I'm picking my new MCS early next week. Living in Arizona, the heat coming through the sunroof in the summer will be killer. I know that there are shades that can be used for the sunroof, but is there anyone out there with extra tint on their sunroof glass that also live in desert climates ?

There used to be issues with tinted sunroofs cracking on Minis out here, so our dealer does not recommend it nor will they install it if you ask. I'm wondering if there is anyone in a similar climate that has done it recent models without issue ?

thanks!

 

Don't know anything about tinted sunroofs, but you'll probably want to do something to keep the heat out. Even in a New York City summer, my friend's Mini was so roasted inside that we had to wait outside the car with windows down, sunroof back, and hatch up for 10 minutes before the car cooled off enough for us to sit down. I kinda wish cloth seats were standard versus the leatherette.

 

I live in Florida and I did put darkest tint on my R53's sunroof a couple years ago and loved it! It made a big difference and helped a lot filtrating light and holding some heat outside. Do it

 

Use ceramic tint for UV rejection.

 

I got 15% all the way around and on the roof. SW FL is not a desert but it does get hot here. I talked to my tinter and he advised to not use ceramic tint as he was not impressed with in in desert and super sunny areas where the temps get really high. He said if we lived a little more north then it would be a great product but for the cost it was not all it is cracked up to be and they then choose not to carry it in stock.

 

Go for the tint, I live in the Carolinas and had my roof is tinted with 5% tint, about as dark as you can get. It has really helped, also put a Zippe shade in for additional shade. Good luck and have fun with your new mini.

 

Ceramic is a lot of hype if you look at the ratings of it vs metallic from the same supplier. But it is none the less a bit better. Some have even gone 80% on the windshield. See my sig for how I went.

Related thread.

 

My roof was lighlty tinted @ 42%... and the heat, living in the island in Puerto Rico was BRUTAL.....

I made the change to put 5% over it ... and wow!... i didn't even need to change the 42% in the rest of the car... it's very cool and nice inside now :D

DO IT!

 

First thing I did to my 2008 MCS was 20% on windows and 5% on sunroof......That sun was burning my bald head up, even with the standard sun shade.

 

I put a perforated graphic on my sunroof, a Union Jack. I had it made and installed by a local sign company, who also does graphic advertising decals on city buses.

They told me it blocks 25% of the light. It keeps the interior of the car cool and makes the car look cooler!

Dave

 

the standard sunshade doesn't block almost anything..... i was mad about that but the tint took really good care of it

 

I have been thinking about tinting the sunroof since I bought the car. I think that might be something I get done this spring. I've got 10% on the windows but nothing on the sunroof.

 

The Sunroof on 2011's has 30% Tint, so far it can hold up to Mexico's heat pretty well considering I have to park outside at the moment

 

About how much does it cost to tint just the sunroof?

 

Where in Mexico do you live? The climate it's probably the same, but based on the fact that you're driving a 2011 I'm guessing it hasn't seen those 115F days yet?

 

I put a Huber Optik 30 percent on the sunroof and last summer I was in the Mojave and Big Bend Nat Park in Texas so there was ample opportunity in both places to get plenty of heat. It worked great, had good heat rejection, and I never had any problem.

I understand that this is not kosher everywhere, but a windshield tint makes a big difference if you can do a relatively light one with good heat rejection. For me, that helped a ton.

 

Where in Mexico do you live? The climate it's probably the same, but based on the fact that you're driving a 2011 I'm guessing it hasn't seen those 115F days yet?

 

In Seattle it cost $65 to get both sunroofs tinted with ceramic, and then I got a 15% discount for being in a a local MINI group, so it cost $55.25, Unless you live between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun is never directly overhead. Most of the time the sun is hitting your side windows as directly as it is hitting the sunroof. The sun is the highest at noon on the Summer Solstice. On your windshield you can get away with Air Blue 85% tint, but that is ceramic, so if your tinter doesn't have it he will poo poo it. I read a lot of threads and manufacturers stats before I went ceramic. I also talked to more than one tinter. All info I was able to find supported ceramics UV rejection. My car stayed relitively cool in Vegas. The price difference is not significant. Metalic tint is to get a mirror effect on your windows, but does not reject UV as well as ceramic. Get more than one tinters opinion and get the opinion of a tinter that does all types of tint, not just the guy that wants to sell you what he has.

 

I am currently in Mexico City, have had a couple of trips to warmer climates (Acapulco, Cuernavaca) and I have no complaints whatsoever. The hottest it's seen is 96 degrees tops. It cooled down in less than a minute by tilting the Sunroof

 

I live in NM and my car has seen 100+ degree days, sitting out in the direct sun. I have a 20% 3M tint on my sunroof which I got immediately after buying the car. It did fantastic over the summer and I have had no problems. It really has made a difference in reducing the amount of heat stored in the car. Also to note, I have all black interior with the antracite liner so it's definitely a heat magnet!

Specs for my Sunroof tint:
20% Color Stable Gray
Dark Gray Appearance
Distortion-Free Satellite Transmission
50% Heat Reduction
82% Glare Reduction
99% UV Reduction
16% Visible light transmission
5% Visible light reflected

 

Thanks mininoir. We're pretty much in the same boat with regards to the climate and the interior.

 

I personally did not want to tint the sunroof, because sometimes I like light coming in while having the roof closed.

During the summer months here (Scottsdale)...I just use shades that are made for the mini sunroofs. Blocks all the light out, are easily removable, and the roof can even be vented open with them still attached. As seen in this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ee-zippee.html

I pretty much just keep them in all summer though, as I don't find myself opening the sunroof much when its 115 out.

 

I did a search and found where I had heard about this potential issue, and you'll see it's a scary scenario.

There are a couple of comments about heat retention being a potential culprit, and like I said that's what my dealer claims. I'm also not so sure that they are taking an unofficial, paranoid stance on the matter? Here are a couple of threads. The 1st one has a killer picture of it:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post2128190

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...shattered.html

 

Yeah, generally here in NM, when the heat gets that bad we know to vent the car. I'll either crack the windows a smidge or leave the sunroof just pitched. We don't have to worry about rain too much in these parts

 

I had read about the Zippee shades, and somehow I just forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me! I think I match your style in terms of the summer ... I see myself just keeping them on all the time. In the cooler months around here is when I love opening up the sunroof. Nice compromise.

thanks!