I am ordering a 2011 Mini Cooper and the one thing I am still undecided on is the sunroof. I had a 2006 MC and there was a lot of noise in this car, some of it, I think, from the roof. My question is about three kinds of noise: wind leaks, wind noise from slipstream rushing over the glass, and rattles on rough surfaces. What do people think? On the highway is the noise level higher in cars with the sunroof. Do they rattle? Etc. Has anyone compared the same R56 with and without sunroof? (I know that the 2006 was generally noisier than the later cars.)

Many thanks,
Wally

 

There will aslway be a little more noise with the sunroof but some cars seem to be much worse than ohters. on of the loaners I have had from my dealer was so noisy I took it back and had them get me another car the second one which also had a sunroof was much quieter yet still not as quite as mine in my clubman.

 

I don't notice any crazy amounts of noise coming from mine. I have almost 4k on the car now and have no rattles or anything. I am sure its a tiny bit louder than a slick top car. I don't regret the sunroof choice.

 

I don't have a sunroof and I don't have any noise and no regrets.

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to pass on the sunroof. I'd like it for the light it put into the car (but not the heat) and I'd hardly ever actually open it. I would be very irritated if it made noise while closed. My MC '06 was so noisy on the highway that 60 MPH was about as fast as I could stand.

Wally

 

If the only reason you would want it is for the light input. Definitely skip it, there is almost no tint on it from the factory and that little screen doesn't block out anything. I tinted the sunroofs the 2nd week I had the car, to save my eyes and forehead.

 

The MINI twin-sunroof design is great in many ways, but it certainly adds noise, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Further, the mesh shade and overly light tint of the glass means the light / heat comes in all the time, even when you may not want it to (such as long highway trips). Aftermarket screens and tinting the glass help reduce light and noise but are a PITA and will never be as effective in attenuating noise / light as a solid stiff shade would be (like BMW is able to use on their sunroof).

Given you are unlikely to opening the roof often (based on your comment), skipping the sunroof altogether is the best decision. Put that $ towards something else.

 

X2....

No rattles, no squeeks, no wind noise. I use mine almost EVERY day.

Mark

 

I haven't noticed any noise from my sunroof. I put a perforated Union Jack on it, the sign company who installed it said it cuts light transmission by 25%.

I don't need the sunshade anymore, so I'm going to replace it with an opaque shade that matches the headliner, like my Volvo has.

I really like the vent feature with the sun roof. When the car is parked in the sun, You can push the unlock button and hold it for four seconds and the windows will roll down and the sunroof will open to vent position, it really makes a difference!

I had a loaner, while they installed a Clear Bra on my car, and it's sunroof didn't make any noise either.

Dave

 

I drive a Justa with a sunroof.

I had a loaner Justa without a sunroof.

The solid roof car was noticeably more quiet.

I even was sure that I could tell a difference in the handling with the COG lowered as a result of not having sunroof weight at the top of the car.

I live in Florida. I have added the reflective sunroof covers to mine in an attempt to keep some of the sun out of the car. It helps immensely, but it means that I cannot open the sunroof. I have not missed opening it. I seldom opened it anyway.

I can tell you that my next Mini will not have a sunroof.

My opinion only, but that's the way I see it.

 

I have an '06 MC with the panoramic sunroof. It gets unbearably hot if I leave it parked on the sun for a couple of hours.. for that reason, I probably wouldn't opt for it on my next car. However, I don't notice much noise from it. I tend to shut it for spirited highway driving, but around town or even on the twisties I leave it open. I miss my motorcycle, so I like to feel as much fresh air as possible!

The only noise in my car is the weird rattling dash area and the runflats.

 

My mother who drives an SC430 convertible is also buying a mini. She also lives in FL.

She has made it in no uncertain terms that she is not interested in a sunroof. Guess the FL sun really is a PIA.

Mark

 

The wind noise of an open sunroof and the AC fan on max is comparable. I'll take the sunroof as an option.

 

I haven't had any noise issues with my sunroof or any wind issues either. Only thing I wish the sunroof had was a complete shade for those really hot days. All in all I'm glad I have the sunroof. I really missed it on my last car.

 

If I were to order another MINI I would not get another sunroof. I use it almost everyday, and I think it looks sweet when the two sunroofs are tilted open, but the amount of noise and creaking that thing makes is awful. Plus, every time I open it, it sounds like it's going to fall right off the tracks. The glass literally bounces up and down as I'm opening it up. Dealer says that's "normal"

 

That is certainly not normal! All I hear is the whirr of the electric opening motor. My sunroof never rattles.

Take it to a body shop, that has MINI experience, a good one will be able to fix it.

Dave

 

That totally isn't normal... I would take it back and talk to the manager. Never hear any rattles out of mine and the motor is very quiet.

 

Dual sun roofs here and I have no noise problems... Of course I drive with the windows down and the sun roof open most of the time, so even if it is noisy, I don't notice...

 

My R53 had the sunroof and I hated it. Noise, creaks, and the amount of heat it let it was unbearable. I swore I would never order one again and didn't. My 2010 R56 without the moonroof is great. It's quiet inside and my air conditioner actually keeps the interior cold, even on an all black car. Good choice on not getting one!

 

Love the sunroof. Much quieter and less buffeting wind with the pop-up deflector, than our PT Cruiser it replaced ever was.

Getting ours tinted Monday limo dark ceramic on the sunroofs. 30% sides and back. For privacy, looks and heat.

The MINI is not a quiet car anyway.

 

I ordered my first '06 MINI without sunroof and never missed it. Bought my second '08 R56 from the lot on a whim and it had the sunroof. Liked it enough so that when I ordered my JCW I clicked on the premium package box. Now I wish I didn't have it. When the weather's right, it's nice to open, but I usually have my roofrack on which makes it too noisy to open. When it's closed, the crappy shades aren't enough, I can feel the heat even while driving and while parked it's a hotbox. I just had the panels limo tinted a couple of weeks ago and it does help but solid opaque shades like the rest of the automotive world uses would have been oh so much more practical. Considering utility versus cool factor, the next MINI I get will be sans sunroof again.