5 or 15%?

Was thinking 5 but someone suggested that it would be too dark on top of the tint that's there already.

 

I have 5% on my sunroof and by no means is it too dark.

 

I was thinking about going that dark as my wife doesn't care for the sun coming through the shade. How much does it help with that?

 

Mine is 15% Here in Florida it makes a big difference.

 

Big-time difference. The cabin is still plenty light in full midday sun but definitely cooler. With the windows down & roof closed (but tilted up) I can motor sans AC even in July. I can feel the difference too after the cars's been closed up in the parking lot at work.

My windows are 15% or 20% too. The only time the view out the sides is a tad dark is at night with both windows & roof closed, but you acclimate. And in FL I usually have one or the other open so night vision is usually fine.

I'd recommend going dark on the roof to just about anyone & everyone.

 

I went limo dark (5% I presume) as recommended by my MA and don't regret it. Plenty of sunshine during sunny days, plenty of light during cloudy days, and it keeps the car a lot cooler than my previous Mini that had no tint on the sunroof.

 

In my old R53 I had 5% and added a Zippee Shade because 5% wasn't even enough. Don't worry about 5% being too dark.

 

OK...I went with 5%. I was able to A/B them at the tint shop. 15% was definitely too light for the Vegas sun.

It's a HUGE difference having the tint now. With the OAT being 105 degrees and the sun directly overhead, it's noticeably less brutal now.

Highly recommended!!

 

Getting tinted in two weeks... 5% on the sunroof, 20% rear 3, 35% front windows. I'm hoping this will help me to hate the sunroof less. It's nice when the sun isn't overhead, but when it is, I'm cursing it.

 

I got the Zippee Shade for my wife, but I also like opening the sunroof and with the Zippee Shades, you can only crack them. I'm hoping the 5% tint on the sunroof will allow me to open the front now and then. My car came with tint already installed and is nice and cool/dark inside.

 

Is there some difference with the newer sunroofs? I used to open the sunroof on my R53 with a Zippee Shade all the time even at freeway speeds. Their website still says they replace for free if yours somehow blows away.

 

Had a nice talk with the tint guy before he did mine. Window tint mostly absorbs the light and turns it into heat, while reflecting some back. They have had a few crack, either from just getting too hot or from thermal shock (being hot, then cooled by water from a sudden rain). I had mine tinted anyway and haven't had an problems.....

 

Vinyl is also preferred by many! You won't need to worry about removing shades when opening. Less heat in cabin. Keeps the sunroof from rattling due to thermal expansion on hotter days, too.

 

One of the tint shops here, recommended not tinting the sunroof. He said it is designed to let heat pass through and the tint is designed to keep heat out which could cause the sunroof to heat up enough to shatter.

Sounds like BS to me, but I really don't want to take the chance. How long has everyone had their's tinted? Anyone every hear of this?

 

Most MINI dealerships will also tell you not to tint the sun roof. Mine has been done for a few years with no issues. I went last Friday and had vinyl installed on both panels of the sunroof. It was only 80.00 installed and it's one of the best things I have done. I still get light from it but it's much cooler in the car.

 

Thank You Oldgamefreak,

Where is everyone getting the graphics for the sunroofs? (I've only had mine a week and the sunroof hit is bothering me already)

 

Vinyl? Please explain a little more. Pictures?

On top of the sun-roof glass? Opaque? Perforated? The official MINI roof vinyl? I'm old and confused.

 

Yes Sir on top of the sunroof glass, Opaque and perforated. They may not be made of Vinyl, I just guessed that is what the material would be.

 

I'll load a pic later tonight. Mine is plain white vinyl over the glass. it doesn't have any graphics on it just white

 

I've got a silver roof, and matching that even closely would be a *****. But I'll look into that!

I was told to avoid the ceramic tint film by one installer, who said it could crack the glass. He recommended limo tint.

OTOH, the installer who does a lot of MINI-BMW work recommended the ceramic film. I was looking at an 85% (block) metalized film, but I'll look into vinyl overlay now, too.

 

if you have something other than white just find a good shop and they can probably find you something close. Mine IS white just looks off due to being in the car port.

 

I now regret not having my sunroof vinyl wrapped body color, instead of 5% tint.

 

My son owns a tint business and won't tint a sunroof under any circumstance. Doesn't want to have someone try to get him to pay for a cracked sunroof.

Sun is just too damned hot in FL, maybe "up north" it's not as big an issue.

 

I really don't like having a sunroof in my car so when I got my clubman I had to have the sunroof tinted.
At first I had it tinted with 15% ceramic which would reflect the heat and make it darker, But it wasn't dark enough so we put another layer of 5% over the 15% and now it is darker, I still could go darker on it, but at that point I should just paint it. Not had any problems with it here in the hot Atlanta Sun.

 

@Retired Rev I live in AZ and don't have any issues at all with mine.