Pros and cons? If any.

Sorry if this has been discussed before but I search and couldn't find anything on the topic. I currently have a white topped MINI and am thinking of switching to black. Since I live in Phoenix, AZ I was wondering if there were any cons some of you living in warmer climates have experienced with black tops. Does the inside ceiling/interior get any hotter during the summer with a black top? Cause I'd hate to have that :(

Thanks!

 

I can't speak for white vs black. What I can say is that I had a 2010 Cooper with a black top and dual sunroofs in Germany and hated it at times. So when we purchased our 2012 Countryman here in AZ, I went with the white top and no sunroof. I can't imagine having the dual sunroof here. I felt the white top had to be the better choice as well. Those who don't live here just don't understand how hot it gets.

 

I have a black top and it does get hotter than the car I had with a silver roof. The white will not soak up the heat like a black roof and it won't show dirt as bad as the black roof.

 

We have one of each, and live in Northern California where there's a lot of sun (but not as much as Phoenix). I don't notice a difference between the 2. Heat problems were what made me hesitant to get a black roof in the first place.

I do usually try to find shade whenever I'm parked in either car. We have a garage at home and I try to park in the garage at work (if I can get in early enough).

 

I live in south Florida a black roof is not a good choice. A black roof = solar panel.

 

Black is a little hotter and alot harder to keep clean but I still love my black top and dual sunroofs.

 

The black roof will cause the "stuck sunroof syndrome" more often. I like both colours and I would pick what looks best to you rather than worry about the heat.

 

I loved my white roof in Phoenix, never rode in another Mini that had a black roof, but compared to my other cars that had black roofs it stayed a little cooler... Mine did have the dual sunroof though, but I had some reflective thingers up against the glass most of the time

 

White top and sun roof in deep south Bayou country or melt in summer time !

EL Tiger

 

I can't speak for white vs black.

 

The only real difference is Sunroof or not.

A Black Hardtop will stay cooler than a White top with sunroof.

 

Agree!

 

My Lightning blue MCS has a lightning blue top with sunroof. Sorry can't help with the black/white issue. Just thought I would chime in that there are other options.

 

Why don't they make more Countryman with a white top? I've been looking for a blazing red 2013 S with a white top, in a manual, and it simply doesn't exist....anywhere, in the US right now. Yes, I know I can order one, but I really didn't want to wait 8 weeks.

 

How long have you been looking? It will probably be worth your time to just order it exactly how you want it. Mine is only on week four since order and already docking on the US, tomorrow hopefully. Keep waiting and it might end up being quicker to just order it. From what I hear Countryman's are producing a lot faster than the other mini's.

 

Good point, Lady May. Do you know what port them come in? I live in So California, so I assume mine would dock on the west coast?

 

MINIs for the west coast are delivered to Port Hueneme, near Oxnard, CA.

 

Thanks Charlie Victor!

 

+1
Sunroof = Greenhouse = hot

 

I have a black roof, with the pano sunroof.. It gets hot as hell in the summer lol and I do get the sticky sunroof problem when it is extremely hot. I pull my shades close if my car is going to be in the heat for long periods of time and that helps somewhat.

 

I live in Vegas with the sunroof and a black top. I added a 5% tint to my sunroof and it made a big difference in the amount of "heat" coming in through the top of the car whilst driving. I didn't like having the screen covers closed in order to make it bearable. Now, it's comfortable, and I can enjoy the "open" feeling of the sun roof in the summer.

Apart from that, if the car sits in the desert sun in the summer, it's going to get super hot inside, no matter what roof you have. I'd just go with what you think looks best. The white vs black roof isn't going to keep you any cooler, IMO.

 

This might sound like a stupid questions but do the sunroofs have a shade that can be closed? I was under the impression that they did not? I ordered the sunroof on our new CM. I was planning on tinting. Are you happy with the 5%?

 

dont put tint on your sunroof! it can build up heat between the tint and glass, causing the glass to shatter!

you have to use vinyl wrap on the outside if you wanted to block more sun.

 

I have never heard this before. Thanks for the post. Has this happened to many people?

 

i suppose. enough that the dealer told me NOT to do it!
ive read a few posts about it too...