Early vs. Late Sunroof Mechanisms

[Brozoar]

I'm running into a lot of problems trying to source parts to repair my early (1984 through Feb. 1986) sunroof lifting mechanism. So I was wondering if anybody out there has a lot of experience with this. For instance, where can I find parts? Should I just upgrade to the later mechanism or give up and go manual? What's so awful about the early mechanism that they had to discontinue it? Etc.

Or if you have early parts to sell, or everything I'd need in order to upgrade, get in touch with me. I found a full set of cables, guide tubes and the metal drive gear on ebay UK, but it's about $130 USD plus however much shipping would cost. I like to keep things cheap...

[89-944NA]

Not sure that it was "awful", but like any other manufacturer, Porsche will from time to time change designs, and to reduce redundant inventory discontinue the earlier part (cheaper for them to make one set of parts than two for the same system and have the end user upgrade when necessary).

If I remember correctly, there is a section in the FSM detailing the upgrade (I'd look it up, but it's a lazy Sunday, and I don't feel like walking out to the garage and looking lol)

So, your options are:

1) Finding used parts that are eventually going to fail, leaving you exactly where you are now
2) Upgrading to the current lifting mechanism
3) Converting to manual and lift the roof by hand

[Brozoar]

Yeahh I might just go manual; the cost to upgrade to the later style is a lot (between $400 and $500 on 944online) unless I wait and buy up a bunch of different parts on ebay, and I'm starting to think it's just not worth the hassle.

So humorously enough, I was having the withdrawals (nicotine - trying to quit) and dropped my sunroof on the asphalt earlier. =O It's got a chunk missing now, and it's beaten up enough that I'm just going to replace it. I remember seeing a post for someone manufacturing Lexan sunroof panels a while back - is that still a thing? I WANT!