Is the sunroof welded in?

[tomstickland]

I want to remove the sunroof. Someone told me that they're welded in. I don't want to remove the headlining until I know whether this is true or not.

[M3Jim]

No it's not, it's held on by 6 torx bolts. Can be a PITA to get the headlining in and out tho!

[E30Mark]

The sunroof panel is obviously removable, but the frame and mechanism is welded in.

[kevin316i]

Yes, the frame for the sunroof is part of the roof. A guy on the E30owners forum has removed the old roof from his M3 project and fitted a new non-sunroof roof to the car, but this is MAJOR work.

If you want to remove the sunroof to reduce weight, you won't save much by welding across the existing opening as most of the weight is due to the frame and mechanism and you can remove some of the mechanism but not the frame.

[nickso]

you can remove some of the mechanism but not the frame.

yes you can. its only 6 spot welds, four cuts on the corners with the angle grinder and the rest of it is bonded on.

[kevin316i]

I should have qualified my comment by saying '... but not the frame without risk of damaging the roof skin.' If you are extremely careful it could be done but any slips and your roof skin is junk. And welding over the roof panel area is tricky to get done right without buckling the roof.

[nickso]

no need to weld the entire hole. just tack the sunroof onto the lip that is left behind.

the cuts are far enough away to not be a problem unless you are handless. the only thing to watch is bending the roof when removing the bonding, which i did.