I was going down the 101 just coming up to Peoria and all of a sudden in my right ear....boooomm!!!! I though I hit something. No cars were around me at all. I pull off Peoria and find my moonroof has a gaping hole in it. It blew outwards from the inside. The initial hole is a couple inches around. Basically, if you look at it at roofline, it looks like a mountain. I can't explain it. HEAT? CHASSIS FLEX? WTF? I am so shaken. I called the MNS at 6 but they were gone. Going in tomorrow and talking to them. Hopefully MNS replaces it as maybe a defect. I don't know what to do. Has anyone heard of something like this before.

 

This is the first instance I have heard of a sunroof/moonroof blowing like this, UKSUV! Did you possibly hear a rock hit it? I assume you are still under warranty, and if so, hopefully it will be covered. Keep us posted.:smile:


Clover

 

That really sucks. I'm curious, did you have any of your windows open when it happened, and if so how far? Was your sunroof open at all? What year is your car?

 

Pictures???

Anything missing from inside the car?

 

Hey DID: Thanks for the edit!

Glad this did not injure the driver or any passengers.

The phenomenon reported is bizarre and may be unique. Really weird. As mentioned above photos would be much appreciated along with a detailed account of the car just prior to the incident. And please post your dealer's surmise or would that be surprise.

There was a thread awhile ago about bird bashing, but this seems to have originated from within the cockpit. Has there been a thread about MINIs and "close encounters"?

 

Ditto!

 

Going about 90 mph, no cars around, moonroof and all windows closed, AC on LO, fan position 1, 2003 MC, no traffic opposite side. MOONROOF BLEW OUTWARDS FROM CABIN.

 

That must've been SOME negative preasure. Did the whole moonroof blow, or just a portion?

 

Did you have Taco Bell for lunch?

Seriously, that is very wierd. Check out this thread -

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24605

Exact same thing happened to a guy in a BMW. Almost exactly 1 year ago...

Here are some other reports of the same phenomenom:

http://www.complaints.com/may2002/co...ay.may8.10.htm

http://www.poneweb.com/detail-4032123.html

 

Does it look like this:



Scroll down to the March 1 entry on this site: http://gcpeart.evermeet.org/

 

No, it looks like this.....







It bows out like a mountain. If something hit it, would it do that? Plus, NOTHING WAS AROUND.

 

This time a Z3 with lots of pics and commentary



http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...4953322-4.html

 

Your sunroof isn't tinted, is it?

 

This thread here is scary familiar: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24605

 

I had the windows tinted at the dealer when I bought it. If they tinted the top who knows but I thought our cars came dark to begin with?

 

I've heard that some moonroofs can crack if tinted, but only those that have the handle or hinge drilled into the window....so the MINI roof wouldn't be subject to that kind of cracking problem....can't imagine enough negative pressure being created, even going 90 mph!....very weird...keep us posted

 

That totally suck

 

ive seen this happen to a my friends renault megane and that also shattered from the inside out ! very scary especially when i was follwing and the glass just shattered everywhere.....renault said it was to do with the manafacture of the glass and that there was a modification and change of supplier ...i wander if this is the case with minis now ?

 

Sorry to hear/see the damage - I also have the sun/moonroof and will be curious to see how MNS handles it. Scott, Yuma, HB/W

 

That is very strange - I had heard of the incident with the Z3 Coupe and chalked it up to total weirdness and the way the sunroof is constructed, but now hearing about the other BMWs having this issue is surprising/scary.

What could be the source, a bad seal causing the back pressure? I would like to know if and how BMW is testing for the source of this problem in order to prevent it.

 

MNS probably will replace the whole sunroof cassette under warranty. Bummer for it to happen though....

 

I TOLD you not to put the 'missile launcher' label on your toggle switches!

Any idea of the outside temperature? Absolutely freaky. Sorry to hear about the trouble - please let us know the outcome!

 

Yes, we need details of this. Please keep us informed.

 

Renault should be commended for owning up. BMW should be condemned for not forewarning customers when they have a history of complaints.

Thanks to early_apex for finding those cogent links. How does one do that?

 

Yowza! A failed alien abduction, perhaps?

Seriously, I'm glad no one was hurt -- and curious to see how MINI will handle this.