[Axylus]

I’m contemplating adding the carbon roof option to my order. It’s Toronto red.

Aside from its performance benefits (weight reduction), what are the other pros/cons of adding this? I’m adding mainly for aesthetic purposes, so any pros/cons to this?

I think it’ll contrast nicely with the red.

Are there any concerns regarding maintenance?

[CodeSlinger]

Originally Posted by Axylus

I’m contemplating adding the carbon roof option to my order. It’s Toronto red.

Aside from its performance benefits (weight reduction), what are the other pros/cons of adding this? I’m adding mainly for aesthetic purposes, so any pros/cons to this?

I think it’ll contrast nicely with the red.

Are there any concerns regarding maintenance?

Pros:
* Lighter
* Slightly more headroom
* Likely higher resale value

Cons:
* No sunroof
* Carbon roofs can be unhappy if always parked outside in a rough climate
* Costs money

[Axylus]

Originally Posted by CodeSlinger

Pros:
* Lighter
* Slightly more headroom
* Likely higher resale value

Cons:
* No sunroof
* Carbon roofs can be unhappy if always parked outside in a rough climate
* Costs money

When you say unhappy, does you mean it can get damaged easier by rock and hail?

[CodeSlinger]

Originally Posted by Axylus

When you say unhappy, does you mean it can get damaged easier by rock and hail?

Mostly sun damage from what I've seen, not sure how much worse it is than the normal clearcoat. If you google "sun damage carbon roof" you'll see examples of this.

Regardless with paint a repair is more straightforward (repaint) than with a carbon fiber panel. I can't say this would be a major concern for me but it's worth considering.

For the record I got a sunroof because I like sunroofs and didn't mind saving the money.

[Sebis]

I have been going back-and-forth on this as well, manly for two reasons:

1. More headroom (no sunroof) for back seat since I will have my kid or my 5'7" tall spouse sitting there sometimes.

2. The carbon fiber makes is a bit more special

The downside... cost of course and now that the base price increased $1K makes it more expensive by default. Meaning I am less likely to spend an extra $1,000 on options.

The difference in weight is negligible for me since I will never take it to the track.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Axylus

When you say unhappy, does you mean it can get damaged easier by rock and hail?

Hail damage would be the same no matter what the roof is made of. Some say the sun will destroy the finish over time, especially if parked in direct hot sun all the time with no protection. If concerned, there are measures that can be taken to help protect it.

[T_U_D]

Originally Posted by Sebis

I have been going back-and-forth on this as well, manly for two reasons:

1. More headroom (no sunroof) for back seat since I will have my kid or my 5'7" tall spouse sitting there sometimes.

2. The carbon fiber makes is a bit more special

The downside... cost of course and now that the base price increased $1K makes it more expensive by default. Meaning I am less likely to spend an extra $1,000 on options.

The difference in weight is negligible for me since I will never take it to the track.

FYI, No additional headroom is gained in the rear. Only up front.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Why do you say that?

The headroom you gain with the CF roof is from the sunroof delete. Sunroof doesn't extend far enough back to affect rear seat headroom.

[T_U_D]

Originally Posted by Tag

The headroom you gain with the CF roof is from the sunroof delete. Sunroof doesn't extend far enough back to affect rear seat headroom.

Bingo!

[MMMGuy60]

I would have paid to get a sunroof but it is standard in the USA . Don't get me wrong, the carbon roof looks amazing but I love light coming in from above. Every single car I ever had has some sort of roof. Glass roof, sunroof, targa roof, convertible roof.

[cmgbk75]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Take of this what you will

Looks like a decent bit of additional headroom in this picture. I didn’t think it’d extend that far back but they did say the Moonroof is something like 20% larger than previous gen.
That’s an extra bonus for my family.

Look at you schooling folks!

[DrJLag420]

PPF on CF Roof should do just fine in the elements

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Axylus

Are there any concerns regarding maintenance?

The CF roof on my F82 is 9 years & 51k miles old next month and has held up fine with just the infrequent waxing the rest of the car gets (mine is garaged most of the time). It does shift color slightly, but nothing drastic. The M is already more special than other BMWs, but this is that extra touch. The 48 lb. or whatever weight reduction is significant as well.

[sl0m0]

I'd personally go with a sunroof for the fam, but the carbon seats can't be had without the carbon roof.

One con to the carbon roof: what other carbon bits does one need so that the design flows well?

The carbon pack was about 10k but then I needed carbon inlets and spoiler to tie them all together.... Which then gave me an excuse to get the exhaust.

The seats became very expensive in the end.

[Humdizzle]

pros:
- higher resale, which makes buy in cost negligible imo. same with the cf seats.
- more headroom
- looks cooler

cons:
- if you park outside alot the clear coat can start peeling / yellowing
- rain might be a little louder (or so i've heard)
- can't be pdr / repaired after hail like aluminum can.

[M-2'ned]

HEA spec so I didn't have a choice... would not have chosen the CF roof but love it now that I have it. For me, one of the pros was that I didn't like the sun coming through the sunroof and always kept the shade closed on other cars. I also rarely opened my sunroofs on other cars except sometimes to vent the heat. I park in the garage and chose not to PPF my roof but may eventually part with the $450 I was quoted.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Hail damage would be the same no matter what the roof is made of. Some say the sun will destroy the finish over time, especially if parked in direct hot sun all the time with no protection. If concerned, there are measures that can be taken to help protect it.

Hail damage should be non-existent on the carbon roof up to the size that would probably total the car anyway, at that point there are probably holes through the windows before holes through the carbon fibre roof.

The carbon fibre front fenders on my Caterham are much thinner than the M2 carbon roof and had no sign of any marks (although bare pre-preg vs clear coated CF) with just under ping pong ball sized hail, whereas I had a lot of PDR done on the aluminium panels on the car that were twice the thickness of the carbon fibre.

[c1pher]

Doesn’t getting the CF roof also lower the center of gravity to some extent?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by c1pher

Doesn’t getting the CF roof also lower the center of gravity to some extent?

If course taking ~48 lbs. off the top of the car will lower the COG, always a good thing.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by c1pher

Doesn’t getting the CF roof also lower the center of gravity to some extent?

Yes, but only a small percentage of drivers could ever tell on track. And for them, the helmet clearance is the real benefit of CF. The weight savings is nice, but there are probably other options that are more cost-effective.

If BMW NA had offered a slicktop, I think it would have been a tougher choice for track-centric buyers. But when the only choices are sunroof and CF, it's an easy choice for them.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Yes, but only a small percentage of drivers could ever tell on track. And for them, the helmet clearance is the real benefit of CF. The weight savings is nice, but there are probably other options that are more cost-effective.

If BMW NA had offered a slicktop, I think it would have been a tougher choice for track-centric buyers. But when the only choices are sunroof and CF, it's an easy choice for them.

If steel top were an option, I would have opted for it. I never use the sunroof and liked the look of the CF roof too.

[Sebis]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Take of this what you will

Ok, you convinced me. I told my wife: "if you want to ride with us (me and my 10 year old son) in the M2 we have to spend extras for the carbon roof ."

And of course, cannot have carbon on the outside without some interior bits on the inside, so here is another $800 for carbon trim...