dukester34

Pano Roof and go...likes, dislikes issues?????

Forty9

Extra light in the car is most welcome. Various choices about opening and closing it mean one must read the manual to understand its features. Apparently it doesn't mesh well with cargo boxes on the roof, but we don't have those.

teksurv

It creaks, it pops, it just makes various sounds on uneven pavement. The dealership can tighten the bolts when needed. The extra light is awesome.

dukester34

Hum

teksurv

After about a year, the sounds start. It is covered under warranty. Even the S Class cannot escape this, but it can be addressed, especially with some LockTite.

petee1997

I have had four cars with pano roof. I love them. Lots of light and better overall appearance of the exterior of the car. I found most creaking was in the Winter when very cold. I mean Canada very cold. Otherwise, I did not experience much noise or rattles.

c4004matic

This is my second pano I love them. Zero problems in my case.

thefisch

Even if you never use it, the black roof look is awesome. Love the contrast on lighter color cars.

Streamliner

Obviously, like most things, this is a matter of personal preference. I absolutely HATE the frigging Panorama Roof. Unfortunately, if you want to drive a new S Class sedan, as I do, since some idiot in Germany decided to make the thing standard equipment on the car, I’m stuck with it. I’d pay an extra TEN GRAND, if I could get a new S without the horribly ugly Pano Roof. E Class customers are so lucky that they have a choice. Real luxury is having something the way YOU want it, not the way some corporate bean counter decides you should have it. In this one regard, the E Class trounces the S Class.

ua549

Guard models do not have a sun roof. That said, you'll pay mega-bucks for an S600 Guard model. Link

Streamliner

Ha-ha, but something tells me that car would cost just a tad more than $10K over what my S550 cost.

ua549

Starting price is €470,000 (US$551,000). That's pocket change for a big Powerball winner.

makris0000

First off I absolutely love my pano roof!

Next, there are some factors to look at. First is aesthetics. Depending on the color of your car, it can really pop and make it look amazing or it can blend in. For example, I have a Polar White E300 with the pano roof and 19 inch AMG wheels and it makes my Benz look absolutely stunning. If you have a Diamond silver, Iridium silver, Polar or Diamond white, Cardinal Red the car will look amazing with it. Whereas if you have any black or blue Benz it will blend in and look bland.

Next, I personally think it gives the car a more premium/rare quality. Most E classes I've seen on the road do not have the pano roof and it makes them look like oversized C classes or they look cheap, especially if they have the "luxury" styling (I personally think they luxury styling makes the car look cheap or base).

Moving on, with the inside, more light does get through the roof of the car, even with the screen closed because it is not a solid shade. This is still much MUCH better than the standard sunroof shade thing. Also the screen for the pano roof does NOT have slots like the standard sunroof shade thing has. This was one of the ultimate deciding factors to get the Pano because at certain times of the day, the sun would shine through the slots on the standard sunroof shade thing and blind me while driving (the sun would go through my glasses and sunglasses because of the angle of the slots). I discovered this by doing various test drives at different dealerships (I drove the E300 6 times at 4 different dealerships at different times and weather conditions before I got mine).

TL;DR Looks amazing on certain colors, gives it a more premium look, and sun doesn't blind you with the pano.

Streamliner

Again, it’s all personal preference. I normally prefer lighter colored cars, but I so dislike the way that mass of black glass transforms the look of such cars, that the 2018 I have on order is Mocha Black, which will make the horrid Pano Roof mostly disappear. Can’t wait!

Egonvdv

-Bright interior (especially when black seats)
-perfect during summer for speeds upto 90km (above it gets too noisy IMO)
-cools down interior quickly in hot weather (especially if you use "convenient opening" or whatever it's called. IE push and hold unlock bottin on key).

Just don't forget to close it when you park!

never had any squeaking but all of my previous pano roofs ( 2008 C, 2011 E coupé, 2014 E) would sometimes
open by itself again after closing. (I guess it's got something to do with the safety where the roof thinks something is blocking it)

So far this has not happened on my w213

dukester34

Hi all can someone post a pic with sunshade partially open and closed. all the pics on the web site show it open.

c4004matic

Consumer Reports just published a very interesting investigation into panoramic roofs and their propensity, though rare, to shatter catastrophically. Apparently the most prone brand was Hyundai/KIA. No Mercedes Benz vehicles were reported. The most interesting part was regarding the type of glass used, tempered rather than laminated. There are no regulations covering panoroofs. Manufacturers prefer tempered due to its strength and lower weight. However, its also means that the glass does not maintain its integrity when it fails. Its also a warning that you should always wear your seatbelt given that if the panoroof breaks you could easily be ejected from the vehicle and killed. Check this vid from the w 213 pole crash test which the car aced (of course) We love panoroofs, our still to be delivered GLS 550 will be our third vehicle with one.

mickhoog

I have had 3 panoramic roofs. I love them. I had a regular sunroof in my ML and regretted it. Sometimes i let others do the driving and when you sit in the back that’s when you really appreciate it.

Pros: the size of the roof in the E - its massive; light in the cabin; operation of the E pano is dead silent ;
Cons: the bar in the middle between the front section and the rear section; you sit forward in the car so you dont appreciate the pano roof from the drivers seat

Egonvdv

well after 1 year my roof now starts to creak on hot days. it's not extremely loud
but as the interior is very quiet you can hear everything...

does anyone know if there's a solution?

cetialpha5

Aren't you under warranty? Take it in to the dealer and have them fix it. Past problems include just a bad roof and they replace the whole thing, or if they just tighten up the bolts, tell them to use loctite so it doesn't loosen again.

Egonvdv

thanks info.
sure will go back to dealer, but you know how they can be sometimes with creaks & rattles...
therefore some info to back up my case is always handy!

parkwood

Still waiting for my e but currently driving a c loaner with a pano roof. Did not order one for my e and am now convinced it was the right choice for me.
I have kept the screen closed most of the time as the car gets too hot when parked made worse by the fact it is black. When the screen is open it is lighter but sitting up front you have no real sense of visibility above. The potential problems outweigh the improvements (or lack of) for me. But it is a totally subjective issue just like colour choice

cetialpha5

Both of mine have the pano roof and I bought them used. I specifically looked for a car that had a lot of options and I'm happy to have it with the pano roof even with the known issues. I feel cars always get hot no matter if you have a sunroof or pano roof or none at all. Just takes a few seconds to cool down when the a/c is cranked.

Slugsy

guhvies

^^^ we're getting the same summer next year as this year...