To sun roof or not to sun roof

[fishobob]

Afternoon folks,

Well I'm still thinking about and planning what accessories to get and what modifications to get done on the new Defender that I want to purchase in the next month or two..

Currently tossing up whether to go a sun roof or not. I plan on getting a white Defender, so I figure I wouldn't have as many heat issues that the SXV owners seem to have with theirs and their black duco. I know Gav110 speaks highly of his and doesn't have any heat issues with his Silver Defender. I've always wanted a sun roof and like the idea of a bit more ventilation around my boof head and through the cabin and also a bit of star gazing through it at night ha :eek:

I haven't seen any pictures of them on a Defender though. I presume it's just a manual pop up glass sun roof and not one of the sliding ones?

So for those of you who have a sun roof on your Defender - what are your opinions on it, have you had any issues with it and would you get another sun roof in your next Defender?

I also plan to get an overhead roof console at some stage. Where is the sun roof on the Defenders and would this affect the possibility of installing a roof console?

Cheers and all the best,
Rob

[VladTepes]

Just another place for it to leak..... IMHO.

[Psimpson7]

I love the one in mine. It has never leaked even a drip.

Downside is it needs to be tinted or have a shade.

Its a pop up one yes, and at least when mine was supplied I believe was dealer fit?

[rainman]

I can't speak from experience with a Defender sunroof, but I do have one other car with one. Here in Queensland you rarely have an opportunity to use one because you get sunburnt and it's so hot you have the air conditioning on anyway. Obviously it would be a slightly different story in Melbourne, but I still don't think I'd bother if I had the choice, and I certainly wouldn't pay any extra for one.

However, the BIG upside to the sunroof I do have is that you can pop the back up slightly so when the car is parked in the sun, and with tinted windows, there is a massive, massive difference to the interior temperature of the car when you get back into it - so much so that I am actually considering installing a small pop up vent on my 130 purely for this reason.

[p38arover]

A waste of money, prone to failure, and worthless. It is a pity my RR has one standard - at least it's convinced me that they are pointless in this climate. If my roof wasn't welded on, I'd get a roof from a standard model and swap it over.

They prevent the installation of something useful, e.g., a roof console, and roof racks have to be high enough to clear them.

They also take up valuable headroom in some cars (it always rubbed on my head in my daughter's Peugeot).

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Don't do it!

The majority of people I know have leaks (including me) and finding someone to fix it properly is harder than finding an Land Rover Tickford station wagon.

Just take a look at how many people with them have gaffa tape over the edges.

I will acknowledge that the occasionsl few don't have a problem.

[Psimpson7]

A waste of money, prone to failure, and worthless.
.

In your opinion Ron. Sounds like my opinions of P38's :D

They are pretty cheap, incredibly simple in a Defender, You could fit an entire new one in about an hour and have one other random benefit in that they make the head lining much much less liklely to droop.

Mine has 2 stages of opening so it can be used with a roof rack if needed.

If you want a pic I can grab one from mine to give you an idea Rob?

I would be interested to see if any Defender owners have leaks from theirs... comparisons from RR owners aren't really relevant!

pic:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1267.jpg

[KarlB]

I have one in my 2010 Defender 90. Love it. No leaks. Cools the vehicle down quickly when it is hot etc. One of the best accessories for the price.

The new ones in Defs are wind-out (not like in Psimpson7 pic) and can also be completely removed.

Cheers
KarlB

[Psimpson7]

The new ones in Defs are wind-out (not like in Psimpson7 pic) and can also be completely removed.



It would be interesting to know if they have standardised them, as when mine was new they seemed to fit different styles depending on the day!

[Lotz-A-Landies]

<snip>
I would be interested to see if any Defender owners have leaks from theirs... comparisons from RR owners aren't really relevant!
<snip>I've had them of the same design (my partners one at the time) as in the pic and my comments still stand!

We were in the car when it shattered in a hail storm! Have never seen that happen with a metal roof.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I love mine,,
in fact I love BOTH of mine.

If they leak there is something wrong(DER!) just fix it like any other Land Rover leak!
The extra ventilation is amazing, I can leave them open when I leave the dog in the car,
and nothing beats watching the stars at night:cool::cool:

[KarlB]

It would be interesting to know if they have standardised them, as when mine was new they seemed to fit different styles depending on the day!
There are obviously several different models around but the only new ones I have seen in the last year have been the wind-out ones. I remember reading that Land Rover changed their supplier. It is my understanding that the the type you have and the wind-out ones are both very well sealed compared to the ones in earlier Defenders. Someone on the pommy Defender forum was bragging how he gets no leaks even with a high pressure hose (see Defender2 - View topic - Sunroof's (Puma Only) (http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic1991.html?highlight=sun+roof)).

Cheers
KarlB

[Psimpson7]

Interesting reading, I dismantled another td5 90 which had a twist one. Would make sense for them to commit to one style.

I think the one in mine is the same as the one in a Peugeot 106!

[KarlB]

I think the important issue is how they are sealed to the roof. The Defender2 link I posted earlier suggests earlier ones were only sealed with double sided tape.

[jake]

We have a 2010 Puma with sun roof fitted, happy with it. If it's something you want go for it. :)

[lardy]

no!!!

[Gav110]

Mine is the twist-the-round-knob type and as others have said it's fantastic for ventillation. The manual says that it can be fully removed, but I have yet to figure out how (any ideas with the circular knob version out there?)

One night I accidentally left it open during a rain storm here in Sydney and the water ingress was not too bad actually - mainly hitting the cubby box (was getting a bit dusty anyway ;).

I am yet to have to suffer glare through it - and having the LR expedition rack seems to help as the front has an air shield which combines with the bars to limit light angles.

I have bought a $2 black stick on square kiddie shade to stick on it for the hottest days in summer when it's a/c only, but even in spring I have noticed how quickly it ventllates hot air out of the car.

As you say fishobob - combined with a light colour, it's all good. Best $150 I ever spent...

[fishobob]

Ha well I seem to have opened a can of worms with this question:)

The general consensus would appear to be a big no from older Defender or other LR drivers and a yes from those who own the newer Defenders.

Thanks for your replies, it has pretty much confirmed to me that I now want a sun roof. Only thing that is worrying me is the possibility of not being able to fit an overhead roof console if I have a sun roof, is this the case? I presume the sun roof would be located right where the roof console would normally be fitted?

Cheers and thanks again,
Rob

[KarlB]

My sentiments exactly Gav.

There are two issues here. Firstly the isssue of sun roofs in general, irrespective of the vehicle they are in. And secondly the issue of the sun roofs in Puma Defenders, as that is what fishobob is planning to purchase. As I said in an earlier post, I have a 2010 Puma and I think mine is terrific. I was hesitant before purchase but now reckon it was $200 well spent.

Cheers
KarlB
:D

[Gav110]

Yep - you can kiss the roof console goodbye, but you can do all sorts of other storage options like fit Mulgo's exbox which then also gives you a [better] location for a remote mic UHF radio and a lockable place to store phones, etc. You can also buy or build one of the glovebox options discussed elsewhere on the forum. I am also getting some under-floor storage boxes built by Mulgo. Yes, yes I know I must post pictures - I promise I will once they're done !

[fishobob]

Yep - you can kiss the roof console goodbye, but you can do all sorts of other storage options like fit Mulgo's exbox which then also gives you a [better] location for a remote mic UHF radio and a lockable place to store phones, etc. You can also buy or build one of the glovebox options discussed elsewhere on the forum. I am also getting some under-floor storage boxes built by Mulgo. Yes, yes I know I must post pictures - I promise I will once they're done !

Cheers for that mate, I'd figured I wouldn't be able to go with the roof console if I had the sun roof but I wanted confirmation. As you've said, there are a lot of other storage options out there and I'd prefer the sun roof to the roof console I reckon..

Ha some pics would be good, there's lots of people hanging for them:D

[KarlB]

You should be able to have a roof console with a sunroof such as shown in the following photo:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1142.jpg


Consoles like this run across the vehicle rather than running down the centre line. Check out the Departement of the Interiors website for some ideas: http://www.consoles.com.au/index.htm (http://www.consoles.com.au/index.htm)


Cheers
KarlB

[scott oz]

You should be able to have a roof console with a sunroof such as shown in the following photo:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1142.jpg


Consoles like this run across the vehicle rather than running down the centre line. Check out the Departement of the Interiors website for some ideas: http://www.consoles.com.au/index.htm (http://www.consoles.com.au/index.htm)


Cheers
KarlB
I asked the supplier about this type of console for the defender and was told not available and would most likely be illegal.

I'm not sure a (center) roof console is that great a loss. They are held to the roof by wood screws and mine vibrated lose in central Australia

[Gav110]

Not sure if you already saw this mate - a hot of the sunroof in my main post: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/106445-finally-arrived-new-puma-110-zermatt-silver.html

[kenleyfred]

My head used to get burned with our SVX sunroof. Not anymore though, rooftop tent over the top. Great, now we can leave the roof open to keep interior cooler, helps with the fridge too.

As an aside (and saying this because ours has never leaked) If retro fitting one, how would they go being fitted in reverse. My thinking is that while driving you would be pressurising the interior and thus reducing dust ingress.
Kenley

[fishobob]

Not sure if you already saw this mate - a hot of the sunroof in my main post: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/106445-finally-arrived-new-puma-110-zermatt-silver.html

Thanks mate, I'd actually missed that some how..

After further deliberations it's something I definitely think I'll go ahead with now. Thanks for your replies and opinions everyone