Hi all. I am in the process of configuring a new MCS and I am torn on the sunroof. My wife and I live in Texas where it typically gets 100+ degrees at least 30-45 days each summer (not counting this one). I was a little disappointed to see that, although the sunroof has a "sun shade", there is no solid sliding cover to completly block off the sunroof when don't wish to have any sun.

What is the experience of you who live in the south and have the sunroof? Does the car get too hot?

Thanks in advance,
Pat

 

reflectix

 

you could always get the sunroof tinted.
i had my mini since friday and it was in the high 90's, the computer said it was 99 today and i didn't get hot. the auto AC does a good job keeping it cool inside. keep in mind though i have the windows tinted 20% so that helps keep it cool inside.

 

Too hot for me. It's why I got mine w/o a sunroof.

 

100+ Here but the a/c keeps it cool enough, even though my a/c on my honda seems a great deal cooler.

 

There are always aftermarket sun blockers custom made for the mini sunroof that will completely block out the light. thankfully. If you are a sunroof person, then that is your solution. The shades fit between the mesh built in shade and the glass...pop on, pop off. Yes its a tad inconvenient, but its the solution for 100% sun block.

The sunroof is a nice feature to have if you are a sunroof kind of person. I have found the shade most people feel is useless is actually handy when you are doing 80 on the highway...it keeps your hair from going everywhere--for those of us with longer hair. Once it cools off I will definitely be thankful for my sunroof. So for a few months of hot, I think its a great trade off. If I lived in Arizona, I wouldnt have gotten the sunroof.

Check out both versions and see what is right for you. Good luck and welcome to NAM.

 

The sun doesn't bother me at all. However we only get a few 100+ days here in LA. I always tip up my sunroof when I park. I never had any problems when my seat gets too hot to sit on.

 

The sunroof has been a blessing in ours (and I was against ordering it). You can vent the days heat from the car before you get in, just hit the unlock button 3 times as you walk up. Cools it off very quickly.
Driving around in sunny weather hasn't been a problem. Most of the time this summer we have had the sunroof fully opened.
We live in the Heart of Texas and I recommend the sunroof. You want be dissappointed.

 

I have the sunroof. No problems, no complaints. The small car vents quickly. Nice feature with the comfort access remote to either vent the sunroof or retract (and roll down the windows) as you approach the car.

The sun 'screen' doesn't bother me either- my mini is nice and bright inside, the screen gives enough shade so the sun is not blinding, glaring or beating down on your head.

Well, that's my opinion anyways... of course, I live in Northern CA, temperatures are usually in the 70's-80's... sometimes 90's, very rarely 100... Still, summer it's sunny nearly every day!

 

I got my sunroof tinted at 15% when I picked her up in Dallas, knowing that I would spend over a month in the South/Southeast this summer. With the auto air and the tint, I never knew what the temp was outside unless I looked at the outside temp indicator.

With temps of in the mid 90s (never reached over 100) this summer on my road trip, I was never uncomfortable and loved the shadowy light the sunroof let in.

Of course, with the cool temps up in the PNW where Tawanda will spend the majority of her motoring days, I wouldn't be without my sunroof and the heated seats. Bliss

 

I live in D/FW and the decision really seems to be a personal issue. I didn't get a sunroof and, having driven a few dealer loaners w/ sunroof, am glad of it. It's not that the AC is not up to the task...it's just that the direct sun coming in the sunroof makes me hot. I have lots of friends who do have a sunroof and they love it. So again...a personal matter. If you want a sunroof...which you will enjoy during the cool season...I think concerns about the heat/glass can be easily overcome, a solution dialed in to your specific needs/wants.

 

I got the sunroof and it was bright and hot untill i got it tinted last weekend. 5% limo tint and you do not even notice the sun, it really keeps the car cool.

 

I drove a couple Minis before I bought mine and 2 of them had sunroofs. They did get warm but the open feeling it provides is well worth it in my opinion. Have it tinted and you should be in good shape (that's what I'm doing).

 

Although I'm not in the sunny-state, I'm in atlanta, I could tolerate that sunroof for 50 miles, I had it limo tinted

the sun was always in my eye's

 

I opted not to get the sunroof because of the heat...it gets pretty warm even with a solid roof. Though it would be nice to have in Feb, March when the weather is nice.

 

been in AZ since I got mine... sun roofs rule! only had to pull the shade a couple times... but then again... If you want a sun roof then you don't care if it's hot once in a while.. cause you are pimping the sun roof... LOL

 

It's 101 degrees outside right now.. I've had my MCSa for 5 weeks. Not an authority, but not a rookie, either.

The sunroof does let a lot of heat into the car, and it does take 'a while' to cool it down. Having said that, I still like the roof, and wouldn't have bought a car w/o it.

I have an appt this week to get the roof glass limo-tinted (5%). I'm curious to see how that's going to change the amount of heat that builds in the car while it sits in the sun. One thing I do is to crack the roof just a bit so the heat escapes. I do believe that helps a bit.

 

I used to squint, or wear a hat without the limo tint, no longer needed, it does feel a lot cooler, I also still shut the shades

 

I wish Mini would have built a solid shelf in its cars. Coming from a Honda Civic, I thought all manufacturers did that.

However, that still didn't keep me from ordering the sunroof. I bought a set of flexible covers from the folks at Stratmosphere and am happy with their product.

http://www.stratmosphere.com/mini_interior.htm

 

Pat,
As you can see. The sun roof is a personal decision. People will argue both sides of the coin till the cows come home. I'd suggest driving one at the dealer on a really hot day before deciding. That is if we ever break 100 this summer. Moritz in Arlington let me drive one on a 105-degree day. It was too hot for me. I don't regret not getting the sun roof, but you should decide for yourself since you'll be driving it.

Cheers, Sissy

 

Besides the personal decision of whether or not an owner even wants a sun roof, the conclusion I draw after reading these posts is that TINTING the sun roof makes all the difference in the comfort level inside ONCE the car gets moving.

 

tint blocks UV, so it does cut the heat down quite a bit when the car is sitting parked

while your at it, tint all the way around, with a black roof the darker tints look real nice

180 $ for limo tint sunroofs and 15 % tint all the way around my mini S

hope I dont get stopped by the police, although I never did in my m3


before tint


after tint


not only does it cut down interior heat, it is SO much less eyestrain while driving

I wish they would increase the legal tint limit, it really does make it a lot less eyestrain, at least for me

 

Good point. Then, my conclusion is get the sun roof if your only worry is the heat Again I say, there is nothing like cruising in nippy weather with the sun roof open and the heated seats on.

 

Sunroofs are a must-have option on cars for me, and tinting Zippeee!s sunroof made all the difference. I live just north of Houston.

 

Tinting will definitely help. When we lived back in Virginia, our first MINI had a sunroof and the heat was never a real issue... All in all, I think you would be happy getting that option...

Donna