What's the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof?

[Dinan55]

Kind of dumb question I guess, is there a difference at all?

 

[Tom]

Moonroof would be made out of glass while the sunroof is solid.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

moonroof is bigger also

 

[BMWdude]

Doesnt the moonroof also open back and up a bit, while the sunroof just slides open and doesnt stick out? I like the moonroof better, it gives the car a more sportier look when open.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

I have a sunroof (read:solid) and it has a tilt function. I believe all BMW sunroofs have the tilt as well as the full slide back. BMW Dude, I think the tilt it was you're talking about where only the back goes up about 1.5 inches. Definitly a sporty look.

 

[MrElussive]

Sunroof is when the piece is not made out of glass, it's part of the body of the car. Moonroof is when the piece is deeply tinted glass so you can see out the top all day long (and usually includes a sun shade). Nowadays, people just use both terms to refer to them so there's is no right or wrong really, but those are what they technically mean.

 

[aNoodle]

I always thought moonroof simply meant it was a piece of glass, but it didn't necessarily move. A sunroof always opens in some way (either tilts up or back or both) and can be made of glass or solid.

This site agrees with MrEllusive, but doesn't say a moonroof necessarily tilts at all.

According to this site's definition, our cars have BOTH a sunroof and moonroof....becasue we have a tempered glass window to the sky (moonroof) and it tilts and retracts to let the sun in (sunroof).

http://www.wkrc.com/guides/auto/gui...ntent_id=B71E9471-09D2-412A-8427-4DC0476B6F0A

 

[KevRC4130]

aNoodle,

I've never seen a car where the "roof window" didnt open...do they even exist?

 

[aNoodle]

aNoodle,

I've never seen a car where the "roof window" didnt open...do they even exist?

http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20030617.html

I'm not familiar enough with old cars to give examples...but the camaro-type cars seem to ring a bell. The recent Maybach has a fixed window to the sky...but it's also a solar collector so that doesn't count. God help us...they're calling theirs a "panorama roof." Yikes. http://www.webasto.com/press/en/3023_3031.html

I guess at the end of the day...moon means it's glass. Hmmm.... I thought I knew the difference...now I'm more confused than ever!!!

 

[Bryan330i]

Sunroof during the day...Moonroof at night

 

[tool fan]

Sunroof during the day...Moonroof at night

AMEN.....It would have to reletive to the time of day or night you were driving [headbang]

 

[bmvv]

New Nissan Maximas have a huge fixed roof window option.

 

[Dinan55]

I heard that the new 6 has some strange roof that doesn't slide back, is this true?