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#1335 06/23/02 03:40 PM
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What is the difference between a sun roof and a moon roof?

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#1336 06/23/02 06:32 PM
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Gecko
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Americans more commonly use moon roof and the British use sun roof. (Actually, I prefer sun roof myself and I'm all southern U.S.!)

Some dealerships in the U.S. use the terms interchangeably whether the roof window snaps open, cranks open or glides open with a power switch.

Now, I am confused! LOL

Here is the official answer from my hubby a.k.a. mechanic - A moonroof, when they first came out in the '70's, was an electric ONE WAY glass panel that you could only see OUT of! Thus the term " moonroof". It had a sliding "sun shade" on the inside like cars now. Moon roofs nowadays are just clear glass panels, a sun roof opens and moon roofs (NOWADAYS) do not, they are just a window.

Hope that "sheds some light" (ouch) on this issue!

Prime Time Kitty


~*~KATE~*~
#1337 06/23/02 06:44 PM
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Gecko
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Sorry my post (above) was so confusing! I used three different sources and got almost three different answers.

From what I can understand, a "moon roof" is one-way glass (people cannot see in it) and it may or may not open. And, a "sun roof" is two-way glass that you can see into and out of and opens (in one of several ways). Hope that clears up the above! eek

Prime Time Kitty


~*~KATE~*~
#1338 06/23/02 10:48 PM
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That helps. The car I am looking at has a moon roof. I would rather have a sunroof.

#1339 06/23/02 11:20 PM
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Hmmmmm, one way glass wouldn't be practical on a roof (who would look in?) and it's usually illegal on the side windows of a car because of police reasons. I think you might be mistaking tinted glass for one way glass?

BMW offered cars with both sun roofs and moon roofs depending on what the user wanted, so they were definitely different items. Here's a post from a BMW list where they're discussing the differences:

"A Moonroof is glass. Usually a sunroof is
steel and painted the color of the car. You can open it, but you cannot see through it.

A moonroof on the other hand , is glass and usually includes a sliding shade to block out the sun ( and it's heat), hence the term moonroof. "

So the sunroof is solid metal and the moonroof is glass. Here's another reference:

http://www.sunroofs.com/faq.htm

"Sunroof is the generic term used to describe an operable panel in a vehicle roof which can let in light and/or air. Moonroof is a term created by Ford in the 70's, yet is now used generically to describe glass panel inbuilt electric sunroofs. "

So again sunroofs were solid panels that you could open to let in air, and then moonroofs were the glass version.

I agree though that since then both terms have sort of become interchangeable and you can see both applying to glass versions. Some people use moon roof for non-opening glass ceiling windows and sun roof for opening glass ceiling windows ...


Lisa, Birding Enthusiast
#1340 06/23/02 11:30 PM
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Jeez I can't believe how hard it is to find info on this! And here I thought you could easily find anything on the web. This is a fun search!

OK, apparently the Mustang II had both the sunroof and moonroof option in 1975. I've been reading that Ford is the one that invented the term 'moonroof' when they developed a glass insert that was deemed safe enough to put up there. This compared to what was done before, which was a metal piece.

http://www.mustangii.net/1975/75_history.asp

On the '75 Mustang II:

"Two sunroofs were available, the silver glass moonroof and the regular version, both manually controlled. "

So the regular version was metal, and the "moonroof" version was glass.

The '74 Mustang II (the first year of the Mustang II) only had a manual sunroof.


Lisa, Birding Enthusiast
#1341 06/24/02 12:00 AM
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OK I'm finding more confirmation of the sunroof=solid, moonroof=glass theory <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

http://www.gillespieford.com/enter/flash/glossary/glossI_M.htm

Moonroof, Power
A transparent, usually tinted roof panel that opens two different ways: fully opened or with a rear tilt-up vent feature. Includes a windscreen and integral sliding sunshade


Lisa, Birding Enthusiast
#1342 06/24/02 12:02 AM
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For some reason I am just stuck on the fact that it's so hard to find this on the web. Maybe we should write an article on it here! Here's a page from BMW which offers both as quite separate items:

http://www.imicom.or.jp/~bmw/fastfacts.html

"2-way power sunroof or moonroof
with 1-touch opening or closing
from exterior door lock
(all closed body models)

All closed-body models offer one of these features as optional or standard equipment as follows:

E36 3 Series - sunroof optional
E46 3 Series - moonroof optional
M Coupe - power glass tilt roof panel optional
5 Series - moonroof optional on 528I models, standard on 540I models
All sunroofs and moonroofs (except the glass tilt roof panel of the M coupe) have 2-way action, offering a choice between tilting the panel up for extra ventilation and light. Sunroofs have a sliding interior shade which reduces noise and hinders access from the outside when the panel is tilted up; moonroofs have a manual sliding interior shade.

The sunroof of E36 3 Series models has 1-touch opening. In all other models, the sunroof or moonroof (again excluding the M Coupes' glass tilt roof panel) has 1-touch opening and closing - still a rarity among competitive models. It is also possible to close the sunroof or moonroof from the outside door lock(s) by holding the key in its 'lock' position for a few seconds. On E46 3 Series and 5 Series models, the panel can also be opened from the remote control. (Closing from the remote is omitted for safety reasons.)"


Lisa, Birding Enthusiast
#1343 06/25/02 07:41 PM
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It turns out the moon roof tilts and slides. Therefore, a moon roof is A-OK.

#1344 06/25/02 09:01 PM
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So what kind of car is this that has a tilting and sliding glass moonroof? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Lisa, Birding Enthusiast
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