weighs very much at all.

 

I'd shy away from trying to do this. You may not save that much weight and it's unsafe as hell unless it's part of the roofline. Just my two cents. Pull carpet, rear seats, etc and go on a diet, maybe that will get 20lbs off the car. Do you have a goal for the car's weight? What about wheels? Sorry, wish I had better news, but a one-off custom carbon section would be insane money (not that it would stop some from doing it).....and unsafe at nearly any speed.

 

HAHAHAHAHAAH I completely forgot too. Hilarious


Good point about the weight, but the mechanicals and such have to weigh something. If it's fairly cheap, no cutting, and able to be returned to stock, I'd take a lesser loss.

 

lmfao, I'm like wait a minute wtf, lol

Scott, the only time I opened the roof was the other day when I accidently hit the button.