Carbon Roof anyone?

Have been looking into options for replacing the sunroof on my 996. It already has carbon bonnet and ducktail so carbon roof makes sense to me for a number of reasons: 1. Its lighter than a sunroof helping lower COG 2. It would get rid of the annoying rattle of sunroof!!!!! 3. It looks cool and would match the ethos of the other carbon parts I have been to see a local CF specialist about it today and as expected its quite expensive.... probably circa £2-3k to make the mold and part! Pus fitting This isn't viable to me at this price so was wondering if anyone knows anywhere else these might be available? He did suggest overskinning was another option and actually a Carrera GT in his workshop that was being fully overskinned on all panels!! Crazy! This would mean sealing the sunroof and removing tall the gubbins inside, then simply overlaying a skin on the outside. Thereby getting the 'look' and some of the weight saving but at much less cost - circa £800 for this. Any suggestions or advice appreciated! Even if its just how to stop the sunroof rattling in the short term! Have searched on this and it stops if I put my fingers in at the back and hold the long 'tray' piece

I briefly looked into this some time ago. A company called GMG in the US made a carbon roof for the 996. Alternative wold be to find several parties interested and spread the cost to have them made here in the UK - it's on the road-map for me but not in the short term.

Another option would be to just go for the standard non-sunroof roof skin. Much cheaper than a carbon one. I have heard some people say that they would not want to run a carbon roof without a cage, but not sure how much of an issue it really is. My M3 had a carbon roof from the factor but other models didn't, no other distance AFAIK. MC

Carbon wrap. Does not fulfil the criteria of items 1 or 2 but does item 3 & quite cheap in comparison. Also can be removed if you don't like it.

I think NXI20 has a carbon fibre roof on his 996 GT3 and is it ELA who is doing a lightweight 996 (look for one of the earlier pages in his long running thread) in Germany had one put on. I believe both those manufatureres have stopped production. I shall follow with interest. Best of luck. Pip

I do indeed have a carbon roof supplied by DP Motorsport in Germany. They don't seem to be able to supply any more though. Worth asking Mike @Sport&Classic if he still has one for sale. He mentioned it to me a few months ago. As to fitting: it should take a decent bodyshop half a day max. You drill out the 6 spot welds per side & then bond the carbon panel in. Headlining needs to be dropped but you don't have to remove the screens. It saves about 5Kg over a steel skin. There is no structural element to the roof & cabin noise is unaffected by the change.

Hi i think if you are going to do it, either a steel OE roof or new carbon roof, but over skinning is probably going to add a little weight and you'll always know its a bit.... ya know! Years ago when i was into my Corrados i had a firm in Hayling island make me a full carbon bonnet, light and a thing of beauty! At the time they were also doing boots and carbon roofs so i see no reason they couldn't do the same for the 996.... Back then they were called LWS design but a quick google and it looks like they may have changed their name to 'Carbon Monkey' you'd have to check if thats right but Hayling Island is a small place so it seems to make sense. Looks like they have done a 997 bonnet on the page i found. They were well into Lotus parts as i remember the main guy, possibly Lewis? was building his own carbon Elise. Also the prices seemed pretty reasonable back then... Might be worth a google.

There's a company on eBay called porschanut that does a full replacement carbon roof for the earlier air-cooled cars, 911 through to 993. Full roof for £850 and weighs just 2.8kgs. Might be worth a call to see if they can manufacture or supply the later cars as the price point, quality and weight look spot on. :thumb: Link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-...265533?hash=item289f7a03bd:g:LkAAAOSwZTlfgrY9 C.

If you're actually going to remove the factory sunroof you need to factor in the time/labour to drill out the spot welds and bond the new panel in... its worth then being smart re a non-sunroof headliner - I ended up spray dying a used grey alcantara headliner black for a few hundred pounds outlay, rather than the £1.2k they seem to be new or trying to find a black used headliner for sensible money... Its all the associated costs that add up (even things like the non-sunroof interior light trim!), but it you can accumulate all the bits for sensible money it can be very satisfying - just being rid of the crashes and bangs that originate from the factory sunroof mechanism makes it feel worth it!

Many thanks for the replies guys. I've contacted Mike at sport and classic to see if he can assist. I agree an over skin is a cop out and defeats the object of doing it! May as well just wrap it for £100 and wedge the sunroof if aesthetics were the only consideration.

Carbon roof Check out posts from forum member Ela on here he built a lightweight carrera aka '911CLR' he wrote a great post on removing and bonding the new carbon roof in place complete with pictures, he is an aircraft engineer mind you :thumb: Keep us updated on progress, hope you get it sorted Here you go http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=106137&highlight=

Have a look at this place too http://www.gt-racing.com/996-roof-part-667/

Carbon roof The roof transplant starts on page 5 http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=106137&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=clr+carbon+roof&start=80 However The whole of Richards (aka Ela) thread is a brilliant read.