Sorry - but I have a MIC top vs. Painted top question for someone who has had Both.

[BroncoArmy87]

Painted tops are better all around, with the exception that you can't stick patches to your roof.

I can stick patches to my roof. The

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[RustysBronco]

I can stick patches to my roof. The

Oh no shit! The MIC has the the fuzzy side of velcro as the sound deadening material. The painted one has something much higher quality, but it didn't look like velcro could stick to it.

 

[BroncoArmy87]

Oh no shit! The MIC has the the fuzzy side of velcro as the sound deadening material. The painted one has something much higher quality, but it didn't look like velcro could stick to it.

Yeah when I bought my 25 that was one of the first things I did was put all my Army patches from the last 16 years on it. Idk if the dampening is higher quality than the MIC top but coming from a Mustang the wind does not bother me.

 

[Pony4x4]

Thanks everyone for the comments - VERY helpful! Looks like I'll be going with the painted top and maybe adding the Hot Head at some point. Again - thanks ....

 

[MJ12]

I currently have both, painted on a 2025 Badlands and MIC on a 2025 base. The Base with the MIC is hands-down quieter, not just subjectively, but by measurement.

On the same strip of highway, where I measured noise in the Base/MIC at about 72 - 74 dB at 65, the Badlands/Painted measured 82 - 84 dB. In human terms, that's twice as loud. I've had both on 1000+ mile trips, and the Badlands leaves my ears ringing and feeling tired, the Base does not.

The MIC had more wind noise at the seams, but was still quieter initially. After I put some extra weatherstripping between the panels, the wind noise was reduced and it's even quieter. Weatherstripping on the Painted top did not do much, but then again there was not much wind noise to start with.

To be fair, the Base is 2dr, the Badlands 4dr, so there might be a difference due to cabin volume, furniture, etc.

Do they both have the same tires? Tires would change road noise heard in the cab. I'm not familiar with the 2025 standard options.

 

[RustysBronco]

Thanks everyone for the comments - VERY helpful! Looks like I'll be going with the painted top and maybe adding the Hot Head at some point. Again - thanks ....

The one thing I'll add is comments on trail riding. The MIC handles the pinstripes a hell of a lot better than the painted top. If I went the painted top route, PPF would be my very first mod to the truck.

 

[ThunderFlash]

Have one of each, and neither are the super quiet, refined cabin of a high end European unibody luxury SUV. If that is what you are looking for, Bronco is not your truck. The wind noise from removable roof and doors on a rugged, body on frame off road capable truck shaped like a box (that doesn't cost $150K) is there, but it is not offensive. As was mentioned before here, the tires in the Bronco package you test drive will make a big difference in cabin noise. The smaller, more base highway tires will be far quieter than the BL or SAS AT tires, regardless of roof configuration.

Test drive one. I suspect you will think to yourself, "Hum, this is not THAT loud.".....because it isn't. If it does seem THAT loud, try a more on road spec Bronco (non-BL or SAS). Still too loud?.....then shop a different vehicle because you probably don't REALLY want a Bronco truck anyhow.

The MIC tops have a bad reputation for cracking, blistering, honeycombing, spider webbing, etc. Many people have reported this problem, but many people also have no issues too. For piece of mind, though, and maybe future resale go painted top, particularly if you are not off roading your Bronco.

 

[52hurtz]

I have a 2025 OBX with the painted top. The top is an updated version of the original design, far better sealed than the MIC top on my 2023 Badlands. I don't get any wind noise getting through the seams. (It is not the most current design with the white inside)

But, I have made in much quieter with these headliner panels from Hot Head. I went with black, they just velcro to the factory sound deadening material. They look totally OEM.

Best $550 bucks I've spent on my Bronco. Highway driving is a pleasure now.

https://hotheadheadliners.com/produ...ry-headliner?_pos=2&_psq=bronco+&_ss=e&_v=1.0

These fit the painted top? That link says it’s for MIC.

 

[jbob5059]

I have a 2025 OBX with the painted top. The top is an updated version of the original design, far better sealed than the MIC top on my 2023 Badlands. I don't get any wind noise getting through the seams. (It is not the most current design with the white inside)

But, I have made in much quieter with these headliner panels from Hot Head. I went with black, they just velcro to the factory sound deadening material. They look totally OEM.

Best $550 bucks I've spent on my Bronco. Highway driving is a pleasure now.

https://hotheadheadliners.com/produ...ry-headliner?_pos=2&_psq=bronco+&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Okay, so you have a painted hard top with factory headliner and then added the hothead headliner on top? I have asked them the question of it fit and they never answered. Kept saying it doesn't fit the painted hard tops with the white interior. They completely ignored me when I said its painted but doesn't have the white interior...

How was the fit? Any complaints? How noticable was the difference around town and on the highway?

Sorry for all the questions, I've been waiting for someone to try it out and hear their feedback.

 

[MrBell]

These fit the painted top? That link says it’s for MIC.

That's correct, the panels do not work with the current painted top design. My 2025 painted top appears to be an updated version of the MIC design, but far better sealed.

I'd reach out to Hot Head... I wouldn't be surprised if he's working on a version for the current painted top. I'm very impressed with the sound reduction.

 

[Pony4x4]

Mr Bell - sorry - but I'm confused by what you said (if you could please clarify)

You have a 2025 (painted) that appears to be an updated version. But then you said reach out to Hot Head to see if there working on a version for the current painted tops?

Thanks!

 

[MrBell]

Okay, so you have a painted hard top with factory headliner and then added the hothead headliner on top? I have asked them the question of it fit and they never answered. Kept saying it doesn't fit the painted hard tops with the white interior. They completely ignored me when I said its painted but doesn't have the white interior...

How was the fit? Any complaints? How noticable was the difference around town and on the highway?

Sorry for all the questions, I've been waiting for someone to try it out and hear their feedback.

Installation is simple, they attach with velcro. Fitment is excellent, they look OEM. See my pic from the previous reply.

The difference is very noticeable, but I have to say Ford really improved the insulation on the 2025+ Bronco's. So I'm getting the benefit of both. Highway driving is a pleasure, I can carry on a normal conversation and take phone calls. The only noise I hear is from my General Grabber's, which are not that bad. I could go to the next level of quiet with normal all season tires.

 

[MrBell]

Mr Bell - sorry - but I'm confused by what you said (if you could please clarify)

You have a 2025 (painted) that appears to be an updated version. But then you said reach out to Hot Head to see if there working on a version for the current painted tops?

Thanks!

I don't have the current painted top version. Mine looks like a painted version of the MIC with the "carpet" sound deadening material. The Hot Head panels work with my version of the painted top.

Maybe someone else can explain this better? Not sure what to call what I have?

 

[jbob5059]

Installation is simple, they attach with velcro. Fitment is excellent, they look OEM. See my pic from the previous reply.

The difference is very noticeable, but I have to say Ford really improved the insulation on the 2025+ Bronco's. So I'm getting the benefit of both. Highway driving is a pleasure, I can carry on a normal conversation and take phone calls. The only noise I hear is from my General Grabber's, which are not that bad. I could go to the next level of quiet with normal all season tires.

I'm giving it a shot. I also have 25 obx, but with color matching instead of the black (also eruption green ). My interior looks similar to yours, so I'll see how this goes. 10% off right now too.

 

[MrBell]

I'm giving it a shot. I also have 25 obx, but with color matching instead of the black (also eruption green ). My interior looks similar to yours, so I'll see how this goes. 10% off right now too.

Please let me know how they work out for you.

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