Hey! Im a new member of the forum, as well as a new owner.. First off.. I LOVE the car, and I cant wait for the next two months to go by so I can get my hands on my mini and hit the road!! Quick question though.. I always wanted racing stripes.. so I opted for a black mini with white stripes [close together,, not the bonnet stripes] - but - I did need to get a sunroof.. even though I dont really like sunroofs, but I live in FL, USA so it gets HOT and when I have to throw my dog in the car for a ride its comforting to know I can open the sunroof and cool off the car in seconds. That being said, theres an apparent conflict with the stripes and the sunroof. Obviously if I have the sunroof, they won't apply the stripes on the top. Will the car look odd if theres only stripes on the bonnet and boot and nothing on the top? Its not a two tone either, all black.. but I did opt for the chrome rear view mirrors so that might balance it out. Anyone ever seen a mini like this? also.. I forgot to ask if the sun can be blocked out from the inside of the car if you have a sunroof.. i dont remember seeing a sliding panel or anything like that on the inside.. just glass. Anyway.. sorry for the long post, I think I have another month that I can modify my order, at least thats what they told me. Thanks again for any info.

 

From what I've read the sunroof actually makes the car hotter because you can't really block the light. People have tried tinting the sun roof but it can damage the glass.

 

I'm sure you are very excited. I can't answer for your first question since I personally don't like the stripes. But I can respond for your second question for blocking sunroof. When you pick up your new car, you will see that your sunroof is slightly tinted, and there is "mesh" sunsade which doesn't block sunlight at all. So I recently tinted sunroof with 5% tint film and ordered sunshade that goes between sunroof glass and "mesh" sunshade from http://www.stratmosphere.com/mini_interior.htm , which I can use when I want to block sunlight completely.
After tinting sunroof with 5% tint film, I felt significant difference in heat and glare. It made me much more comfortable for driving.
I hope this helps.
Happy Motoring!!!!

 

JohnnyCache - great name!

MINI might not do it, but you can apply stripes across your sunroof...

Look here and here

 

I've seen such stripes on the bonnet and boot and not the sunroof. Looks cool to me, and you're immediately differentiated from those who stripe from fender to fender. And since the whole thing about MINI is to be unique, looks like you're a leg up on the game already.

CROC 411

 

I also have mine on a ship be glad you didnt get the sunroof my current one has it and i am also in florida....it freakin hot......Congrats

 

I agree....simple fix. Get your MINI stripes and then match them (finish/dimensions) on the roof via one of the many aftermarket vendors. On the sunroof you could go solid (cut down on some light) or perforated. It'll look great!!!

 

Thanks so much for the info!! I cant believe how active these forums are! Also.. Great advice from all.. I considered ditching the sunroof.. but with an opaque insert and the stripes on glass it would be a great solution. as far as aftermarket stripes.. should I just go to a local tint shop [south florida].. or are there authorized MINI vendors?

 

I'm interested in Tinting my sunroof as well. Is this something that the dealer can do? I heard Ceramic Tinting is the way to go.

 

Some of the dealers outsource to certain area vendors, but really it's up to you...there are no officially MINI-authorized vendors. You might check the NAM sponsor list...there are several good vendors listed there. You might also ask around owners in your locality to find a shop to install if you prefer to go that route, which might not be a bad idea if this would help you in being absolutely sure the stripes have the same gap and positioning as the OEM bonnet and boot stripes. A good shop would be set up for this and you wouldn't have to worry with it. As far as the stripes themselves, the nice thing NAM vendors here is that they might be more familiar with matching OEM materials, but I fairly sure this is not difficult if you went to a local shop. Either way, getting that install right, would be critical.

Once you figure all this out and execute the plan, you'll be good to go and can just sit back and enjoy gawking at your car!!!

 

You said in your OP that the only reason you got the sunroof was so you could open it and cool off the car faster for your dog. I'd cancel it if that is true. The car will be hotter with a sunroof for your dog. So if you personally don't like them skip it, open the windows to cool off the car. Get a white roof and matching black stripes across it. That'll look nice.

 

I'm with the no sunroof crowd, but if you are set on it you might consider getting a vinyl graphic for the roof. They make them perforated for the sunroof, if you still want light to come in. You could change the roof to white with black stripes, for example. Or, get some other graphic. There are a couple NAM vendors that do this kind of thing. Look for Cooper Flags, and Aesthetic Creations in the vendor list. Or, go to a local car vinyl shop and ask what they can do.

A number of people have gotten tints on their sunroofs. You need to find a reputable local vendor that knows what they are doing and will guarantee their work. The wrong kind of tint can trap heat in the glass. You don't want the sunroof to explode and rain glass fragments on you or your dog. One person posted here that his sunroof exploded while driving to Nevada, IIRC. Not sure if it was due to a tint or just a mfg. fault. You would probably void the factory warranty on the sunroof glass if you had it tinted.

 

The more I think about it.. the more I want to ditch the sunroof.. as long as I can cool the car off quickly with the windows down as I prep the dog [never forget the doggy seatbelt vest =) ] Thanks so much!! ..and keep posting if theres any more info to contribute.. ill check back

 

Well, figuring out what you want your stripes to look like is almost as hard as figuring out which color you want....and it seems to change daily!

Check out some of the photo threads - there are even a few like "Show us your stripes" or "Photos of your R56" etc. that have great photos and great ideas for stripes. Don't think you're limited to JUST what MINI provides....

Good luck!

 

Take a look at my gallery. I had my sunroofs coated with white vinyl and then the stripes put over them. Both sunroofs are also tinted 20% from the inside. I didn't want a sunroof either but it was cheaper/easier to get the premium package than to pick everything else but the sunroof individually.

 

If it were not for that wonderful Sunroof, I would be waiting to order the second gen Cabrio

It was a pleasant surprise for me, just how much difference it makes after parked in that strong
Florida Sunshine to be able to approach the car with the Unlock Fob button held to open the Sunroofs
and how quickly that lets the heat escape as it rises out the roof.

I have yet to feel any need to add tint or shades beyond the MINI factory install.

 

Johnny,

I have two black labs and find opening the windows cools down the car right quick. No need for a sunroof.

 

I love my sun roof. I also have a black lab and I find it safe and easy to leave the sun roof tilted open while I run into a convenience store to grab a bottle of water, with the dog in the car. I don't have to worry about stupid people sticking their hands in and accidentally poking my dog in the ear (he has chronic ear infections, poor guy) and getting their fingers lopped off...

There are about sixty reasons that I can think of to get the sunroof, most of which include the fact that if you don't like the light leakage, there are a million solutions for that problem (decals, easy fix). If you don't like the heat raining down on your interior, tint it (mine was tinted by the dealer, love it!), and really... it doesn't matter what you don't like, odds are you will find a solution to the problem to make you happy with your sunroof.

But if you don't get it, you can't change your mind later.

 

If your only motive for a Sunroof was a quick cool-down, it would be a waste of $500-$1,000 (depending on other options).

A white roof and good tint on the other windows would be a better way to go.

 

check my gallery, I did checkered flag roof to balance the look.

the "black jack" flag comes in a sun-roof version and would look good

welcome to the black mini with viper stripes club

 

Im amazed at how active this forum is.. such a wealth of information.. and the personal experiences are Really helping me make a decision.. if there are more keep em comin! =D Also.. RandomGemini - I hope you dont make a habit of leaving your friend alone in that car.. not that im telling you what to do or anything.. its just that in a place like florida, leaving your dog alone in the car.. even for 120 seconds to get a bottle of water from inside a gas station, is a Dangerous game to play. Again.. im not trying to tell you how to own a pet, its just that I worry about the little guys.. also thanks for your contribution, all of you are helping so much.

 

Congrats on the new ride. I ordered mine sans sunroof since it is not completely blacked out, and I'm not a sunroof lover, but I am a cab guy (other car). Anyway, good luck with your decision, hope it goes well.

 

Florida has laws against it (child or animal inside any unattended auto), but if you had another reason (ie; gallon of ice-cream inside) to keep auto chilled for a 'water-dash; MINI allows a short time to restart engine after key-fob is removed.

This would allow you to lock/unlock doors while engine/ac were running.

 

Where I live... we only get about six weeks out of the year where the temperature is consistently above 70 degrees. Most of the time, if I am only leaving him alone for a few minutes with the sunroof open, it's fine. During that six weeks, he stays home unless he has to go to the vet, no matter how much he stares at my keys.

I don't know how many times I've reported animals left in cars at the movie theater in the height of summer though So I know where you're coming from and don't blame you for being concerned.

 

I wish I'd taken a picture of this when I saw it, but I was driving. The other day I saw a car with a sunroof (not MINI), and the dog sticking its head out the sunroof!

Just another side benefit to having a sunroof in your MINI.