Hi. How much heavier does the dual sunroof make the Mini?

If I buy a Mini, I'll want to autocross it, and I'm wondering how the extra weight on the top of the car is going to affect things.

Thanks.

 

I'm pretty sure the sunroof adds 53lbs.


B

 

yep, it's right above the 50 lb. mark. i am sure each car is a bit more or less, but 50 lb. average. i went without. i decide i wanted more of race car feel so the sun roof went. but many people like it. good luck



(my first message with a face, maybe my last?? who know....)

 

I agree with the 53 pounds. I forgot where I saw it...some magazines test mule. To be honest, if I were to order another MCS, I could do without the sunroof.

 

If you are just going to autocross on a local club level I wouldnt worry too much about the weight. If you plan on getting serious then thats a diffeent story.

Our test MCS named DIABLO has the sunroof, and it has performed great at every event we have run. 2nd in class each time.

Dont worry so much about the sunroof, just start looking for which rear sway bar and wheel /tire combo you wish to run.

 

I've actually heard up to 60 lbs for the unit, and all needed to operate it. The more important question is not how much it weighs, but what is the delta between it and the the slab of metal and fabric that would otherwise be there? I went without it. If I didn't have a convertible for antoher ride though, I would have been torn a little...

 

My husband used to auto-x my MINI which has a sunroof. When I told him he needed to get his own for racing (mine's my daily driver), he got one w/o sunroof. His theory is every lil bit of weight reduction counts.

 

>>Hi. How much heavier does the dual sunroof make the Mini?
>>
>>If I buy a Mini, I'll want to autocross it, and I'm wondering how the extra weight on the top of the car is going to affect things.

It depends on why you want to autocross and how competitive you want to be. If you were in a running race like a track event do you want to wear the heavy or light weight shoes? A great runner with an average shoe will still blast by me if I wear the best shoes.

In autocross, skill plays a big role. If you already are an experienced autocrosser then I'd recommend no sunroof but if you are just starting out then it doesn't make that much difference vs the benefit of having the sunroof when you are not on the track. Just don't add 100 pounds of aftermarket stereo upgrades.

For autocross some nice light wheels and good sticky tires are good as is a three hole adjustable rear swaybar.
Good luck.

_________________
Aloha

 

How much does he weigh?

Every bit of weight reduction does count, but as others have said, it doesn't matter that much unless you are a highly competitive racer. If so, and you plan on stripping the interior, removing the AC, etc, then definitely don't pay extra for a heavy hole in the roof.

 

if diablo had no sunroof, would he come in 1st in class each time?

just wondering. :smile:

 

I have yet to see any reliable source for the added weight of the sunroof. I've seen a post where someone removed the sunroof and weighed it, but then how much does the non-sunroof roof weigh that would have been in its place? These numbers always get thrown around on this site with no backup whatsoever. 53 pounds, 60 pounds...

 

My husband and I are leaning toward sunroof. He's tal land had one in his '74 Beetle and said it made a small car feel more open. Is that true? Any reason NOT to get it? I've never had one.
+++Does the rear half open too???

 

chrisnl- For your reliable source for the added weight of 53 lbs. for a sunroof you can refer to the July 2003 issue of Sport Compact Car, Techproject, Mini Coper-S, page 224. "The most offnesive pounds are on the roof. A massive, two-panel glass sunroof that spans nearly the entire length of the car puts a shocking 53 pounds in the single worst place it could be. Ordering a Cooper S without a sunroof is the wisest path for those seeking the rightest and lightest of Minis"

 

Have to agree that the sunroof does add extra weight, but it is the delta that is important that others have mentioned...if i had to guess your prolly adding around 30lbs assuming the sunroof weighs 50lbs, but until that was measured you wouldn't be sure.

I agree that if you want to autox, not having the sunroof will be a good...it isn't so much the weight, but the location of the weight that is offensive. The gains though we are talking about is a 1/10th of a second...which if you are very competitive does matter, but if your doing it just for fun and are only a hobby autox driver and have never had a driving school class etc then you will prolly not be able to notice the difference. So if you are a very good driver and going into autox all the way, then avoid the sunroof...but if your just going to be doing hobby autox a few weekends a year and you like the idea of the sunroof etc then get it as depending on how many days you autox, that is a pretty small percentage compared to the days you won't be where you may really enjoy having the sunroof.

 

>>My husband and I are leaning toward sunroof. He's tal land had one in his '74 Beetle and said it made a small car feel more open. Is that true? Any reason NOT to get it? I've never had one.
>>+++Does the rear half open too???
The rear half does not open. You might want to go to your nearest dealer and see the sunroof for yourself. Take the MINI for a test drive and see for yourself if it feels more open to you and your husband.
There are known rattles and fixes for the sunroof. It adds the 53 pounds of weight as mentioned which doesn't help racing performance due to raising the center of gravity plus lowering the power to weight ratio. The sunroof doesn't allow complete blocking out of the brightness or heat from the sun-so some owners will tint it or apply a vinyl film.
The pull shade is fragile and sometimes will come off it's track-just be careful.

Try searching for other threads on pros and cons of ordering and using the sunroof.

 

If you are over 6'3, the sunroof lowers the interior roof at its edges enough to interfere with your helmet. I'm not and love the sunroof. To paraphrase the Charlton mantra "from my sunny, dead fingers..."

 

My car with Sport and Premium packages weighs 2479 with less than 1 gallon of gas, no spare tire or tools, no washer fluid, no floor maps, X lites and Hoosiers.

 

My MCS with every available option and missing rear seats, floormats, jack, etc. weighed 2612 lb with Enkei RPO1's.

 

>>chrisnl- For your reliable source for the added weight of 53 lbs. for a sunroof you can refer to the July 2003 issue of Sport Compact Car, Techproject, Mini Coper-S, page 224. "The most offnesive pounds are on the roof. A massive, two-panel glass sunroof that spans nearly the entire length of the car puts a shocking 53 pounds in the single worst place it could be. Ordering a Cooper S without a sunroof is the wisest path for those seeking the rightest and lightest of Minis"<<

Still, though, are they just weighing the sunroof itself, or are they actually comparing identical cars with and without sunroofs to obtain the actual number for ADDED weight (as opposed to simply the weight of the sunroof itself)?

Thanks for the reference, apexer, but I'm still waiting to see a clearly stated, credible number.