19 replies to this topic

[Chodosh]

Something inside me is telling me I should have a webasto fitted to my 1995 SPI.

A few questions.

It’s an original John Cooper Garages car, not a conversion but an 80bhp Si sold by JCG. Will I be butchering an original car if I put a genuine Mini webasto in it.

Secondly. Are they error prone - do they leak terribly, are massively loud with wind noise or notoriously fail?

Thirdly. I have had a price - what would you say is fair to pay for install of a reconditioned original roof?

Answers on a postcard. Car is Tahiti blue and roof is black (aren’t they all!?)

Thirdly

[surfblue]

Tahiti Blue with a black roof is not common. Most had white roofs!

[panky]

There's one fitted to my 91 Cooper, I was told from new by the previous owner (I bought it well over 20 years ago). This summer I've found so nice to flick the roof back and let the wind sort my dandruff out and get my bald spot cooked. I don't find it noisy and it doesn't leak but I do worry about some toe rag slicing it with a Stanley knife - would I choose to have one fitted if it wasn't already there, probably not but I do enjoy a blast with the sun shining and the roof open

The original covering started cracking up around the edges when it was about 12 years old but it's only last year I replaced the cover with a good second hand one, fiddly job but not too bad.

[luismx123]

Have one in my 90s mayfair. Whilst I wasnt a fan of it when I got the car, and I thought it looked...meh.... I find it quite nice now especially on the highway. I figured out that by lifting the rear up to the max height and opening the flowthrough vents you get a nice stream of air across your face being pulled out the top. And its pretty sweet when driving in the sun to get a tan ;)

BUT, its your thing. I think minis without sunroofs look cleaner, sleaker. Sunroofs looks kinda clumsy :/

[psmini]

I've got a 95 Mayfair SPI and I had a brand new Webasto fitted in 2013 by Autoroof's in Leicester, the closest official Webasto dealer to me.  It looks factory fitted, operates really well and is the best mod I've done (of many).  I wanted my car to look OEM+ (save the 10" minilites) and as it was an option in 95, I went ahead.  Your car - your rules.  I think I paid £1300 fitted inc vat.  

Edited by psmini, 12 September 2018 - 02:59 PM.

[Chodosh]

Sorry black roof as in Black webasto. Mine is blue with white as you say.

Good to note that there is no noticeable change in noise. I say about leaking but reality is that my car is a garage queen!

[luismx123]

Sorry black roof as in Black webasto. Mine is blue with white as you say.

Good to note that there is no noticeable change in noise. I say about leaking but reality is that my car is a garage queen!

 

Ah yea regarding noise and leakage: no issues here. most of the sound comes from below or the sides. only sound you get ontop is if the wind blows in on the highway ;)

[surfblue]

I'd happily have one but then I love a sunroof,esp a big opening one and as it was a factory option when new you are doing nothing to devalue your Cooper. Like you mine is a pampered queen and rarely out if it looks like rain.

[viz139]

I fitted one myself to 96 SPi. Great for pottering around in the sun but on the Moterway the wind noise when shut above 60 mph does my head in. never again. I would concider a glass sun roof.

[Chodosh]

That’s a good point about it being a factory option...

My car has just had a new front and a set of door skins so I’m trying to work out the best order of doing things. Seems that it might be easier to get the car painted and then fit it (risking the installer marking the new paint) or I risk my painter getting overspray or messing up the roof. Not sure which is highest or lowest probability.

If anyone has a pic of what the factory switchgear looks like that would be great. Presume it’s just a Rover black plastic switch held in a housing above the rear mirror?

[Chodosh]

I fitted one myself to 96 SPi. Great for pottering around in the sun but on the Moterway the wind noise when shut above 60 mph does my head in. never again. I would concider a glass sun roof.

Hopefully the speakers and amp will help drown out the wind noise. For the amount of use the car is going to get I don’t think it will bother me too much. I like the idea of customising the car but am aware that originality is where value is retained. The more I think about it the more I fancy doing it for the heck of it.

[panky]

Mine is absolutely fine at motorway speeds, tight as a drum, doesn't flap about or cause any extra noticeable noise.

[Icey]

Personally, I hate the look of the webasto roofs. I don’t really like sunroofs at the best of times so the idea of taking a tin opener to an otherwise good roof to fit one seems crazy.

And as someone without much hair they’re just a no-go. When the weather is good enough to use it, your scalp will burn!

[Compdoc]

+1 for Icey.

I've always avoided any car with a ragtop sunroof. I remember watching a really nice MGB GT on a track day at Knockhill. The car looked great until it got to about 50mph when the sunroof turned into a growing boil on his roof.

The Webasto bulge had struck again!

[Bobbins]

If you really want to keep the car original then fitting a sunroof is not that, whether it was an original option or not.