Is the wind deflector worth the change in appearance?

Orangeman5 · 08-09-2005, 04:28 PM

I'm expecting delivery in October and am wondering whether I should get a wind deflector. I know that in some cars when the sunroof is open the wind noise is deafening.

How is the wind noise in the E90 with the sunroof open?

Is the reduction in noise from the wind deflector worth the change in the appearance of the car?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

AidenL · 08-09-2005, 04:41 PM

I don't think they look great to be honest......

Personally, I've had sliding roofs, but they are unusable abobe 50 mph at most due to wind noise, wouldn't have one again......

wish1 · 08-09-2005, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orangeman5

I'm expecting delivery in October and am wondering whether I should get a wind deflector. I know that in some cars when the sunroof is open the wind noise is deafening.

How is the wind noise in the E90 with the sunroof open?

Is the reduction in noise from the wind deflector worth the change in the appearance of the car?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

It does dramatically improve the wind buffeting with the roof open. Without it, I found the wind noise to be quite loud. As for the asthetics, the appearance doesn't bother me, but you be the judge.

Jesse Wilson · 08-09-2005, 05:16 PM

I don't think it looks to bad, but I am in Arizona and have not even begun to think about opening my sunroof yet. The interior would burst into flames, and I would die a slow and miserable death.

It's hot here by the way.

Jesse

Orangeman5 · 08-09-2005, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the pic wish1. Nice ride!

xyz123 · 08-09-2005, 06:28 PM

Just about every 3 sold in my area these days has a sunroof but I haven’t seen more than 3 or 4 with a wind deflector installed. So anecdotally at least, they are not as popular as they used to be in the old days. Maybe the introduction of the lip that comes up when the sunroof opens to supposedly reduce buffeting has eliminated a need for a separate deflector. Early BMW’s did not have the lip. I had a wind deflector for my ’78 E21 320i but not on any of my subsequent cars. I don’t know if they have changed the attachment hardware since but the clips trapped water and caused a bit of rusting under them on my E21.

ward · 08-10-2005, 12:30 AM

no offense, but I think that looks horrid,

the pop up deflector makes wind noise tolerable at 85-90

I can't see the need for that deflector personally, try driving a car at speed and see if the noise is unacceptable for you. Then decide if you can live with that accesory

paullo · 08-10-2005, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

no offense, but I think that looks horrid,

the pop up deflector makes wind noise tolerable at 85-90

I can't see the need for that deflector personally, try driving a car at speed and see if the noise is unacceptable for you. Then decide if you can live with that accesory

I have to agree with Ward... looks completely out of place on the car. The stock wind deflector does a decent enough job - and it doesn't look like a cheap aftermarket bolt-on.

davinet78 · 08-10-2005, 05:17 AM

i prefer the car without the wind deflector

xyz123 · 08-10-2005, 07:04 AM

I think that nowadays, an air deflector is something that a person would add more to enhance appearance, a subjective choice, rather than for any practical purpose. Personally, I like the look although I don’t now use one myself. Granted, it is easy to do but it was a bit of a nuisance to install and remove and store it with the changing seasons and it gets in the way when cleaning the car. If you keep the car for a long time, the paint under the rubber might age differently than the exposed paint leaving a mark. Practically, a deflector is at least as useful as say, a rear deck spoiler or 19” wheels on a street car that a lot of racer wannabes seem to like. To each his own.

Broken1 · 08-10-2005, 08:44 AM

I don't find the sunroof noise too bad at all. I also don't love the wind deflector thing :/ looks vs noise...bearing in mind the noise isn't so bad...i choose no deflector!

scottz5 · 08-10-2005, 08:50 AM

you dont need it!

GRANDCHAMP · 08-10-2005, 09:08 AM

I'm sure its very functional, but I don't care for the way it makes the car look.

itznin · 08-10-2005, 09:37 AM

The way it looks I believe varies on the color of the car.

In any event....... it's not needed!

Orangeman5 · 08-10-2005, 01:40 PM

Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like I don't need the deflector.

Kao BMW · 08-10-2005, 02:22 PM

Definitely a no-go.

scottz5 · 08-10-2005, 02:24 PM

the sunroof has a pop up one already.

08-09-2005, 04:28 PM	#1
Orangeman5 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 2006 330i j. black Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Is the wind deflector worth the change in appearance? I'm expecting delivery in October and am wondering whether I should get a wind deflector. I know that in some cars when the sunroof is open the wind noise is deafening. How is the wind noise in the E90 with the sunroof open? Is the reduction in noise from the wind deflector worth the change in the appearance of the car? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks. __________________ 330i MT/Jet Black/Black Leather/Walnut Burl Trim./PP/SP/PDC/CA/Sirius/Heated Seats "Drive fast, take chances."
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08-09-2005, 04:41 PM	#2
AidenL Driving ! 71 Rep 427 Posts Drives: 530e XDrive Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	I don't think they look great to be honest...... Personally, I've had sliding roofs, but they are unusable abobe 50 mph at most due to wind noise, wouldn't have one again...... __________________ 2021 530e M Sport XDrive- Phytonic Blue - M Tech - 20" Wheels - Ivory / Black - Ash Trunkwood - Tech Pack - Laserlights - Sun Protection - Advanced Parking
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08-09-2005, 05:16 PM	#4
Jesse Wilson Lieutenant 12 Rep 409 Posts Drives: 2006 325I Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ iTrader: (2)	I don't think it looks to bad, but I am in Arizona and have not even begun to think about opening my sunroof yet. The interior would burst into flames, and I would die a slow and miserable death. It's hot here by the way. Jesse
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08-09-2005, 05:52 PM	#5
Orangeman5 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 2006 330i j. black Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the pic wish1. Nice ride! __________________ 330i MT/Jet Black/Black Leather/Walnut Burl Trim./PP/SP/PDC/CA/Sirius/Heated Seats "Drive fast, take chances."
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08-09-2005, 06:28 PM	#6
xyz123 Private First Class 9 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2013 E82 Msport, manual Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Just about every 3 sold in my area these days has a sunroof but I haven’t seen more than 3 or 4 with a wind deflector installed. So anecdotally at least, they are not as popular as they used to be in the old days. Maybe the introduction of the lip that comes up when the sunroof opens to supposedly reduce buffeting has eliminated a need for a separate deflector. Early BMW’s did not have the lip. I had a wind deflector for my ’78 E21 320i but not on any of my subsequent cars. I don’t know if they have changed the attachment hardware since but the clips trapped water and caused a bit of rusting under them on my E21.
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08-10-2005, 12:30 AM	#7
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	no offense, but I think that looks horrid, the pop up deflector makes wind noise tolerable at 85-90 I can't see the need for that deflector personally, try driving a car at speed and see if the noise is unacceptable for you. Then decide if you can live with that accesory
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08-10-2005, 05:17 AM	#9
davinet78 Lieutenant Colonel 28 Rep 1,832 Posts Drives: bmw e90 320d Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gibraltar(europe) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 bmw 320d E90 [0.00]	i prefer the car without the wind deflector __________________ e90 320d,arktis,lumber support, hifi speaker, alarm, dakota beige, 162 18", xenon with washer spray,window chrome trimmings, professional radio, 6 cd changer wood trimmings 6 speed manual.
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08-10-2005, 07:04 AM	#10
xyz123 Private First Class 9 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2013 E82 Msport, manual Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I think that nowadays, an air deflector is something that a person would add more to enhance appearance, a subjective choice, rather than for any practical purpose. Personally, I like the look although I don’t now use one myself. Granted, it is easy to do but it was a bit of a nuisance to install and remove and store it with the changing seasons and it gets in the way when cleaning the car. If you keep the car for a long time, the paint under the rubber might age differently than the exposed paint leaving a mark. Practically, a deflector is at least as useful as say, a rear deck spoiler or 19” wheels on a street car that a lot of racer wannabes seem to like. To each his own. Last edited by xyz123; 08-10-2005 at 07:27 AM..
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08-10-2005, 08:44 AM	#11
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	I don't find the sunroof noise too bad at all. I also don't love the wind deflector thing :/ looks vs noise...bearing in mind the noise isn't so bad...i choose no deflector!
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08-10-2005, 08:50 AM	#12
scottz5 Lieutenant Colonel 94 Rep 1,730 Posts Drives: 13 F10 535xi & 11.75 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	you dont need it! __________________ 13 F10 535xi JB/B working on it 11.75 E93 M3 MR/Black Stock (wifey) 11 F10 535i AW/CB Mods Gone
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08-10-2005, 09:08 AM	#13
GRANDCHAMP Private 2 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 330I,BLK,CW,SP,PP Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ROCKLAND, NY iTrader: (1)	I'm sure its very functional, but I don't care for the way it makes the car look.
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08-10-2005, 09:37 AM	#14
itznin Captain 26 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North NJ iTrader: (2)	The way it looks I believe varies on the color of the car. In any event....... it's not needed!
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08-10-2005, 01:40 PM	#15
Orangeman5 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 2006 330i j. black Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like I don't need the deflector. __________________ 330i MT/Jet Black/Black Leather/Walnut Burl Trim./PP/SP/PDC/CA/Sirius/Heated Seats "Drive fast, take chances."
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08-10-2005, 02:22 PM	#16
Kao BMW iLOVE90 64 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA iTrader: (0)	Definitely a no-go.
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08-10-2005, 02:24 PM	#17
scottz5 Lieutenant Colonel 94 Rep 1,730 Posts Drives: 13 F10 535xi & 11.75 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	the sunroof has a pop up one already. __________________ 13 F10 535xi JB/B working on it 11.75 E93 M3 MR/Black Stock (wifey) 11 F10 535i AW/CB Mods Gone
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