glass roof

[zhackwyatt]

Zhack, thanks/ I remember with the Honda there was express warning about not tinting the glass roof.  Have not seen anything on other vehicles.

 

Phoenix has unique circumstance compared to other parts of the country, given the intense summers.  I will observe this year and see if A/C needs help or not.

 

Where did you get your C-Max?  I got one from Power Ford that was inbound, also talked with Sanderson but they did not have stock of what I wanted.

I don't have the sunroof, but I tinted all the glass on the car, including the front windshield.  Front windshield is clear of course, but it still blocks infrared heat.  I never heard of a warning about not tinting the sunroof for the c-max, but I'm not 100% positive on that.

 

I bought it at Chapman Ford (used to be Five Star Ford).  I special ordered it though.

[asb]

I had no choice but to take a car with the sun/moon roof.  I don't mind the extra light.  However, being in Florida, if I forget to close the shade when I park, the car is even hotter when I get in at the end of the day.  I am worried, in general, about the drain on mpg that running the air conditioning will have.

[C-MaxSea]

I did not plan on the 'sunroof' either.  My wife wisely noted the increased cabin light - very important in the cloudy weather here, especially in the winter.  We also noted that you get two overhead lights up front with the sunroof, rather than one (centered) in the non-sunroof.  Now very glad we got it!  (If only it opened!)  Nick

Edited February 25, 2013 by C-MaxSeattle

[valkraider]

I am worried, in general, about the drain on mpg that running the air conditioning will have.

Not nearly as much as running heat.

 

But really - in Florida, you're going to be running AC no matter which car or packages you're going to get.

 

When I lived in the south I developed the habit of obsessively looking for shade go park in.

 

Now I still do it, even in Oregon - hot sun is hot sun...

[wamba2000]

Update - just spoke to a window tint business owner with over 35+ years in the business, installing tint in the Pehonix market.  (For those in southern states with hot summers and intense sun, this is likley applicable.)

 

I had him look at the pano roof to see if he could tint it.  His response: "I could, but won't. There is a better than 50% chance I would buy you a new roof."  His explanation was that the heat gets relected and tends to be absorbed into the glass, and breakage is common.  Side iwindows have differnet angles to the sun, so the risk is much much less.

 

I have closed the sun shade and will see how it does.  Even early in this season, the heat is pretty intense witht he C-Max sitting in the open.  On a good note, the a/c system seems to do just fine!  Will respnd when we get to the 110+ days and see if my opinion is the same.

[Riddley]

How about theft, that is my big concern - could a car thief use a bat and break it, is it flimsy ?  (I don't leave anything valuable in sight)  

 

I saw a segment on TV that was talking about how to escape from a car that goes into the water. The idea is that you need to get out quick. But I digress.

Something interesting they talked about was a little safety device you can get that is about the size of a cigarette lighter. The person who spoke about it showed that you can hold this up to a side window in a car, push a button, and with virtually no effort, completely shatter the window so that it virtually goes away. If you travel around a lot of water, this might be a nice device to have on a key ring.  Since I ride a ferry across the beautiful Puget Sound every week, I admit to being somewhat more interested in this than most people would be. But, there I am, digressing again...

So anyway, My point is, a car thief isn't going to need a baseball bat. 

 

Regarding the Panoramic roof, I have it and really love it. I agree what everyone else has already said about the way it lights things up and makes the interior feel more roomy. If you worry about extra heat, the sun shade works very well.

[RedLdr1]

Update - just spoke to a window tint business owner with over 35+ years in the business, installing tint in the Pehonix market.  (For those in southern states with hot summers and intense sun, this is likley applicable.)

 

I had him look at the pano roof to see if he could tint it.  His response: "I could, but won't. There is a better than 50% chance I would buy you a new roof."  His explanation was that the heat gets relected and tends to be absorbed into the glass, and breakage is common.  Side iwindows have differnet angles to the sun, so the risk is much much less.

 

I have closed the sun shade and will see how it does.  Even early in this season, the heat is pretty intense witht he C-Max sitting in the open.  On a good note, the a/c system seems to do just fine!  Will respnd when we get to the 110+ days and see if my opinion is the same.

 

Interesting comment on the roof potentially breaking from your installer...  I have never heard that one before and tinting sun roofs is quite common around here.  With only the thin sunshade, instead of a lined heavier panel, to protect the inside I had my panoramic roof tinted with the same tint as the windows.  We'll see how it holds up...

[MikeB]

I had my car tinted a couple weeks ago, and got a similar message from the tint installer. He recommended that I leave the sunroof untinted and just use the screen, since the glass could build up excessive heat otherwise. And if a sudden thundershower came along in the heat of the day, the shock of rapidly changing from hot to cold could crack the glass.

[Hatchman]

I had my sunroof tinted.  The installer didn't mention it could crack, and I have never heard that until now.  Should be possible though with the extra heat reflected back, little thunder shower, drop of cold rain/hail... sure it could happen. 

 

Tintdude says tint it and forget it...

http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php/topic/35004-will-tinting-my-sunroof-cause-the-glass-to-crack/

 

It is the laminated glass, like a windshield, that usually cracks. 

 

Tempered glass, like the side windows and pano roof should be fine. 

 

Anything is possible, though, YMMV.  

[wamba2000]

Thanks for the comments back, could be tint installers just don't like working above on a glass roof.

I will admit it gets pretty darn hot in Phoenix, and that glass would get pretty toasty.  If you head through a car wash or as the pther post said got into a rain storm, the temp difference could cause an issue.

 

I may look at the vinyl cling stuff, I think I have some in my garage that I can try and already paid for.  Biggest task is to get any bubbles out.

 

Good luck to all, will post how the a/c does in the upcoming he!!ish heat.

[mtb9153]

love mine and do not regret getting it, however I bought from dealer inventory so it came with it.  Would I have got it if I ordered the car?  Yes, it is nice to let more light in and see the sky when driving both ay and night.  Cool to be able to see the rain rush over the roof and speed.  It was worth it.

[Red Twin]

I have a new C-max with the 303 package and the Panoramic Roof and I really like it.  I just got it back from the dealer yesterday, after having the windows tinted, including the Roof, and what a great difference.  It was well worth the cost to have it done.  The Car stayes cooler and I don't have to shut the roof blind in the afternoon. 

 

I am really happy I went that route.

[plohnes]

I'm thinking of getting the windows tinted - is there an advantage to doing it at a dealer?  If you don't mind, how much did it cost?

[RedLdr1]

I'm thinking of getting the windows tinted - is there an advantage to doing it at a dealer?  If you don't mind, how much did it cost?

 

Most dealers will mark up the tint job so it is usually cheaper to deal directly with the tint shop.  Also if the tint has a warranty you want it in your name not the dealers...  I paid about $350 for mine, you can see it HERE.

Edited April 12, 2013 by RedLdr1

[zhackwyatt]

I'm thinking of getting the windows tinted - is there an advantage to doing it at a dealer?  If you don't mind, how much did it cost?

The other thing about the dealer is you may not have your choice of tint.  There is a difference between cheap tint and good tint.

[Red Twin]

I'm thinking of getting the windows tinted - is there an advantage to doing it at a dealer?  If you don't mind, how much did it cost?

 

I really have no problem with the dealer doing the work.  I found our here in the DC area, I got a very good price and I have a full lifetime warranty.  It is the same Tint I had installed on my Truck and my wife's Scion.  The six years I had the Tint on my Truck, it never faded and never turned to that ugly purple color.

 

So, for Thermal  Tint, with a dealer backed lifetime warranty, my cost were under 500 dollars. This included the front window sun band, All five windows, the tow port holes and the roof window.  Not a bad deal.  I did find a better deal if I want to drive 400 miles to central Ohio.  Oh, the dealer also gave me a loaner while they had my car. 

 

I am really happy with my dealers service and pricing so far.  Checking independents in the area, I am finding it better to build my loyalty with my dealer. Also, remember that there is the perfect chance that my dealer will be here 10 years from now, while an independent may not be.

[colea]

The Ford dealer we used does not do their own tinting--they outsource it to a local shop. Price seems to be the same if I go through the dealer, or go to the shop directly. Was quoted $160 for rear-seat & hatch windows only (front-seat windows & windshield apparently illegal to tint here in NY). Still mulling the offer; may end up at a closer independent shop with a good reputation, even if a bit more expensive. Also debating whether to tint the panoramic roof.

[viajero]

I have the glass roof and really like it.  I did get it tinted.  I hardly notice any heat coming through it, and haven't closed the sun shade yet.

 

The car does get hot in the sun, but I think most of that heat is coming through the broad, shallow-angle, untinted windshield.  If I hold my hand just under the glass roof with the sun directly overhead I can't feel the sun's heat at all, but I can through the windshield.

[zhackwyatt]

I have the glass roof and really like it.  I did get it tinted.  I hardly notice any heat coming through it, and haven't closed the sun shade yet.

 

The car does get hot in the sun, but I think most of that heat is coming through the broad, shallow-angle, untinted windshield.  If I hold my hand just under the glass roof with the sun directly overhead I can't feel the sun's heat at all, but I can through the windshield.

You might want to look at getting clear window film for the windshield.  It stills blocks some heat but not the light.

[plohnes]

thanks for all the good advice - you guys are the best.

[kathi]

Update - just spoke to a window tint business owner with over 35+ years in the business, installing tint in the Pehonix market.  (For those in southern states with hot summers and intense sun, this is likley applicable.)

 

I had him look at the pano roof to see if he could tint it.  His response: "I could, but won't. There is a better than 50% chance I would buy you a new roof."  His explanation was that the heat gets relected and tends to be absorbed into the glass, and breakage is common.  Side iwindows have differnet angles to the sun, so the risk is much much less.

 

I have closed the sun shade and will see how it does.  Even early in this season, the heat is pretty intense witht he C-Max sitting in the open.  On a good note, the a/c system seems to do just fine!  Will respnd when we get to the 110+ days and see if my opinion is the same.

Update - just spoke to a window tint business owner with over 35+ years in the business, installing tint in the Pehonix market.  (For those in southern states with hot summers and intense sun, this is likley applicable.)

 

I had him look at the pano roof to see if he could tint it.  His response: "I could, but won't. There is a better than 50% chance I would buy you a new roof."  His explanation was that the heat gets relected and tends to be absorbed into the glass, and breakage is common.  Side iwindows have differnet angles to the sun, so the risk is much much less.

 

I have closed the sun shade and will see how it does.  Even early in this season, the heat is pretty intense witht he C-Max sitting in the open.  On a good note, the a/c system seems to do just fine!  Will respnd when we get to the 110+ days and see if my opinion is the same.

wamba2000 - how's that pano roof in the summer? I am looking at buying one maybe as soon as tomorrow. I've been test driving some without the pano and finally found one with the options I want plus the pano - when I saw how flimsy the cover is as well as the moulding in the roof, if sort of freaked me out. I don't want to sunburn in my car during my morning commute. :)

 

Can you give and update? Would you suggest not getting the panoramic roof in Phoenix?

 

Thanks much!

[SnowStorm]

A "side" advantage is that you get separate interior lights - driver, passenger - with the roof option.  We factory ordered it and love it.  The fact that the shade rolls back from the front means that you can close it part way if the sun bothers the driver and still have it open for back seat drivers.  Although it still lets in light, it seems quite effective at blocking heat (but I'm not in Phoenix!).

[RockwallRick]

Don't forget to close the sunshade if you are going to be parked in the sun for any length of time! My wife was used to having an opening sunroof but she is happy with the Pano Glass Roof.