[mister.t]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

A sunroof adds more weight than aircon I bet

And flex - not as structually sound.

[stealth haggis]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ollie Tebbutt (original)

And flex - not as structually sound.

err the amount is so little not to worry about as it doesn't remove the main beam in the roof hence why it is double screened with a bit in the middle and if you worry about the structural flex from the sun roof in a MINI i think you need ......................... help

[minimad17]

wouldnt even consider a car without aircon in this day and age....the UKs weather is continuing to get hotter and hotter and on a hot day when your in slow moving traffic there is nothing worse then inhaling everyones fumes so aircon solves that problem - you should deff add it - apart from doing you a favor for resale purposes (only slightly) - it will also allow you to enjoy your mini adventure on a blazing hot day fume free

[huntleycat]

What you really want is Climate Control - manual A/C is nothing like as good - just pumps out cold if it is on and not if it is off. C/C is "on" all the time - you dial the temp you want and it does its best to give it to you. In hot weather the A/C is working and in cold weather the heater, but either way you get a comfy cabin and good demisting etc at all times - worth the extra every time. People who fit manual A/C and then don't use it probably find when they do that it doesn't work as all the refrigerant has gone! The refrigerant needs to be circulated regularly to keep the system seals moist and thus avoid loss. When I have had cars with manual A/C I have run the heater and the A/C in the winter which sounds crazy but actually works and prevents refrigerant loss as well as giving good demisting.

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by minimad17 (original)

... in slow moving traffic there is nothing worse then inhaling everyones fumes so aircon solves that problem

But thats what the Air recirculation button does with or without A/C

Quote: Originally Posted by Huntleycat

People who fit manual A/C and then don't use it probably find when they do that it doesn't work as all the refrigerant has gone! The refrigerant needs to be circulated regularly to keep the system seals moist and thus avoid loss.

Both Manual & Auto A/C use exactly the same pipework & coolant, so just how is the one type supposed to fail via coolant loss more than the other !!
Manual A/C cools just as effectivly as Climate but without the temp display & extra cost.
I specced Climate Control in my first MINI .. what a waste of money, had manual after that which hardly gets used.
Now sunroof on the other hand ... almost every day

[huntleycat]

......because if you don't use the manual a/c the compressor is off and the refrigerant does not circulate and the seals fail. C/C is always on (unless you switch it off completely of course). You should run manual a/c at least once a week to maintain the seals, even through the winter.

[Restyle]

As far as I remember, both the Climate Control & Manual A/C have an Off switch.
Why would one system be on more than the other ??
... & I thought it was once a month to run it for standard maintanence
ref >> Vehicle Climate Control - Common Q & A

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

Why would one system be on more than the other ??

A/C is always on, so just keeps blowing cold air into the car, whereas Climate Control maintains the desired temperature by switching itself on and off within preset tolerances (usually one degree either side) so is more fuel-efficient.

[Restyle]

Sort of True - As I remember it though, the Climate control would tend to just vary the fan speed & direction of the blowed cold air rather than switching the whole system Off & On.

My initial point in response to HuntleyCat was to the idea that Climate Contol would fail less than Manual A/C due to the mistaken concept that it would be on all the time. Wheras there would in fact be no difference in their longevity due to Both can be switched on & off at will.

[huntleycat]

Yes, but I suspect that, as I do, C/C owners have the system on all the time and just dial the appropriate temperature, whereas as manual aircon folks have implied, they turn it off and open the windows. In that state the refrigerant is definitely not circulating at all, whereas with C/C it probably is most of the time, hence preserving the seals. Still - you pays your money.............

[SteveBrass]

I'm with HuntleyCat on this one.

With manual air con I was forever switching it on and off - sometimes off quite a bit in winter, which can lead to your seals failing.

With CC I just leave it on auto.

But as Restyle is pointing out, it does depend how you use them.

Personally, I wouldn't probably go back to manual air con.

I definitely wouldn't be sans air con.

[KenL]

I am not a fan of climate control.

What is it with the fan when you put air to the screen? Any car I have been in instantly puts the fan on at full speed, does the MINI do this?

I have manual, and don't need to fiddle with it much.

I leave AC on all the time I am running the fan. I still like to have the window down and could live without AC in Scotland - no problem.

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by huntleycat

Yes, but I suspect that, as I do, C/C owners have the system on all the time and just dial the appropriate temperature, whereas as manual aircon folks have implied, they turn it off and open the windows.

I still cant work out where you get this idea from?
When I had Climate Control it was just switched on whenever appropiate, the same as I now do with Manual A/C. I find it hard to believe that many people (yourself excluded), have it permanently switched on just for the sake of it, whatever the outside conditions.
Whichever method you`ve got, If its hot, you just switch either system to cold - quite simple {& far less wasteful on the available power}
As for clearing condensation better, maybe its the local climate, but in 6 years of MINI ownership I`ve found the standard heater fan to be just as effective as either type of A/C, & its usually cleared within 30 seconds.
Remember, each system relies on the engine water temp to provide heat to the ventilation system whether its Standard, Manual, or CC.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

I am not a fan of climate control.

What is it with the fan when you put air to the screen? Any car I have been in instantly puts the fan on at full speed, does the MINI do this?

All climate control units do this.

Pressing the screen button is designed just for clearing the front windscreen quickly, which is why almost every system also has an 'up' setting if you want the air directed at the windscreen but at a lower, controllable, speed.

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

I find it hard to believe that many people (yourself excluded), have it permanently switched on just for the sake of it, whatever the outside conditions.

I do, because 'conditioned' air (be it via AC or CC) removes the moisture from the air all year round and makes for a more comfortable driving environment.

[popey]

I am right in thinking that CC in the MINI moves the air flow around ie lower vets, upper vents etc automatically, well thats how I read it in the manual. In my Scorpio you can still control the direction of air flow when using CC.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by popey (original)

In my Scorpio

You own a Scorpio?

Wonder why you've kept that quiet for so long?

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by popey (original)

I am right in thinking that CC in the MINI moves the air flow around ie lower vets, upper vents etc automatically, well thats how I read it in the manual. In my Scorpio you can still control the direction of air flow when using CC.

Yes, thats basically the difference between CC & Manual A/C.
It also alters the fan speed automatically , keeping the car to the pre-set temp.
Dont get me wrong, Ive nothing against CC except the extra £600 or so for what is essentially a thermostat.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

Dont get me wrong, Ive nothing against CC except the extra £600 or so for what is essentially a thermostat.

It also looks cooler!

Hey, that's why most people spec Sat Nav now!

[popey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

You own a Scorpio?

Wonder why you've kept that quiet for so long?

It has been mentioned in a number of posts ..... and its an Estate

Its my gig wagon a 97 2.8i Scorpio with the all important LPG conversion. Return trip to Stoke-on-trent from Blackpool.... £16.00 . Have to say its got all the toys not mention two arm chairs in the front , pure luxury .

[popey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

Yes, thats basically the difference between CC & Manual A/C.

No quite so, as in some cars like my Scorpio you can still control air flow when using CC. I understand the difference, CC is self explanatory.