Well.
The more I look into it I think its too small and too curved ..

 

Someone has. I saw this at Blackpool last year:

 

It looks better than I thought . Problem is finding a complete one with glass and inner and outer frames ..Like rocking horse ****.

 

A very nice Webasto sunroof installation in this thread https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...unroof-260671/

 

To each their own and all, but I say just don't do it. I almost never even open mine in my daily driver. TM

 

FWIW, when I was first shopping for my coupe a few years back, quite a few came up in my search with a sunroof. These were for the earlier 4.0 cars as far as I can remember. I thought at the time it may have been a factory option (these all look quite nicely done), but I was never able to find any "proof" of it. There does not seem to be any official parts from Jaguar that I have seen. Might have been a dealer option, or more likely after market installations.

Remember, sunroofs are designed to allow for some leaking. A proper installation requires a tray of some sort, somewhat smaller than the roof panel, and that tray needs a drain at each corner, down both A and C pillars. Also, you would have to properly wire it so that when the key is held in the lock position to close the windows, it would close the sunroof as well.

As already pointed out, the flat panel of the sunroof would have to be positioned near perfectly to somehow visually fit on an overall curved roof.

As a final point, a sunroof would take away a not-so-insignificant part of the already limited head space. So, depending on the particulars of the body proportions to the various drivers for your car, it may or may not workout in the end. Worst would be for folks with short legs and arms, and taller body, forcing a forward and upright position of the seat, as the curved roof comes down quite significantly to meet the top of the windshield.

Food for thought.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

I have always avoided a hole in my roof - whether on purpose or accidental. And, sometimes paid extra for my foible. The top goes down and that is solution enough for my taste.

 

As others have warned, don't do it. You will come to regret the eventual leak that develops....

 

So here i go again on my own.
Going down the only road i've ever known.
Broken record.

 

SB - we know how it ended for Tawny, so try to miss that road. You know - when you come to a fork in the road, take it. Your car has details that show pride of ownership.

 

The point i was trying to make (Whitesnake classic) was most on here think it's a bad idea to fit a sunroof, constant leaks and blocked drain holes. It's all bollox. I've fitted electric sunroofs to every car i've owned.(20+) including xk8's and R's, and never had a leak. Aftermarket sunroofs don't have drain holes, period.
Problems began in 1980 when an inferior batch from the far east flooded the market. The distributers ,and i won't mention any names (although Britax springs to mind) found they could make a quick buck by selling to franchises of Motorland and Charlie Brown for £50. These had poor quality seals that would warp in the summer heat and create leaks.
After that came the universal "one fits all" sunroof which had a flexible frame, and would mould itself to the roofline when screwed into place. Yeah right, glass cannot bend so it was obvious it would leak.
The distributors didn't care, they took the money and ran. Gave aftermarket sunroofs a bad name.
Nowadays we have much better materials like neoprene seals that don't shrink. If fitted correctly, a Webasto sunroof is guaranteed not to leak, and by that i mean both cambers need to match.
You can easily measure you roof camber with drill bits and a spirit level.



Jaguar kindly gave us a centerline at the top of each windscreen. Run a chalkline between them and align the centerline of the template on that. How far forward is personal preference, though you can't go too forward as the inner shroud will foul the sun visors. Leave say an inch gap so you can get your fingers in.



You then bolt the two templates together. This prevents them from slipping while you cut the skin..



The headliner is cut with a sharp Stanley knife.



The roof is cut with a jigsaw with metal blade.



You also need half inch polystyrene packer at the rear as you need minimum 20mm gap otherwise the shroud won't seal. Once installed it's not noticeable.



Motor wires go down the A pillar to the accessory plug behind the glove box. Earth, live, ignition. simple.



So there you have it, and if fitted yourself the cost should be no more than $700.


Let the flaming begin.

 

I will not flame you, but I will never cut a hole in the roof of a vehicle to install a sunroof, either....

 

Manchester gets close to a yard of rain per annum, so SB should have reliable experience.

 

I do appreciate the pictures showing your work. You have way bigger ***** than I, sir. And don't get me wrong. I believe if you want a removable roof on the hood - good for you. A car and especially an XK8 is a personal expression. You could drive an Opel Omega, but chose the Jaguar. If you have beaten the leak dragon, you are one meticulous installer. Like I said earlier, your car shows pride of ownership and we all appreciate that.