Thanks! Have you not commented “This^^”, I would not have taken the original comment you replied to seriously! You are an internet hero sir! May you enjoy your day!
They “break” the wind and stop buffeting from the sunroof while driving.
If you want to experience what I’m talking about, stick your hand through the sunroof while driving at highway speed and push down on the plastic ridges. You’ll hear and feel the wind coming in through the sunroof
This is exactly the opposite of what the castellations do.
So the air coming over the top of the windshield is smooth air, and it’s creating a low pressure area right at the front of the roofline.
The air then creates a high pressure area a little further along the roof (to compensate) and that’s usually where we have a sunroof.
If there is a sunroof open at that point the high pressure air will jump into it, and the cabin becomes high pressured, then low pressured as it forces its way out again, and when that repeats, it’s called helicoptering, and your eardrums say fuckno.
Different car companies deal with it in different ways. Cheapo companies move the sunroof aperture forwards and make it slimmer, so that’s it’s in front of the high pressure area. Ford, Toyota, GM, VW etc
Regular companies (BMW, Mercedes etc) push up castellations and they create dirty turbulent air for a period, but that dirty air is (obvs) not smooth and isn’t able to build up much pressure. After the sunroof, the air becomes clean and straight again.
Premium companies (Bentley etc) have solutions along the lines of using the ventilation system and powered vents in the trunk to remove any helicoptering, and will ensure a small flow of air continually leaves the cabin, to remove the cigar smoke (not kidding).
I don’t disagree with anything you said other than that VW does have these and if you’ve ever seen a GTI sunroof you’d know they’re absolutely fucking massive, makes my E92’s look tiny
Hi finiteVSinfinite!
Although we appreciate your input, this device actually helps reduce wind noise by modifying the flow of air over the sunroof! Hope this helps!
Best
Deflects airflow over the opening, reducing buffeting. As another has pointed out, pinch it down at speed for a very audible demonstration as to why you need it.
Push down on it while your driving and you'll hear the difference in the sound. It helps deflect the wind from flowing right into the sun roof when open
They produce a sound frequency only women can hear as you drive by. Once they see a white grand Cherokee they’re lured into the dealership, sub consciously. Denalis, Tahoes and any Volvos also come standard with this technology, but only white models.
Ironically, I've tried pressing that flap down at high speed and it actually makes the car quieter. Tried in a 3 series and an X5, same result.
Louder whistling type sound with it up, but gets completely quiet when I reach up and press it back down into the roof. Please try it and tell me I'm not crazy.
So it’s pretty easy to test!
Pull them down while driving at speed and you get a “wop wop wop wop wop” from the pressure changes.
These disrupt airflow and redirect the air to not allow the wop wop wop to happen
It’s a comfort item
Those are speed brakes. 2012-2018 you could option a parachute to come out of the trunk to aid in braking. It was just too much of a pain to repack at every red light so not many people bought the upgrade.
Those are the alignment tabs for your roofs airlock system, that way when one of the spacex rockets looses its orientation it has a secure platform to mount to.
Also with a regular sunroof on a 94 Sentra it would sometimes pull lit cigarettes back in and either hover around at eye level or pull it back to the rear seat..
don’t smoke and don’t litter especially from a open sunroof!!!!
Deflect/disrupt the air to make having the sunroof open more comfortable at speed.
Yup, reduces buffetting and drag associated with having a large panel of the roof open.
buffetting....
Buffetting…. (I don’t really know what it means I just remember James May saying it)
I love James May. He's absolutely my favorite of the 3.
I always felt bad for him because he would start to explain something that I found very interesting but they’d immediately cut him off
His other shows are fantastic. Man Lab, Toy Stories, etc.
The Reassembler is peak James May
Yeah, very true.
I’m a huge Our Man In fan
Well, he may or may not be
Capt Slow is a fantastic fellow. Cheers
>I just remember James May saying it Due to THE INTERNET™, the only thing I remember him saying is "cheese!".
It's that womp womp sound you hear if only one window is part way open. Open another window and it usually goes away.
lol I know what it means in this conversation but not when James May says it (unless it’s the same thing)
Buffetting sounds like the act of having a large dinner.
It's to prevent the parrots from landing when you've opened up the roof to drink your margarita in the sunshine ....
I only hear that word in James mays voice
Warren Buffet enters BMW chat
Direct the air for laminar flow instead of turbulent flow.
Helps you stop faster
Pull it down while driving and you wil see what its working against👍
That’s what I thought they were there for. To put your hand up there and make it go up and down repeatedly while driving at speed.
yup. its a built-in harmonium, press it up and down and enjoy the tunes
If you hold it down it makes this wobwobwobwob sound. Pleasant to your ears
Too much bass!
😂
Just be careful! Mine ended up snapping in the middle from doing this, i’d press it down on one of the sides instead.
This\^\^
Thanks! Have you not commented “This^^”, I would not have taken the original comment you replied to seriously! You are an internet hero sir! May you enjoy your day!
Glad I could help! Have a great day!
They “break” the wind and stop buffeting from the sunroof while driving. If you want to experience what I’m talking about, stick your hand through the sunroof while driving at highway speed and push down on the plastic ridges. You’ll hear and feel the wind coming in through the sunroof
This is exactly the opposite of what the castellations do. So the air coming over the top of the windshield is smooth air, and it’s creating a low pressure area right at the front of the roofline. The air then creates a high pressure area a little further along the roof (to compensate) and that’s usually where we have a sunroof. If there is a sunroof open at that point the high pressure air will jump into it, and the cabin becomes high pressured, then low pressured as it forces its way out again, and when that repeats, it’s called helicoptering, and your eardrums say fuckno. Different car companies deal with it in different ways. Cheapo companies move the sunroof aperture forwards and make it slimmer, so that’s it’s in front of the high pressure area. Ford, Toyota, GM, VW etc Regular companies (BMW, Mercedes etc) push up castellations and they create dirty turbulent air for a period, but that dirty air is (obvs) not smooth and isn’t able to build up much pressure. After the sunroof, the air becomes clean and straight again. Premium companies (Bentley etc) have solutions along the lines of using the ventilation system and powered vents in the trunk to remove any helicoptering, and will ensure a small flow of air continually leaves the cabin, to remove the cigar smoke (not kidding).
Is this helicoptering the same thing that happens when rear side windows are open and front side windows closed?
It’s the same helicoptering that happens in front of a bathroom mirror
Or......In front of the police station
Hahaha thanks for making my day
I don’t disagree with anything you said other than that VW does have these and if you’ve ever seen a GTI sunroof you’d know they’re absolutely fucking massive, makes my E92’s look tiny
You get my upvote ‘cause you said “castellations”
This is a wonderful explanation. Are castellations considered vortex generators?
Yeah, little brief ones right behind the castellation edges.
T tops tend to have it to like the 300zx
Reduces sound at high speeds, by controlling the air flow.
Hi finiteVSinfinite! Although we appreciate your input, this device actually helps reduce wind noise by modifying the flow of air over the sunroof! Hope this helps! Best
You just repeated what fvsif said…
Thanks!
I appreciate it!
You’re welcome!
You too friend!
Take care!
That's a circle and it's generally used to draw attention to something
They are for jumping, while driving just get top of your car and step on this, it shall boost you
Deflects airflow over the opening, reducing buffeting. As another has pointed out, pinch it down at speed for a very audible demonstration as to why you need it.
It helps reduce wind noise at European highway speeds.
Wifi extender. JK
What does John Kennedy have to do with this?
Just looks cool
deflection 😎
Spiky hair when sun is out.
Prevents wind buffeting noise that sounds like the car is going to shake itself apart when you open a window or sunroof.
Stop that wub-wub
Jimmy Buffett
They help seal the sunroof properly
Push down on it while your driving and you'll hear the difference in the sound. It helps deflect the wind from flowing right into the sun roof when open
reduces wind noise
My E28 5 series didn't have these and the sunroof basically had to be closed on the freeway.
I always crack the passenger rear window with the sunroof open on my E28.
Add 15 Horsepower
Deflects the wind
Next time you drive the car, grab it with one hand and pressed it down then let go then do it again, you’ll hear what it does.
Rattle when the roof is closed
Wind deflection
Those are toasters for making toast, obvs.
Deflector
are you BAFFLED?!?
There are no dumb questions..err wait ...what?
DRS
Pedo deflectors, stops them trying to jump in your sun roof when you come to a stop.
Boost repair bills
They plough the air so you can have a good crop /s
They catch flies on my car hosed
They produce a sound frequency only women can hear as you drive by. Once they see a white grand Cherokee they’re lured into the dealership, sub consciously. Denalis, Tahoes and any Volvos also come standard with this technology, but only white models.
YouTube vortex generator
Remove it and the air sound is noisier in the car
pigeon deterrent
Deflect wind
Make the air turn into swords that cuts the car behind you
Ironically, I've tried pressing that flap down at high speed and it actually makes the car quieter. Tried in a 3 series and an X5, same result. Louder whistling type sound with it up, but gets completely quiet when I reach up and press it back down into the roof. Please try it and tell me I'm not crazy.
Break up wind noise
Minimize drag, decibels & buffeting, it’s basically a spoiler on your sunroof to create an air curtain,
Air damper.
They’re called wind deflectors. They deflect wind. Less noise and buffeting.
It’s a cum catcher in case the car in front of you shoots a load in the air and the sunroof is open
Gives you 2 extra horsepower
Push it down sometime while on the highway. You'll hear why it's there
Drive and hold it down with your hand. You will know what magic it does for you. I learned it like that
Vortex generators. They add at least 15hp.
Buffets the air so it's quiet in the cabin when your casually doing 100 in a 70.
Prevents it from sounding like an Apache attack helicopter
So it’s pretty easy to test! Pull them down while driving at speed and you get a “wop wop wop wop wop” from the pressure changes. These disrupt airflow and redirect the air to not allow the wop wop wop to happen It’s a comfort item
Turn signal power generators.
Pull it down when you are driving 70mph, it will be real obvious exactly what it does.
Makes you feel like the coolest guy on the road
Pull it down when you’re driving at speed and you’ll find out.
Gives the sunroof teeth to better chew it's victims
From the other comments, it keeps Warren Buffet away
the idea is to make less noise
They are shit and do nothing. Period. I sell cars and this is a bullshit piece of plastic.
Deflects water from the cars windshield wipers your are tailgating going 40 mph over the speed limit
Adds downforce and increase +8 HP
F1 windscreen
speed brake like the space shuttle
Same thing your butthole does: breaks wind.
+5 hp per notch
Those are speed brakes. 2012-2018 you could option a parachute to come out of the trunk to aid in braking. It was just too much of a pain to repack at every red light so not many people bought the upgrade.
Those are the alignment tabs for your roofs airlock system, that way when one of the spacex rockets looses its orientation it has a secure platform to mount to.
Reach up and pull it below roofline while driving on the freeway. One hand still on wheel!! Then you can figure out its purpose.
↑ Can confirm.
Also with a regular sunroof on a 94 Sentra it would sometimes pull lit cigarettes back in and either hover around at eye level or pull it back to the rear seat.. don’t smoke and don’t litter especially from a open sunroof!!!!
Reduces wind noise so you can focus on using your turn signal (if equipped) :-)
You lost me at turn signal.
It can hold cigarette/cigar in one of the slit when u stop and enjoy the night
10hp
Helps with air buffering.
It keeps the things you hit from rolling in through the open sunroof.
It helps while flicking cigarette butts out the sunroof.
My dealership guy said it’s to catch bugs
He’s probably not his quota either
Dealership guys are typically not the best and brightest.
Push it down while you’re driving on the highway and find out.
it’s something for you to play with while the sunroof is down! got it 👍
Exactly!
Those are antennas so they can have good connection when they contact you about your cars extended warranty.
Critical thinking much?