Operating the roof in sub-zero conditions

I am also keen to know this for the same reason - at the moment dry days seem to be few and far between!
On a side note - hope you have Airscarf LOL

Airscarf, heated seats and climate control. Just missing the heated steering wheel. Nothing a good pair of gloves can't solve though!

The handbook says don't operate below -15c, but I think the strain on the motor trying to pump thick fluid would be my greatest concern. On very cold days I drive mine for a few miles until I lower the roof, but that's just me...

The cold temp can affect so many things on a car or show signs of weakness in a part or parts .

Best wait till its 25 degrees before dropping down your roof . :grin:

kingronnie said:

Airscarf, heated seats and climate control. Just missing the heated steering wheel. Nothing a good pair of gloves can't solve though!

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Think heated steering wheel may come as standard on cars soon or more of an option .

Christ another thing to go wrong. :wink:

But we love are gadgets :grin:

Delucas said:

Think heated steering wheel may come as standard on cars soon or more of an option .

Christ another thing to go wrong. :wink:

But we love are gadgets :grin:

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Dual Fuel Deluxe Battery Heated Gloves by Warmawearâ„¢ £9.99

Delucas said:

Think heated steering wheel may come as standard on cars soon or more of an option .

Christ another thing to go wrong. :wink:

But we love are gadgets :grin:

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The original owner of the car ticked pretty much every option on the sheet apart from heated steering wheel. I'm not bothered, but I wonder why he said to himself, "I want everything apart from a heated steering wheel."

Perhaps he had unnaturally hot hands...

kingronnie said:

The original owner of the car ticked pretty much every option on the sheet apart from heated steering wheel. I'm not bothered, but I wonder why he said to himself, "I want everything apart from a heated steering wheel."

Perhaps he had unnaturally hot hands...

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Ermm without looking in to it did the 171 come with heated steering wheels as an option ??

Not seen one yet .
Mmm cutious
Maybe in the 172 ?

kingronnie said:

The original owner of the car ticked pretty much every option on the sheet apart from heated steering wheel. I'm not bothered, but I wonder why he said to himself, "I want everything apart from a heated steering wheel."

Perhaps he had unnaturally hot hands...

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They are very rare - and, the backs of your hands still get cold. Bit like the airscarf, the concept sounds better than the practical experience. However, my g/f does like the airscarf to dry her hair (roof up) if she's running late in the morning, which is often.

Terminal said:

They are very rare - and, the backs of your hands still get cold. Bit like the airscarf, the concept sounds better than the practical experience. However, my g/f does like the airscarf to dry her hair (roof up) if she's running late in the morning, which is often.

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Must be never seen one
Are they fitted on the 55 more ?

Delucas said:

Must be never seen one
Are they fitted on the 55 more ?

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It mentions it in my handbook, but not present on my car. Controlled by a column stalk, with indicator lamp, where fitted.

I'm going out topless in a minute, and will be playing this loud down the high street...:smile:

I like to roll to chris reah - "the road to hell"

Heated steering wheels were definitely an option on 171s. Not sure if it was every year, but it certainly was on the FL.

Went for a 5 minute drive to warm things up, microfibre dried the car, then went topless from Chippenham to Bath on the country lanes. What a lovely day

Terminal said:

The handbook says don't operate below -15c, but I think the strain on the motor trying to pump thick fluid would be my greatest concern. On very cold days I drive mine for a few miles until I lower the roof, but that's just me...

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Wouldn't the wind chill factor potentially thicken hydraulic fluid more so?

Guess it's ok

kingronnie said:

I'm about to go out on this beautiful morning in the UK, however, in the shade on the drive it's still -1 degrees (c). Is it okay to operate the roof or am I in danger of damaging the seals? :surprise:

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Well I went for a walk first, drove the car to my walking place, left it in the sun, when I returne d I wiped down the roof, dropped the roof halfway and wiped the seals, dropped the rest of the way and drove off into the chilli sun drenched roadways.... Didn't seem to be a problem for the roof... Such a great day for a roof down drive..... Temp gauge showed 0.0 degC. :laugh:

If car entirely frozen over I would worry that the rubber seals even though not exposed to the air & compressed would have frozen too. Forcing the roof open may tear them so maybe best to be patient & let the interior and/or sun warm them though first.

Wow ... you guys are more hard core than me ... I don't put my top down much below 60 degrees fahrenheit... definitely not if my wife is in the car ... she turns on airscarf and the heated seats in the low to mid 60s .... of course, she also uses the heated seats in her C300 when I don't think it is very cold either

scottacampbell said:

Wow ... you guys are more hard core than me ... I don't put my top down much below 60 degrees fahrenheit... definitely not if my wife is in the car ... she turns on airscarf and the heated seats in the low to mid 60s .... of course, she also uses the heated seats in her C300 when I don't think it is very cold either

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Hardcore or foolhardy? Either way, it makes me happy :grin: