Severe buffeting w/Panoramic Rood

Has anyone noticed the severe wind buffeting when the panoramic roof is opened all the way (and windows up)? It happens at any speed over a slow liesurely cruise around town. It's so severe at higher speeds that I almost feel that I'll (my ears) be injured! Opening one, or even better both, of the rear windows a couple of inches eliminates it, but wow, I can't believe it's as bad as it is with the windows up. I also get some buffeting with just one of the rear windows opened all the way. I'm surprised BMW let this design go out the door without controlling this better. Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on this...:eek:

- meant to say "roof", not "rood"! Old fingers....

When test driving the car I noticed it as well especially on the highway. However, we did not notice the buffeting when the roof was open to its first position. I commented to my dad who was driving with me that there is really no need to open it all the way on the highway. I guess it is an expected tradeoff to have a roof so big on a car that is so un-aerodynamic. Its still much nicer to have the panorama roof and noise than no panorama roof in my opinion.

I am still curious on your thoughts on the radio. Did you hear the regular one. I wanted the premium audio and the dealer said it doesnt make a big difference and for the $1200 I could do alot more to the car to make it sound better than get that package. The dumbest thing is why dont they have a CD behind the navigation screen and why dont they just include a 6 disc changer with the premium audio package. This is a $60,000 car here not 35,000 lexus that by the way does include it. We have gone back and forth over whether to get the GX 470 or the X5. It is a difficult decision even from someone who has had 4 BMWs and still has two. Although one will be replaced soon. Are the problems people are experienceing with the X5 worth the hassel and premium over the lx470? Even though I do belive the fun factor to be far superior ... the only question is do I want to be driving a 325i loaner all the time and from the sound of some posts on here it seems as if I may be doing just that.

BMW sets the auto stop at the "comfort" level, which is just before the point where the inbound air mass exceeds the amount of air that can escape, creating the buffeting. I think the wide open position is for the rear passengers to catch a tan while parked, not for freeway cruising. Although on country lanes with all windows open, it's almost convertible like. I've had Volvo sedan's and large suv's like the sequoia that would create the same ear crushing effect with the roof wide open even with MUCH smaller roofs. I don't see it as a design flaw, since it stops by itself at a more comfortable level, but still allows the operator to open it all the way. Personally I love this roof, it gets a lot of positive comments from passengers.

we have a 4.6is with the std roof, but we have had other cars that do buffet..some didn't matter where the roof opening was set at, as far as I know the panorama is yet to hit Aussie shores, but if we did changeover cars at some point we wouldn't have a place for our roof mounted DVD [aftermkt 10.4 in screen] to go !! the kids love that and it would be an inteesting contest between more sky than movies..mind you the silence [for us] from having their infra red h/sets on the heads watching the movie, would nearly give us more pleasure than more sunlight...

Anyway !! have your roof set to the comfort position...how does your a/c deal with the additional heat that would transfer into the car, there must be one huge sunblind etc...

David Down Under

Hi David - Yes, not being able to have a ceiling-mounted DVD is another drawback - but I certainly do love the panoramic roof. And it is fine in the comfort position. In fact, I was doing a bit more testing today and up to about 40mph the roof open fully is fine. And yes, there is a huge sunblind - electric in this case since it's so big - you wouldn't be able to reach all the way back to open & close it manually. The electric feature is very nice. It also has another neat feature that I'd venture to guess several folks haven't discovered just yet. With both the glass and the sunblind completely closed, you press the roof button which tilts up both sections of the roof. At the same time, the sunblind splits in the middle about 1.5 inches exposing a perforated black metal plate. With this setup, you can allow some hot air to escape while at the same time blocking out the direct sunlight since the sunblind is closed - when it's parked in the hot sunlight of course. Very cool feature!