Comments on: Official Cloth Folding Roof Retrofit

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:27:13 +0000

Previous model version costs $2369 Canadian incl. installation

http://www.miniyaletown.net/exterior.asp

By: Crush

Crush — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:11:28 +0000

For a quality interior shop to install one of these runs a few grand at the minimum. You get what you pay for.

By: MultiplePersonalities

MultiplePersonalities — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:27:34 +0000

Price?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:13:25 +0000

I work for a dealer and I ran the part number in the U.S. system and it comes up ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œPart Number Not Found.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â I donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t think this is available in the U.S. if it ever was. IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve never seen it before but it is really cool.

You'll want to use the individual parts numbers if you're trying to order in the US market. As you can see, it is listed in the US database. Of course there are other options for those in the US if that doesn't work either.

By: MINIBro

MINIBro — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:59:12 +0000

I work for a dealer and I ran the part number in the U.S. system and it comes up “Part Number Not Found.” I don’t think this is available in the U.S. if it ever was. I’ve never seen it before but it is really cool.

By: MultiplePersonalities

MultiplePersonalities — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:43:40 +0000

How much is it? Not that I want to give up my solid white roof and UJ flag anytime soon....

According to the PDF, labor alone should be around $920.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:27:00 +0000

The electric canvas roof has been offered in Europe since 4-5 years ago. I just didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t know this was going to be eventually offered in the US market and that the retrofit was just for solid roof MINIs.

Frank - I'm told it's actually been available for a couple years in the US market.

By: tsukiji

tsukiji — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:15:56 +0000

What does it cost, and where can I get it?

By: MultiplePersonalities

MultiplePersonalities — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:26:46 +0000

The electric canvas roof has been offered in Europe since 4-5 years ago. I just didn't know this was going to be eventually offered in the US market and that the retrofit was just for solid roof MINIs.

I personally like it a lot and it is a nod to the classic Mini. We have in our local club a 1999 Rover Mini with the factory electric canvas roof and it looks the business.

I like it better than the standard glass sunroof because it is lightweight and when opened you have this HUGE expanse of the roof giving it a nearly convertible feel. When you close it, no light/heat makes it inside.

My main concern is for the dealer to do this job correctly. This is major surgery IMHO. Cutting 60% section of your solid roof is a job best left to the experts. Expensive but well worth it if one day I want to turn my now solid roof MCS into a retro targa MINI.

By: RB

RB — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:30:46 +0000

By: ahamos

ahamos — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:21:02 +0000

It shouldn’t cut into the headroom at all, since you’re modifying the stock headliner. I’d be concerned about leaks, too, especially since there are no run-off channels (scuppers) in cars that don’t have a sunroof. Water will get around the seals; it’s inevitable.

By: Vanwall

Vanwall — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:14:26 +0000

If it’s like the original Webasto conversion for the old Mini, as long as you take extra good care of it, it works great and lasts for a long time, altho all my experiences were with the manually-opened kind. If installed correctly, it doesn’t leak, but it’s noisier – the trade-off is a HUGE sunroof in relation to the car, almost like a real drop top.

By: OH Steve

OH Steve — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:56:01 +0000

Does anyone know if this cuts into the headroom as much as the factory sunroof?

Looks like a good piece of kit. Unfortunately I donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t think it would look good on my Astro Black/Silver Cooper S.

I think the look would be comparable to the sunroof (black glass / black fabric), no?

By: Craig

Craig — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:47:11 +0000

Wow, knowing that was available I would have sprung for a sunroof just to replace it with this!!

If you don't have the sunroof you're good to go since according to the PDF this retrofit is incompatable with the factory sunrrof.

Looks like a good piece of kit. Unfortunately I don't think it would look good on my Astro Black/Silver Cooper S.

By: Rich Hall

Rich Hall — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:31:02 +0000

Does anyone know if you can replace the factory glass sunroof with this or something similar?

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:04:37 +0000

I like the part were you start cutting up your roof. Measure THREE TIMES! Cut once.

By: Aaron Cornaby

Aaron Cornaby — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:48:57 +0000

Wow, knowing that was available I would have sprung for a sunroof just to replace it with this!!

If anyone wants one, email me and we will order it up!

By: GSKChicago

GSKChicago — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:19:41 +0000

Any photos of MINI’s with this? Looks mildly interesting.

By: S Curvz

S Curvz — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:05:14 +0000

Thats cool, wish it was a drop in replacement for the glass. Wonder if it leaks…