HOW TO: BMW E46 Carbon Roof

Have you wondered how a Carbon Fibre Roof is retrofitted to a Sunroof-modelled BMW E46 M3?
In this video, we show you some of the key steps required to undertake such a job.
This process is specific to E46 models with 'Sunroofs'.
(If your E46 doesn't have a Sunroof then it's slightly less work as you already have the black Roof Bow, amongst other things).
This owner supplied his own Carbon Roof which was a Geoff Steel roof.
The Genuine BMW M3 CSL Carbon Roof went NLA (No Longer Available) in 2014.
However, if you want a perfect OEM-like Carbon Roof you'll want the Karbonius roofs and we've supplied and installed many of these over the years.
For further info and pricing please see our website here:
www.redish-motorsport.com/BMWE46M3CarbonFibreRoof.html
(updating in progress).
This is also a great time to consider replacing worn/broken items or even upgrading things.
Like we show in the video, this E46 M3 had a small water leak from the front Windscreen which needed sealing anyway.
However, it's a great time to upgrade to the 'Rolls Royce' of windscreens: The Climate Comfort Windscreen (which isn't as expensive as most people think)!
You can also consider upgrading the interior trims like Headlining, A/B/C Pillar Trims if they're looking tired or sagging.
Thanks for watching!
If you enjoyed the video please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE.
www.redish-motorsport.com
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[@camillosteuss]

As a merc loyalist and a mechatronics guy, this is a rare moment that i am commenting on a bmw oriented channel, and I am doing so only because I watched quite a few of your older videos, and have nothing but words of praise for what i have seen done and heard playing in the background, as i rewatched a few of those old videos as some of them have sick music in the bground that is on par with the work done... So all in all, this channel representing the Reddish workshop is among the finer representations that i have seen of car work being done and is worth every commendation and praise, and so here I am, commending and praising that work that is rarely done in the manner you guys do it... From greasing bolts to having stuff baked in plastic or paint to keep them functional for as long as possible, especially on cars like those of today where stuff is shipped dry out of the factory, where galvanization is pathetic or nonexistent around the welds, where moisture is trapped beneath the tar sealing compound... Though, this gives me an additional word, as I am at a loss of an explanation as to why those carbon roofs when made, arent set with custom turned bolts through it, in places where the spotwelds were originally, as that would allow not just for bonding(which i despise as a method) but for using nuts to affix the bonded roof through the holes and actually provide with a better, all-around clamping than just clamping from the outside while the bonding agent is curing, aswell as providing the roof with some actual proper rigid mechanical fastening unlike the bond which relies on dried turd to remain solid... That would aswell allow for the roof not to be bonded but rather have a custom rubber seal between the roof and the metal if desired, as the roof would be pulled down on it and would be actually much much easier to change out the seal or the glasses if needed, aswell as allowing for easy removal of the roof if the seal was leaky which with bonding agents you cant do, at least not without destroying the bond in the process and i dare say the carbon roof as they are quite fragile if handled wrong, just like glass... That right there is a huge oversight on the part of the cfib roof and other aftermarket makers who arent large companies and could actually offer greatly better parts in such a manner...

[@notavailable9164]

Very underrated Channel imo.

[@Eddiebayes177]

Such a proper job , love your vids never want them to end

[@robvermeulen4043]

Great video, its been a worthwhile wait since the last upload.

[@brianiswrong]

Now that's the sort of car you want to buy used 😀👍 The owner isn't shy to spend some ££££ on doing it right.

[@gtahoer]

Waiting for rain..in England haha good joke . You guys are true professionals excellent video.

[@a1topdog]

Every stage very professionally done. The finished job looks superb 👍🏻

[@wadehampton4499]

At last, back with video and back to your best ! Although I'd love an M3, being realistic it's unlikely as I love my R56 JCW too much. But, if I did have one, I certainly know where I would be bringing it. Keep up the good work.

[@DaveTony206]

😎👍Cool video, as usual. Always appreciate the meticulous details. Thanks for taking the time to film. I’m based in Seattle, WA, USA... Every time I watch one of your videos I walk into my garage with an urge to tear apart my E46 and rebuild* it... (*Side note: my E46 is completely fine and in 100% working order🤦‍♂️)

[@twarken5078]

Beautiful work, very nice - thanks for posting 👍🏼

[@sohailjaned]

Absolutely fantastic work as always. Would definitely trust them with my M car.

[@aw349]

clean job good video as always from redish motorsport

[@rueliotube]

Great work. Love the attention to detail. I have two e46 M3’s in the states with your subframe reinforcement kits in them.

[@adrianmeredith6818]

Another great job done and super video...

[@shant]

amazing, now i just have a find a local shop in southern California that is going to be as meticulous as you guys.

[@MrAidanfleming]

Stunning!

[@mc4130]

Looks amazing. Great walkthrough. Just a shame about the rust spot on the front wing! Haha!

[@BestMotorWerks]

Very nice work..professionallity Is the one that misses from today's mechanics

[@ChrisKsan]

I am planning on a special m3 touring build in oem-esque spirit but with several detailed upgrades. Some time in the future, I'd love to bring my cars in to you guys!

[@tss996gt3]

Thinking of doing this for my 330i, which has a sunroof, 4 doors and non-folding rear seats to eek out even more torsional rigidity and cut out significant weight up high. It looks like a much more complicated job than I thought

[@dhstube]

Carbon roof for my e46 touring will be perfect

[@robertschafer902]

Where do you relocate the shark fin on the roof or is it completely deleted? Great work and very informative video!

[@misraelnieves4164]

Nice. 👍

[@TheDavididoff]

Great Job, One question. I‘ve hade the Karbonius roof panel installed on my car last week. I’m assembling the car at the moment and have the problem, that the gutter trim rails don’t fit anymore. At 9:10 you say, that you used different clips. Are those from the CSL working in this case? Thanks in regards

[@lukescrapwalker]

Great video. How much does it cost to change a Scirocco with no Sunroof?

[@kouroshtashvishi5031]

would be cool if you did an auto to manual conversion :) would make a cool video. if you want to do it there's always my 318Ci :)

[@petkokrushev3840]

I'm looking to buy an e46 and I'm making plans to remove the sunroof, I just really hate sunroofs

[@wanyu2078]

How could BMW discountinued that original CSL part , while they're still selling original e30 spare part

[@alfredotovar8984]

I can only think that they wanted to do their part preserving the value of the CSL? Even when parts were available, you couldn’t get any from your local BMW dealer unless you had a VIN number verifying you own a genuine M3 CSL

[@wanyu2078]

@@alfredotovar8984 ah i see

[@fredbloggs1472]

Not really. i waited 6 years for a replacement rear panel for my E30 M3.

[@mikebader3863]

What’s the cost of a new non-sunroof headlining from bmw? Also how did you find the aesthetic quality of the GSR roof vs the karbonius? The karbonius is almost 3 times the price these days

[@filipsel5636]

Excellent video, which type of bonding adhesive did you guys use? Greetings from Norway

[@psavel274]

Probably 3m or one of the other channel bonding adhesives. Maybe a different brand since I'm just going on what we would use in the states.

[@UGAexploder]

Is there a part number for the roof bow that was welded in? Thanks

[@SMTMOTORSPORT]

Awesome work guys I went for a Ricky motorsport heated front screen mostly because I got rid of the heater but I didn’t know about that Bmw one for sun cool u can still buy stuff like that easy

[@Heavenly.modified]

Do you need the brace for a slicktop?

[@piotrtralala977]

You should go for sika like the factory does.

[@livemealone1]

What is the weight saving? How much a regular roof weights compared to the carbon one?

[@michaelbyers955]

Curious whats the typical cost for a job like this. Specifically the roof

[@DailyDriver.]

What does it cost do this ? Was that carbon replacement custom or a kit already sold ? I want to do this to my Subaru Outback wagon build

[@AutomotiveRush]

how much weight did this save?

[@driver46]

Hi , I have damaged carbon roof on E92 M3 and I have good used carbon roof that came still bonded on rails ( cut off from doner car) Any advice how to un-glue carbon roof without damaging it ?

[@sllkevin8885]

I was going to ask the same, did you get your roof replaced? Which brands did you have and replace with? Mine roof is on its way out

[@driver46]

@@sllkevin8885 no , I didn't.

[@dasfahrer8187]

I'm assuming welding in that bar isn't necessary if you're running a full cage?

[@Tim82621]

I personally would still do it since I don’t like it flopping or ratteling on the cage, I would connect the cage to the bar

[@dasfahrer8187]

@@Tim82621 Maybe I should clarify. I meant using the cage as the connection point for the roof instead of the bar.

[@jhrodriguez08]

Interesting installing a carbon roof, but yet keeping those pesky oem front seats that are very uncomfortable and heavy

[@rueliotube]

Well if you watch to the end of the video they swap in race seats.

[@idokwatcher2062]

It's called a budget, he'll get there.

[@psavel274]

@@rueliotube No they didn't. They showed another e46 m3 that had a carbon roof installed that had Lotus seats retrofitted into it. Totally a whole other car. The one they just put the roof on had stock seats in it. Yes, they do weigh a ton indeed. Usually around 70 lbs. so definitely NOT track car friendly if you care about weight (which I always did when I was tracking my bimmers.)

[@alexsaldana9301]

How much did this cost

[@tocsa120ls]

What's your guess, how much is the weight savings?

[@aw349]

i agree just a little not alot ! tho the sunroof has gone

[@wanyu2078]

not much i guess but handling wise it would be a lot better because it's cut the weight on the top side of the car

[@DeteCT0R]

The hole casette(track/motors etc) with glass weight about 14/15 kg. But the carbon roof weight about 1kg.

[@2639263926392639]

I have fitted a carbon roof to my 36. The steel roof skin weighed 17.5kg from memory. This was after all sunroof mechanisms were removed. A carbon skin will be about 3kg, maybe 3.5 once you include the glue. At worst, with an already stripped track car, it's a 14kg saving. Most amateur drivers would notice the agility gain. Costs per kilo? All dieting is difficult. Why would cars be any different? Damn sight better than 14kg saved by buying titanium fasteners.

[@tariqmohammed8505]

TOP JOB but not to sunroof model

[@MrBatwa]

How much does this cost

[@neilrafferty2097]

Best not to ask , I’d say .

[@blackmancer]

I'd love a carbon sunroof version, not that I use the sunroof as a sunroof, but it's great for letting heat out of the car when it's parked somewhere, legit.

[@CharlesChristena]

If only you were anywhere near me. :(

[@bowbowbusta2778]

Man

[@TTURBOVOLVO]

sunrays is ultra violet not infrared iirc

[@mustangj0hn]

I wish I could afford to let you guys loose on my 330Ci convertible.

[@Al-of3zp]

Yeah I wonder how much weight you would save putting a carbon fiber roof on a convertible... 🤔 😜

[@mustangj0hn]

@@Al-of3zp probably quite a lot considering the weight of the thing !!!

[@neilrafferty2097]

More money than . . .

[@antanasrapkevicius3897]

The only thing that comes to my mind is how the hell do you get OEM CSL parts. I pretty sure BMW will not order you (legally) any CSL parts unless you provide and prove to them you do actually have a CSL car to start with..

[@forzanerazzurri2339]

The roof looks like it has dents in it

[@kadenbourgeois1]

They’re all sunroof models becides the convertible