|
|
Post by alanpearl on Mar 27, 2015 17:37:04 GMT
Dear all,
Hello - hope you are all well. I am a club member, and have owned my P5B for about 6 years. It's had a lot of mechanical work, and I am now moving on to the body and interior. I love a big sunroof and am very tempted by fitting a new Tudor Webasto - but there seem to be common complaints about noise and leaks. The car lives in a garage, and I love the idea of having that open sky, but I am a bit worried about taking a tin opener to my car. Does anyone have any experience of these? Just looking for some views to help me decide. Many thanks. Al
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 27, 2015 17:46:36 GMT
A Webasto roof is likely to be noisier but as to leaks its only a problem if badly fitted or old
|
|
|
|
Post by harvey on Mar 27, 2015 18:01:29 GMT
I used to drive new Rovers to have them fitted and I always preferred the quiet drive down there to the noisy ride back.
|
|
|
|
Post by petervdvelde on Mar 27, 2015 18:34:42 GMT
I have a Coupe which i am restoring and one which i use daily and this car has a Webasto sunroof. I first considered to fit a Webasto in the project Rover too but as Harvey states, it is very noisy so i will not do it. An advice: I would first ask a fellow P5B owner with a Webasto fitted and take a drive with him. Especially on motorways, it is very loud.
However the quality of the Webasto is very good. I believe it is all original on my car which lives outside and it doesn't leak at all. I only had to redo the stitch on both sides.
Peter
|
|
|
|
Post by norvin on Mar 27, 2015 19:19:48 GMT
I would have thought it makes the car very easy to break into so poor for security.
|
|
tonys
Rover Fanatic
Posts: 419
|
Post by tonys on Mar 27, 2015 21:09:15 GMT
I would have thought it makes the car very easy to break into so poor for security. It can do; 'back in the day' a neighbour's car was broken into through the canvas sunroof (fitted to a Triumph) and items that had been left on the seat were taken. The roof was simply sliced open, presumably with a knife or similar. That car had been left on the driveway overnight but the security aspect of a Webasto wouldn't really concern me if the car was garaged overnight and a little bit of care was taken as to where it was parked elsewhere, but probably no more so than for any classic car. Having said that, it would be the same for any soft-top sports car, and there are plenty of those around. I can't comment on the noise as I haven't driven in a car fitted with one, but I have sat in one when the roof was opened and I was quite impressed with the extra light, and the view! |
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 27, 2015 22:22:54 GMT
A P5 is insecure with or without a Webasto - vandalism may be a problem
|
|
|
|
Post by barryr on Mar 27, 2015 22:59:49 GMT
Mine has a full length Britax sunroof. I found the bill for its fitting in the history file as well.
I don't remember it being noisy but it clamps down so tight at the front that it has damaged the paint on the roof which appears to have melted as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by richardlamsdale on Mar 27, 2015 23:09:48 GMT
I had a Webasto sunroof fitted to my 1972 Alfa Giulia Coupe about 12 years ago by a company in London. The car lived parked on the road for several years afterwards and was never vandalised - I think old door locks are easier to get through than the sunroof. I chose red Mohair rather than vinyl, and it still looks great today. The roof is waterproof and fits well, but does get noisy at motorway speeds when it's open.
An old Alfa is much noisier generally than an old Rover, so I imagine it will make the P5 slightly noisier overall even when closed, but I love driving with the roof open and plan to have one fitted to my P5B when funds allow. My car has a Silver Birch roof, so I might go with vinyl if I get one fitted, as light grey Mohair might be tricky to keep clean.
|
|
|
|
Post by Simon H on Mar 27, 2015 23:13:48 GMT
As for the security angle - I used to own a ragtop Land Rover. It got broken into one night by having the ragtop cut open. Nothing was taken because there was nothing of any value in it. Not even a radio. But they'd had a rummage through the general crap that was in there. Oh, and I had left both doors unlocked...
|
|
|
|
Post by richardlamsdale on Mar 27, 2015 23:32:13 GMT
As for the security angle - I used to own a ragtop Land Rover. It got broken into one night by having the ragtop cut open. Nothing was taken because there was nothing of any value in it. Not even a radio. But they'd had a rummage through the general crap that was in there. Oh, and I had left both doors unlocked... Maybe I've been lucky. The Webasto roof on my car has steel bars running across the car at about 6 inch spacing, which slide in channels and fit in pockets in the fabric, and they're linked by a steel cable that runs around the perimeter of the sunroof fabric. To get into the car the thief would need to cut the roof and know to lean in and open the sunroof. Maybe a professional classic car thief would know what they were doing, but most casual oiks wouldn't have a clue. |
|
|
|
Post by enigmas on Mar 28, 2015 3:10:54 GMT
Is the noise issue with these sliding sunroofs due to the leading edge of the sun roof causing air turbulence? If so has anyone ever fitted a wind deflector?
|
|
|
|
Post by PeterMadden on Mar 28, 2015 10:09:08 GMT
My car has had a large Webasto since I have owned it and I presume it was fitted when new. I have always loved driving the car with the roof open and as I generally only use it in the summer generally the roof is open. It was always quieter to drive with the roof open rather than closed and it does have a wind deflector that opens out when the roof is open. For many years I did suffer from noise, and some rain coming in at the leading edge as the wooden beam at the front where the roof locks into had rotted and wasn't holding the roof closed as tight as it should have done. I had the roof refurbished in 2013 by Peter Harvey and he did a great job the sunroof is now VERY much quieter when closed and water tight.
|
|
|
|
Post by richardlamsdale on Mar 28, 2015 13:17:07 GMT
The wind noise on my car is more from wind entering the car when the sunroof is open. The sunroof frame is only about 5mm above the roofline, so doesn't cause any noticeable wind noise. It has a small perspex deflector at the front edge that can be flipped-up when open, and that works to deflect some air, but it seems as speed rises it doesn't deflect enough, so air enters towards the rear of the sunroof aperture. Maybe a larger deflector would work better (mine is about 5cm deep - I've seen some deflectors that are more like 15-20cm deep). Mine is a Tudor Webasto, but I have seen them with larger perspex deflectors.
|
|
roverp5b
Rover Fanatic
whats in your mirror
Posts: 195
|
Post by roverp5b on Mar 28, 2015 14:09:33 GMT
Is the noise issue with these sliding sunroofs due to the leading edge of the sun roof causing air turbulence? If so has anyone ever fitted a wind deflector? My sliding steel sunroof has this, small metal upstand but it actually creates noise, helps deflect wind from entering car quite well when open, rubber seals are prehistoric so noisy when closed but always been water tight touch wood  ? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 15:18:24 GMT
You'll never stop the wind noise coming in especially at higher speeds. WITHOUT the front windshield up the noise your hearing is mainly from the wind entering the car by getting under the fully opened gathered vynle and resonating in the car. WITH the windshield up then your getting the noise from the wind hitting the shield but this noise doesn't resonate as it doesnt change the air pressure in the car, and then there's always the noise of the vynle flapping at very high speeds as faster moving air has a lower pressure than ambient air and is trying to lift the loose gathered vynle.  |
|
|
|
Post by norvin on Mar 28, 2015 16:27:17 GMT
Not wishing to be rude but do you not think fitting a Webasto would devalue the car? and what about the insurance would that not go up, have you been in touch with your insurance to find out what they think as this is a big modification from a safety and security point of view.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 28, 2015 21:10:12 GMT
Webastos were a period and expensive accessory "devalue" implies an investment aspect which few classics can acheive - enjoy what you have and if you want a sunroof get it
|
|
|
|
Post by alanpearl on Mar 30, 2015 10:51:54 GMT
Thanks everyone - useful views (and a range of them as always!). To answer some of the issues: (1) security - not such an issue as garaged at home and (if I drive there) at work, however I do always worry when out and about mainly due to the terrible door locks; (2) insurance - good point, hadn't thought of that - but I'm on the minimum premium already on a classic policy and suspect it wouldn't change much (trebling the agreed value didn't); (3) value - the least of my worries with this money pit!! I've probably spent twice what it's worth already I fear. It's more down to (a) the substantial cost of buying and fitting (c. £1.5k) when I'm currently spending twice that on bodywork, and (b) the fear of regret. Is there anyone who has retrofitted a webasto that regrets it? Thanks, Al
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 30, 2015 17:37:37 GMT
As to cost - its nothing compared to depreciation and service costs on a typical modern car. Noise only a problem if you regularly drive at high speeds - unlike many P4 owners quite a few P5B owners do utilize  some of the extra available |
|
|
|
Post by richardlamsdale on Mar 31, 2015 0:19:03 GMT
No regrets from me, and as for devaluing the car I would have paid more for a car with one fitted.
|
|
?
some of the extra available