Sunroofs in BMW/MB?

[Big Tav]

Hi guys,

In Australia if you were to spec a BMW 3 or 5 series or a MB CLS etc without a sunroof it will make the value go right down and makes them near impossible to sell on late model cars. I know there is not as much sun in the UK but does the same rule apply?

I was looking at a lot of BMW 5 series Sports and CLS's and the majority don't have sunroofs. Are they that rare?

I know the market is totally different. In Australia you can't even buy a 5 series with a manual over here. Auto only!

Cheers,

[roverspeed]

I think most of aforementioned cars will have air con/climate control, making a sunroof essentially defunct

[Hawmaws]

roverspeed said:

I think most of aforementioned cars will have air con/climate control, making a sunroof essentially defunct

Funny, I always spec a sunroof, but I don't see it as an alternative to airconditioning at all. They aren't much use when it is really hot. I use them on cool summer evenings.

Besides, I hate opening side windows...but that's a personal thing

[Dab of oppo]

Whilst not a hard and fast rule, but almost always the case a few years ago it was normally Aircon OR Sunroof, My Merc 250 had a sunroof but no Aircon the same as my old Audi A6 Avant, a mate of mine had an E30 3 series - No sunroof but it had Aircon (very rare!)

[5678]

I wanted the sunroof in my 6er. Don't have it open a huge amount (due to the A/C) but it's nice and big so having the shade back changes the driving experience.

[Hawmaws]

5678 said:

I wanted the sunroof in my 6er. Don't have it open a huge amount (due to the A/C) but it's nice and big so having the shade back changes the driving experience.

Does the roof in a 6 slide, or only tilt?

[Big Tav]

They only tilt.

I find it amazing that you either get one or the other. In Australia both are a must with these cars.

[aeropilot]

roverspeed said:

I think most of aforementioned cars will have air con/climate control, making a sunroof essentially defunct

That's my take on it too.

While there will always be a few that want both, it is clearly only a few, hence the relative rareity of them these days in the UK.... and they are usually quite an expensive option too.

I also find a lot of them can intrude on headroom, which being tall, I find an issue, so I can happily live without them thesedays.

[Fox-]

This also amazes me. I love having a sunroof and do not really understand why half this country thinks air conditioning is a sunroof alternative. Sunroofs let loads of light into the cabin and can be nice on a summers day even with the AC on.

I was very happy my previous car, a Mondeo, had both a sunroof and AC. I suspect now I buy BMW's I wont ever have a sunroof again, as it seems less than 5% of cars have them.

This is in contrast to the USA and Australia where almost all BMW's have a sunroof.

Over here we are just apalling at speccing cars. Everything has black interior, silver trim and a stty diesel engine and thats that.

Sigh.

[Pannywagon]

My Lexus has climate control, sun roof and a black/blue leather and faux suede interior, so no black/silver or diesel here thanks very much.

[Ozzie Osmond]

I thought sunroofs went out of fashion with the last Conservative government about 15 years ago?.

americans don't have sunroofs - they used to just laugh at them as being "British air-conditioning"!

[Fox-]

Ozzie Osmond said:

americans don't have sunroofs

Oh yes they do - a large proportion of used BMW's for sale in the USA have a 'Moonroof' which is exactly the same thing.

[Patrick Bateman]

Hawmaws said:

roverspeed said:

I think most of aforementioned cars will have air con/climate control, making a sunroof essentially defunct

Funny, I always spec a sunroof, but I don't see it as an alternative to airconditioning at all. They aren't much use when it is really hot. I use them on cool summer evenings.

Besides, I hate opening side windows...but that's a personal thing

Agreed, I just think they're great for a bright day.

[aeropilot]

Fox- said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

americans don't have sunroofs

Oh yes they do - a large proportion of used BMW's for sale in the USA have a 'Moonroof' which is exactly the same thing.

Yup, they are usually standard fittment over there on BMW's..... certainley on 1Addicts, the US guys mostly complain about their 135i's coming with moonroofs when they would prefer them to be optional like we have here in EU.

Another reason I don't like them is weight, putting 40 odd kg's of extra weight high up at roof level, above the c of g seems a tad pointless in a 'drivers' car.

[topless_mx5]

I've never understood sunroofs. They just cause lots of buffeting and don't really do much. There's particularly no need when you have AC as far as I can see.

[Fox-]

topless_mx5 said:

I've never understood sunroofs. They just cause lots of buffeting and don't really do much. There's particularly no need when you have AC as far as I can see.

Can you please explain how I can program my air conditioning system to create a lighter cabin?

[Mars]

I rather like my sunroof (not a BMW or MB). It's one of those really long ones too. I tend to use it most in the Spring and Autumn (when it's a bit warmer than today - for sure), and especially in the Summer when travelling slowly out in the countryside.

I have aircon too, and use it independently of the sunroof. It's just another option which adds something to the experience.

[El Guapo]

I am in the don't like them and would never buy a car with one camp.

[MGZRod]

My MG ZR has one, just a normal wee one. But it changes the experience completely, whether its tilting it to get some fresher air without getting attacked by wind. or cruising about at night with it completely open, going down a b-road quickly with music and shades on. nothing beats it

[angusc43]

Fox- said:

This also amazes me. I love having a sunroof and do not really understand why half this country thinks air conditioning is a sunroof alternative. Sunroofs let loads of light into the cabin and can be nice on a summers day even with the AC on.

Sigh.

Both my cars have got a/c AND glass sunroofs. I use the a/c AND the sunroofs in both of them.

As another poster pointed out you can't make an interior brighter with a/c no matter how good it is.

And as someone else pointed out if you do need a quick slug of external ventilation tilting the roof is far quieter than opening aside window.