Panoramic Roof - Yay or Nay?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Another reason I ordered "No Pano," was the thought that it added weight at the worst possible point for handling - the top.
One of my complainants withe the 167 chassis, even though it's significantly stiffer than the 166 before, is the "tippy, boatlike feel" that has been mentioned several times on this forum.
My E-ABC didn't fully fix that feel, but the AMG Ride Control does, at least without the Pano.
If I hadn't found a solution to the tippiness, I would have bought another brand.
So since handling and responsiveness is a priority for me, it was another reason to avoid the Pano roof. I know it's probably good for resale, but I didn't buy my car for the next owner.
In addition to the glass, I know Euro and US rollover tests essentially require super strengthening additions. VW was the first to comply with that testing with their small Tiguan's Pano in 2010-ish.
Does anybody know if there really IS a roof weight penalty with a pano?
One of my complainants withe the 167 chassis, even though it's significantly stiffer than the 166 before, is the "tippy, boatlike feel" that has been mentioned several times on this forum.
My E-ABC didn't fully fix that feel, but the AMG Ride Control does, at least without the Pano.
If I hadn't found a solution to the tippiness, I would have bought another brand.
So since handling and responsiveness is a priority for me, it was another reason to avoid the Pano roof. I know it's probably good for resale, but I didn't buy my car for the next owner.
In addition to the glass, I know Euro and US rollover tests essentially require super strengthening additions. VW was the first to comply with that testing with their small Tiguan's Pano in 2010-ish.
Does anybody know if there really IS a roof weight penalty with a pano?
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2024 GLE, 2022 GLC , 2022 GLC
Sounds like you want be be reassured that NO is the correct choice. Had a GLC with panoramic roof and I enjoyed it. It had a black interior. Now own a GLE with standard sunroof and I don’t miss the panoramic roof. My GLE has a beige interior, exterior is white, and the cabin is light and bright mainly because of the beige interior which I am very happy with. I bought my car out of dealer inventory, I would have taken the car with either roof. I purchased my GLE, for me it was about $1k savings.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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GLE450
Sounds like you want be be reassured that NO is the correct choice. Had a GLC with panoramic roof and I enjoyed it. It had a black interior. Now own a GLE with standard sunroof and I don’t miss the panoramic roof. My GLE has a beige interior, exterior is white, and the cabin is light and bright mainly because of the beige interior which I am very happy with. I bought my car out of dealer inventory, I would have taken the car with either roof. I purchased my GLE, for me it was about $1k savings.
Then there is the function. I dont like that the only way for me to open the sunroof is to open the entire cover. Thats too much. Basically my rear passengers are stuck with my choice up front.
Lastly there is the weight and the overall penalty that gives you. 200+ lbs 5.5 feet from the ground is massive and will impact everything from mileage to road holding and how the car behaves in pretty much every scenario (including snow).
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Florida (727)
You can however "crack" the roof open without having the whole shade open. I keep my GLE parked outside 100% of the time and sometimes in the garage (the garage walls and doors are lattices so its practically outside) and it sees rain and I opted FOR the pano roof. For me I love that it lets in a lot of light when the shade is open. During the hot months I keep the shade closed but if it sits for a long time I will crack the roof so the hot air can escape quicker without having to open the whole shade to open the roof.
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Joined: Jan 2020
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
2020 Mercedes GLE350 4Matic; 2023 Tesla Model Y
I am not so much concerned over $1k savings as I am about practicality. Today I pulled in to my driveway and saw 4 very big branches (in 2 inch diameter and 4-5' length) on the ground where GLE would have been parked. Dealing with glass is far more difficult, costly than dealing with regular metal body panel. Then there is hail. You can fix the hail damaged roof and replace the small sunroof but this big panoramic roof is something else.
Then there is the function. I dont like that the only way for me to open the sunroof is to open the entire cover. Thats too much. Basically my rear passengers are stuck with my choice up front.
Lastly there is the weight and the overall penalty that gives you. 200+ lbs 5.5 feet from the ground is massive and will impact everything from mileage to road holding and how the car behaves in pretty much every scenario (including snow).
Then there is the function. I dont like that the only way for me to open the sunroof is to open the entire cover. Thats too much. Basically my rear passengers are stuck with my choice up front.
Lastly there is the weight and the overall penalty that gives you. 200+ lbs 5.5 feet from the ground is massive and will impact everything from mileage to road holding and how the car behaves in pretty much every scenario (including snow).
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Only MBs - the best or nothing
Not sure what "crack" here refers to. Is it to putting the pano roof to tilt/vent position? If yes, how is it possible without opening shades first? Once that button is touched, shades opens first.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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Only MBs - the best or nothing
I am not so much concerned over $1k savings as I am about practicality. Today I pulled in to my driveway and saw 4 very big branches (in 2 inch diameter and 4-5' length) on the ground where GLE would have been parked. Dealing with glass is far more difficult, costly than dealing with regular metal body panel. Then there is hail. You can fix the hail damaged roof and replace the small sunroof but this big panoramic roof is something else.
Then there is the function. I dont like that the only way for me to open the sunroof is to open the entire cover. Thats too much. Basically my rear passengers are stuck with my choice up front.
Lastly there is the weight and the overall penalty that gives you. 200+ lbs 5.5 feet from the ground is massive and will impact everything from mileage to road holding and how the car behaves in pretty much every scenario (including snow).
Then there is the function. I dont like that the only way for me to open the sunroof is to open the entire cover. Thats too much. Basically my rear passengers are stuck with my choice up front.
Lastly there is the weight and the overall penalty that gives you. 200+ lbs 5.5 feet from the ground is massive and will impact everything from mileage to road holding and how the car behaves in pretty much every scenario (including snow).
However, that last weight related paragraph IMO is not applicable for roadholding in any conditions. Even if there's a weight penalty, it could only be felt on a track which this car will never see.
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
"Fun to Drive" is hard to quantify, but with the V167 chassis, you can finally use that phrase.
You may not care, but others do.
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Only MBs - the best or nothing
Oh I care!!! Proof? I would not own nor drive a non-AMG SUV (power is "only" secondary, but handling is first)! Am driving my very mildly "tuned" 166 GLE43 and stock 166 ML63PP (both with Pano) exactly the same as (much smaller and much lower to the ground) my former 218 CLS550 (no Pano available) and 231 SL550 (Pano is standard). I feel NO Pano weight penalty in those SUVs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,016
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Oh I care!!! Proof? I would not own nor drive a non-AMG SUV (power is "only" secondary, but handling is first)! Am driving my very mildly "tuned" 166 GLE43 and stock 166 ML63PP (both with Pano) exactly the same as (much smaller and much lower to the ground) my former 218 CLS550 (no Pano available) and 231 SL550 (Pano is standard). I feel NO Pano weight penalty in those SUVs.
The Pano makes them feel like the M-B's of yore (2018 and prior) where it's like this: Turn the wheel, the car leans, then it turns. Without the Pano, it's like this: Turn the wheel, and the car turns. Notice I left out the "Leans first" part. It's quite noticeable to me, and objectionable.
E-ABC compensates somewhat, ARC probably fixes the problem, but I've never driven an ARC car with Pano.
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Junior Member
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GLE450
The weight at the highest point of a rolling object will impact the physics of that object exponentially. While we are not tracking these cars, we are still subject to law of physics.
Any kind of turning the top heavy object or avoiding an obstacle (pot holes/trailer tires/deer) will upset the vehicle much more than a less heavier of the same object.
I’ll also give you a real world example where this 200+ weight 65” above center of gravity might come into play. Imagine you are driving over 4-5” of snow and you are going down the hill and there is a turn coming to the left that banks to the right (so the car will have a massive understeer). 200+ lbs in this case might be difference of going off the road vs staying on the road.
The higher the weight is from tire contact height, the more negative role it plays. Plenty of youtube videos and animations in web that explains this. And you absolutely do not need a track car to experience the difference.
Any kind of turning the top heavy object or avoiding an obstacle (pot holes/trailer tires/deer) will upset the vehicle much more than a less heavier of the same object.
I’ll also give you a real world example where this 200+ weight 65” above center of gravity might come into play. Imagine you are driving over 4-5” of snow and you are going down the hill and there is a turn coming to the left that banks to the right (so the car will have a massive understeer). 200+ lbs in this case might be difference of going off the road vs staying on the road.
The higher the weight is from tire contact height, the more negative role it plays. Plenty of youtube videos and animations in web that explains this. And you absolutely do not need a track car to experience the difference.
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
A lot of Audi buyers take the Pano elimination for better handling, that’s why it’s offered. Audi lets you eliminate it with no reduction in price. I’m guessing the weight difference between Pano & Sunroof is less than 100 lbs but it is at the highest point on the car so the leveraged mass will act like it’s heavier. I agree with the ARC suspension & no Pano there is zero roll…much better than my 450 in Sport. Most is probably the suspension.
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GLE450
A lot of Audi buyers take the Pano elimination for better handling, that’s why it’s offered. Audi lets you eliminate it with no reduction in price. I’m guessing the weight difference between Pano & Sunroof is less than 100 lbs but it is at the highest point on the car so the leveraged mass will act like it’s heavier. I agree with the ARC suspension & no Pano there is zero roll…much better than my 450 in Sport. Most is probably the suspension.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Florida (727)
Instead of pushing the button back top open the shade, push it up and it should tilt the sunroof open while opening the shade slightly.
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
I actually heard around 210 lbs of delta. But the salesperson might be wrong. The glass in pano roof is thicker than regular sunroof (and glass always weighs more than aluminum). Then you have the larger motor and the rails and the screen and the interior mechanism for rolling the interior screen. All of them add a lot of weight.
100 lbs is a lot…210 would be huge in some corners with normal air suspension. I had the Pano in my GLE 450 and had a decent amount of lean even in Sport. It’s hard to compare now with just a Sunroof and ARC that works so much better than just standard air. The AMG 21’s with V rated tires also work much better than the H rated 20’s. The 20’s had some side to side sway carving corners at speed…none of that now. These are a lot of fun to drive in either configuration.
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350 GLE 4matic
Really Guys? This sounds like guys who play pickup games of basketball and buy $200 sneakers and where all the gear and at the end of the day it makes no difference in their game . If your playing in the NBA then subtle things make a difference. If your in this forum and getting into this at that level, it starts to sound like a wannabe that couldn't make the cut and is trying to sound impressive. For Peet's sake, it's just a pano roof...either ya like it or ya don't....it's personal taste..nuff said
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Really Guys? This sounds like guys who play pickup games of basketball and buy $200 sneakers and where all the gear and at the end of the day it makes no difference in their game . If your playing in the NBA then subtle things make a difference. If your in this forum and getting into this at that level, it starts to sound like a wannabe that couldn't make the cut and is trying to sound impressive. For Peet's sake, it's just a pano roof...either ya like it or ya don't....it's personal taste..nuff said
Do you have an opinion on the Pano roof? Experience driving with and without?
That's what we'd like to see. Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
Really Guys? This sounds like guys who play pickup games of basketball and buy $200 sneakers and where all the gear and at the end of the day it makes no difference in their game . If your playing in the NBA then subtle things make a difference. If your in this forum and getting into this at that level, it starts to sound like a wannabe that couldn't make the cut and is trying to sound impressive. For Peet's sake, it's just a pano roof...either ya like it or ya don't....it's personal taste..nuff said
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Orbiting the planet
This place is a joke.
I’m a little tired of trading insults tonight so will let your dumb comment go. Don’t be so quick to judge others by your experience, ability or how you drive. You bought a GLE 350 so one wouldn’t expect that you drive it aggressively…it’s not in its DNA. You might be surprised at how much different the AMG’s with ARC & good tires handle on a two lane road with lots of corners. There are still a few of us around that know the difference. Take one for a test drive sometime.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: RI
2020 GLE 450
Can anyone else with a 2020 GLE comment if there roof also operates like this (i.e. sun shade fully opens anytime you tilt or slide the roof open)? Maybe there's a fix that can be done to reprogram it to operate like Makris described if there was a change with the 2021's...
Last edited by audi40; Jul 4, 2021 at 07:37 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2020
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
2020 Mercedes GLE350 4Matic; 2023 Tesla Model Y
Maybe something changed on the 2021 GLE's, but on our 2020 when you push the button up to tilt/vent the glass, the shade slides all the way to the back before the roof tilts open and there's no way that I know of to stop the shade from FULLY retracting - any time we want to tilt or slide the roof open, the shade fully retracts which is probably my biggest pet peeve about the GLE (aside from past electrical issues, but that's another story). By comparison, we also have a Macan and Tiguan, both of which will slide the sun shade back about 6 inches when you tilt/vent the roof and you don't have to fully retract the shade when you have the pano fully open.
Can anyone else with a 2020 GLE comment if there roof also operates like this (i.e. sun shade fully opens anytime you tilt or slide the roof open)? Maybe there's a fix that can be done to reprogram it to operate like Makris described if there was a change with the 2021's...
Can anyone else with a 2020 GLE comment if there roof also operates like this (i.e. sun shade fully opens anytime you tilt or slide the roof open)? Maybe there's a fix that can be done to reprogram it to operate like Makris described if there was a change with the 2021's...
Last edited by TexAg91; Jul 4, 2021 at 10:12 AM.
Member
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350 GLE 4matic
Ok, let us know.when you return from your grand prix circuit and can extoll on the effects of the g forces as well as the ft lbs of torque created by that extra pano weight....again, it's just a pano roof,,,either like it or don't.
