I would like to know how MINI owners in the desert southwest deal with the summer sun and the sun roof. I have owned two cars with a sun roof here, but they both had an opaque sliding sun shield. On summer days, I never drove with the shield open but after a full day parked at work I would tilt the sun roof so the rising hot air could escape making it a little easier for the A/C to cool it down. Daytime highs in the summer can reach 115. I was thinking of putting solid vinyl on the sun roof creating an all white roof.

I test drove the MINI on Aug. 30, but the car was stored indoors so it had not been heat soaked. I made my deposit at that time but reserved a build date in December because of the lease termination date of my current vehicle.

One thing I do not have to worry about is winter tires.

 

Limo tint on the sunroof helps a lot. I live in Los Angeles, but do lots of cross-country road trips, including through desert lands, in my MINI. The tinting makes a difference.

 

+1 but I didn't get Limo on mine i got 15% since the Ceramic tint didn't come in 5% and 15% was the darkest. Totally worth it!

 

I have limo tint on the sunroof and on the rear and side windows of my 2003 MCS, the driver, passenger, and windshield windows are OEM. The only problem with the dark tint is backing into my driveway at night...can't see it too well! But I will say that the darker tint that I do have definitely keeps things cooler inside my MINI.

 

The person you really want to check with is Agro. He lives in Vegas. You can also look in the Sin City Mini thread here in the Club listings.

 

I live in the high desert of OR and did not get the sunroof. My previous car had it and it got way to hot sitting out all day. The glass was factory tinted to probably 35%. I couldn't leave it open during the day because of all of the dust/dirt that we live with around here.

Much happier with my white roof and no sunroof.

 

I bought mine used and it had a sunroof, but were I to buy one new I would not spend the money. Part of my problems with it include the heat problem, but also the thing is just too noisey when open to use.......

And what's with the buffetting in German cars when you try to drive with the windows open? Audis and VWs do this too........

 

I live in Las Vegas, & yes in the summer the heat of the sunroof makes it difficult for the ac to cool off the inside and my daughter in the back was complaining of the heat.

My trick I had a roll of the silver insulation you can buy at home depot or lowes. I measured the sunroof space available above the sunroof screens and viola. I placed the insulation between the screen and the sunroof.

The inside of the car became very comfortable, with not having to have the ac on full blast. The only drawback is it is darker on the inside and when you want to open the sunroof you have to remove your self made panel.

laters-Mr. D

 

Go with the ceramic! Ask for a demo, you'll see.

 

I put a couple sun shades up there. they work great. No heat soak issues.