Yes, you can generally put a roof rack (specifically, roof bars) on a car equipped with a panoramic or glass sunroof.
Understanding Roof Racks and Panoramic Sunroofs
Many modern vehicles offer panoramic or glass sunroofs, which cover a significant portion of the roof area. This often leads car owners to wonder if installing accessories like roof racks, essential for carrying bikes, kayaks, luggage boxes, or other gear, is still possible.
Based on information from manufacturers of roof bar systems:
- Compatibility: Our roof bars are fine to use if you have a panoramic or glass roof - unless stated otherwise. This indicates that roof rack systems are designed to be compatible with vehicles featuring these types of roofs, provided the specific vehicle model and roof rack are compatible.
- Installation Points: Roof racks typically attach to specific points on the vehicle's roof or side rails, which are often located outside the area covered by the sunroof glass itself.
Key Considerations When Using Roof Racks with Panoramic Roofs
While installation is often possible, there are critical operational points to keep in mind as highlighted by manufacturers:
- Opening the Sunroof: Please note that it won't usually be possible to open your roof with the bars fitted. The structure of the roof bars and their mounting points can obstruct the movement of the sunroof panel.
- Safety Recommendation: We don't recommend opening a panoramic/glass roof when the bars are fitted. Attempting to open the sunroof with roof bars in place could potentially cause damage to the sunroof mechanism, the glass, or the roof rack itself.
Therefore, while you can install roof bars on a car with a panoramic sunroof, you must be prepared for the fact that you will likely be unable to open or tilt the sunroof while the roof rack is installed and in use. Always check the specific compatibility notes for your vehicle and the chosen roof rack system to ensure safe and proper fitment.
