So I placed my order for an MCS about a week ago. One option I did not order is a sunroof. However, I am obsessing over my decision, which I could still change.

Here's where my thoughts are going:

1) I don't use the sunroof on my current (or previous) car very often, but I've always been glad that it was there when I wanted to.

2) On one hand I've read that the Mini's sunroof makes the overall driving experience a noisier one while on the other hand some folks say there is no discernible noise difference.

3) I've read that the Mini's sunroof rattles or makes other unwanted sounds but on the other hand I've read that current production models don't do that anymore.

4) The Mini sunroof looks great but the amount of shade that the screen provides seems to be minimal.

5) I'd rather not spend more money, but at this point $550 probably won't kill me (my wife might though).

Any advice in helping me sort this through would be greatly appreciated.

 

If I had the sunroof, I'd have to put on sunscreen every time I went driving. If it had a sliding shade, that would be OK, but I don't think I'd like having the sunroof on a MINI.

 

Yeah, that's one of my biggest concerns. I'm not a sun worshipper, so the ability to partially or fully slide the shade closed would make a huge difference.

 

For me, it's a no-brainer. The MINI feels so much bigger with the sunroof. It really depends where you live - in the far south, the baking might overwhelm the sense of space. You can always get a shade from Stratmosphere - I used mine last time I went to Las Vegas.
I rarely open it, as it IS noisy, but love looking up and seeing sky.

 

You could always tint it as dark as you want. That would help a lot.

 

I just like a solid roof over my head.Q

 

Stand your ground. You won't miss it, and it's one more thing that doesn't go haywire or need a fix. Plus you saved some $$$ and your roof will never leak (unless you go at it with an axe!)

 

My two cents: It adds almost $500 to the resale of your car. Go into Edmunds and pretend to sell your 2003 or whatever MINI. You will be pleasantly surprised. I just traded my 2003 MINI MCS and it helped my trade-in-value. This is my second MINI with a Moon Roof,neither rattled. There is some additional noise. The tinted glass on the Moon Roof gives more light which is much appreciated here in the Seattle area. It's among the best Moon Roofs going. Compare it to VW's or Audi's???

 

Seems like a personal preference thing to me. Of the 7 cars I have owned only 1 didn't have a sunroof and I hated not having one. Made me feel like I was sitting in a ford taurus or something. Apparently some people feel just as strongly against them though. If you haven't enjoyed them in the past, you probably won't miss it. As far as resale value, I'm sure it adds something to the value but again it comes down to who you are selling to. If I was looking to buy a used MCS I wouldn't consider one without a sunroof, but I also wouldn't consider a new one without a sunroof.

 

That is the only reason I got the sunroof (well, premium package). I bought the Mini because I intend to trade it when I get back to the States, and have lots of "equity" in it (for various reasons).

 

I had a sunroof on my 2002 Cooper and I have one on the new MCS. Having driven another MCS for a week that was shall we say sun-roof-less, I can tell you that the roof is aweome. On the R56 MINIs it is even bigger and adds a sense of airiness to the car, like you are in a much larger car. That said, my old sunroof did rattle when cracked for venting, and had alot of wind noise at speed when fully open. The new roof is quieter, though it looses the one-touch feature. Open, the new roof is pretty loud, unless you roll down the windows as well. What the MINI really needs is rear venting windows, like old BMWs had.

In all, having the roof is worth it, and the sun screen was always enough for me in mid summer when the sun was directly overhead. At night, the moonlight shining in always made for romantic settings, if you're into that sort of thing...

 

I didn't get a sunroof. I do love them, but it adds weight up high where it hurts the most, it is one more thing to break/rattle, and it costs money I could spend on other stuff, like track days or gas or new wheels. Holding myself back on the options sheet on my car made for a pretty affordable and fun little car.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

This has to be one of the most subjective features of a car. Personally, I can't live without one. Love them to death. If it ain't rain'in, it's open. I have never had a problem with them either. If you like them, get it, if not, don't. Simple. Don't get one because of resale value though. That's just silly. You'd be better off taking the difference, invest it, and use the result to buy a lot more than a sunroof next time you buy a MINI. (cuz what else would you buy?)

 

A few luxury cars I've owned had sunroofs standard and I never used them, so on my last couple sporty cars, I specifically ordered a non-sunroof car to save the money and get a stiffer, less rattle-prone chassis. But I understand for others it's a must-have. Both POV's are equally valid.

On the resale angle, I can see it going both ways. When I bought a 95 M3, the salesman pleaded with me to order a sunroof, saying that "You'll never be able to sell your car later without a sunroof". I ignored the twit and when I did sell three years later, it lasted exactly three hours in a BMW enthusiast web site and I was inundated with offers from buyers saying they were specifically looking for cars without sunroofs. Go figure.

While you do want to be a little careful with very oddball color combos, I think resale concerns are a poor way to select the options on a car. Buy the car YOU want, not what you THINK the next owner might want.

- Mark

 

You all are great, I really appreciate the feedback. But I still have to make a decision. I guess I should be happy if this is the most difficult thing facing me at the moment.

Phil

 

Well said!

 

even though mine make a little noise, i still like it. on those days and evenings...man..you know what I'm talking about...it's nice to open up the entire car and ROCK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WWWOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rock on minis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That's a good point. Better handling without it. Keep that center of gravity low.

Typically, a solid roof will also result in a stiffer chassis. I don't know whether that is true for the R56 or not.

So, I guess it depends on your priorities, basking in the sun, or charging around hairpins.

 

I think this says it all: "1) I don't use the sunroof on my current (or previous) car very often, but I've always been glad that it was there when I wanted to." I'd get it. Extra weight? Handling? Come on. We aren't talking 100s of pounds here and I don't imagine you will be doing much drag racing.

 

Ok, I own an 06 MCS and have a sunroof. So here are my impressions...

I've always been a sunroof/drop-top fan because I think they add greatly to the driving experience when you are out for a nice spring/summer/fall drive.
I ride windows-down, sunroof-open as often as possible and LOVE it.
I've often thought that NOT buying the sunroof on these cars takes out one of the coolest, most enjoyable options available!

With all that said though, you WILL bake on hot, sunny days.
In my R53 the screen is almost pointless, and driving with a hat on is the best option when the sun is directly overhead.
The A/C will fight to cool you if it is over 90 because although your hands are going to be frozen, your head will be boiling.
The sunroof does add weight to the car, and in the worst place. If you plan on competing in autocross, this *might* hurt your times... but barely.


It is not an easy choice. When I built my car I put everything on it that I thought I would enjoy (Harmon/Kardon, Premium, Sport, LSD, etc) and I have not regretted a single one. If I hadn't added some of them, I really would have regretted it.

Drew

 

I saw a sunroof cover on-line. A bit of a pain for constant on/off use, but good to have for those super-sunny 95+ days.

 

Good point!

 

+1, including the Stratmosphere shade since I live in Texas.

 

I can't give a comparitive number, but a non-sunroof car is appreciably stiffer than one with a sunroof. With a hole in the roof, you've lost much of the bracing that keeps the structure from twisting and wracking.

That the roof is vitally important to chassis strength in a unibody is apparent to anyone who has experienced cowl shake in a convertible, which typically add hundreds of pounds of bracing to the body, yet still quiver and shake over rough roads. You gain much stiffness by the framework of the roof, but when you cut a huge hole in it, you lose most of the triangular bracing.

Two identical cars on a rough road, my bet is that in a back-to-back drive, the average driver would definitely notice the non-sunroof car being stiffer.

Again, if I wanted a sunroof, this wouldn't stop me from getting one, but if you're six-one, half-dozen-other, a stiffer body could be a factor. And personally, if I really wanted the open-air experience, I'd get a convertible.

- Mark

 

Here is my two cents.

The added weight of the sun-roof is minimal, at about 50-75 lbs.

The strength of the glass and mechanism's is stronger and stiffer than sheet metal (non-sunroof). The glass in any car is an intregal part of the structure.

In Colorado, no sunroof means less value.

Lastly, the driving experience is greatly enhanced with the sunroof.

Good Luck!