Now that's funny!

 

This.

Personally, I like the airiness of the sunlight coming through the sunroof, though much of it is covered by a blackjack graphic. In the summertime I like tilting the sunroof to help hot air vent out of the car.

 

I'm on my second R53 MCS spec'd without a sunroof. Wouldn't have one any other way. But to each their own.

I know for a fact that when my dealer was ordering cars for inventory they all had sunroofs included.

 

That's one of two good things about the MINI sunroof, its optional. A lot of other cars it doesn't seem to be optional, at least not in the trim level I was looking at.

The other good thing about the sunroof is I fit under it. The MINI is the only car I've tried with enough headroom you can add the sun roof and I still fit. That's another reason I typically don't like sunroofs.

 

I wouldn't have considered buying a clubman if I couldn't have gotten a sunroof. While I don't open my sunroof for 4 months of the year due to coldness, it is open almost every day the rest of the time.

Yes it creaks and makes funny noises when it's really cold outside, but this is the price I pay for being able enjoy the sun on my skin.

 

Not everyone has the option to get a non sunroof mini, There hard to find used. My buddy jump a bridge goin 120MPH and flipped his non sunroof mini 6 times and gave me his roof lol.


Of course it needs some bondo and paint but worked out pretty well.

 

I agree with Verzasca.

 

I thought my whining would only elicit a few replies. Apparently, sun roof's stir some debate.

I like sun roofs for the most part on a car that isn't meant to be driven like a track car (haven't done that yet but want to!). If the MINI was a premium SUV like my Touareg, I'd go for the sunroof. But, the MINI S model is kind of tempting you to drive it a bit sport-like. With that in mind, a sun roof doesn't seem so appealing to me. I suppose the sun-roof is great if you only lease your MINI and intend on parting ways after 36k miles. You will never have to fix the rattles. Oh yes, if you live in a hot climate, where A/C is really your best option, the sunroof acts like a giant magnifying glass for the sun to fry your skin and make you sun-blind. So, german engineers can design a car like this, yet their creativity somehow fizzled out? Therefore, they gave up and convinced buyers that a silly sunshade is good enough? Umm, no.

I can still see everyone's point on this. If you like the sunroof, kewl. MINIs, as I've learned are an interesting product. Marketing genius. Options galore.


omg on the wreck pics! I say that bec' that MINI is still intact.... What a way to score bargain parts.

Reminds me of the crazy video I saw where a MINI crash flipped into a crowd in Australia. I'm sure this is old news to you all. But, I'm a MINI-noobie. I noted how well that MINI in the video handled the 'crash test'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFI6x2I7AC0
It's only exciting to watch because thankfully nobody got hurt.

 

Lol everytime we talk about it to someone we bring up that video, I was in my mini behide him and it looked exactly like that minus the sliding on the roof.

 

The MINI sunroof is a luxury item. Dealerships like to order them along with automatic transmissions and leather upholstery as a dealer pack to increase profit. If you order a MINI it's up to you to select the options you want.

Many other cars in a similar price range don't offer a sunroof independent of other options.

I think a sunroof option fits in with all the other options to choose from to make your MINI unique.

As for the sunroof itself I think it is fine in design and functionality. It is a bit pricey and there can be some mechanical upkeep as with any sunroof. It's larger than most and can be tinted extra dark to reduce heat.

As for driving the car with the sunroof closed and shade drawn, that's OK too but if the driver changes then the sunroof might get opened up if preferred.

And the sunroof is big enough for your rear passengers to enjoy a view of the clouds or stars to pass the time.

 

As a full on race car, that would have had a roll cage added which would make it hold up much better than a regular MINI. Though in a regular MINI you have the airbags to help survive, particularly the head curtain airbags.

 

In Texas sunroofs are a bad idea unless you drive your car only at night. Im not impressed with the A/C in these cars as it is.. I would hate it during the summer where there is often a string of 100+ degrees everday.. Then im sure by the time the warranty runs out it will probably start rattling and leaking....

 

That's weird because 2 of the 3 MINIs I have owned were with sunroof and one was not. Both with the sunroof were black tops and the one without was white. The non sunroof car got hotter and felt hotter longer than the two with sunroof, whether I opened them to vent heat or not.

On the flip side, all my cars have been used and I got what the last guy bought. But if I were to order a new car I would not spec on in at full price...maybe if it was in a package where that was the item that was coming on the car at a "discount", but not for $1k I wouldn't buy one. So while I enjoy mine I would spend my money on other options on a new car.

The car is fun and sporty, but its no Lotus or some sort of super handling car where 40-60lbs makes it impractical or not fun anymore.

 

6. Makes a great shelf when detailing the car...

 

all 5 Minis that I have owned have had the sun roof and I am sorry I get more rattle in the doors then I ever had from the sun roof.

 

Love the panoramic sunroof in my MCS. The cabin is always well lit and less claustrophobic feeling for such a small car. I use it 3 seasons; spring, summer and fall. It's like a perfect compromise between a cabrio and a hard top. In fact, mine is open much later into the cold months than many cabrio owners' roofs are! I suppose I may not like it nearly as much if I lived in a hot southern state, but up in the northeast, it's great in the summer. It lets the heat out of the car quickly after sitting in the hot sun, too. Tinting it with limo black tint can help dramatically reduce that "under-the-magnifying-glass" sensation...

While it does add weight in the worst possible spot, (at the highest point in the car), this doesn't affect handling in a negative way for the 99.5% of us who don't track their MINI regularly. If you're the 0.5% who do track your MINI regularly, then yes, you shouldn't get a MINI with a sunroof. But just because it's an S model, doesn't mean you have to be a hardcore racer. Step up to a GP, if that's the case!

In the end, it's an option, and in my opinion, a great option that I'm glad I have. It isn't for you, OP, or everyone, necessarily. It is nice that we have the choice, that's all I'm sayin'.

 

This is my sunroof:

 

The agreement with my wife (so I could buy the car) was if I got the manual tranny, she gets a sun roof. I don't like the extra light shinning down. So I only open it when she is in the car. Keeps her happy.

 

Before I bought My 05 from a dealer I saw pictures of the car on their website and I loved the car but they didn't show pictures of the sunroof and it was a deal braker because i was fix on a Mini with a sunroof, then when i went to see it in person i was very happy that it had one, rattles and all I love it. As for the shades i have them on my Audi as well(the are better quality) but I never use them.

 

I almost got one like yours but ended up with this instead

 

Rattle? Keep it lubed.....and no rattle. Simple. If you force it open when iced up (of use it brake into the car if you are locked out) the plastic lockdown brackets can brake...and it will rattle......
I keep mine shut 90% of the time...use a zippy shade to keep out excess light/heat, but IT IS NICE TO HAVE....just wish the shade was solid....and to 99% of folks who will NEVER TRACK OR RACE THEIR MINI, , the weight is not a concern....heck only 10% of mini drivers know whst a mini can truely do handling wise.....so why not?

 

Ordered mine without for the extra headroom.

 

My wife picked our lease return Mini that came with a sunroof because it made her Clubman feel more open. She uses this car as her daily driver/grocery getter and transports our son and his frinds to events. She has those pop-on shields for really hot days, but likes to crack the sunroof open to vent the car. And when I get to drive it on my favorite road it still feels pretty sporty.

 

Not just BMW,
You'll find most dealers regarless of brand will order inventory with sun roofs and more as added value,
adds more $ to their sales as the price point is higher.

This goes across most brands,
and yes, I think sun roofs throw off the lines of a car and would never order one with a hole-in-the-roof as an option.

 

I love my sunroof. Use it regularly.