What's the deal with the anthracite headliner? I thought it was a no-brainer to veto a $200 option that would make the car feel smaller, but I've seen some threads with people raving about it. We're planning on ordering an '05 CR/B with red/blk interior and anthracite trim, but now I'm thinking about adding the anthracite headliner as well. We'll have the sunroof, is that an issue? The local dealer is over an hour away so I can't just pop in for a look-see.

Any opinions, pro and/or con? Thanks!

 

It looks nice.
Tough to fork over $200 for it.
Wife said it make the interior too dark.
Found a used MCS so I wasn't forced to make the call. :smile:

 

I just love it. The minute I saw how it pulled the interior of the mini together I had to have it. I just looks better to me, esp. on Minis with anthracite or body colored dash boards, not too dark at all IMHO. As a side benefit it will not show dirt like the light grey, and I have seen people post that dirt is an issue from driving with the windows or sunroof open.

Anyway, that's just my .02, I know there are other things that $200 could have gone to but I don't regret it for a second

 

Its very nice, but I personally don't feel the need to justify paying extra $200 for a dyed on headliner. I like the standard headliner for several reasons. If you don't have a sunroof, but do opt for the anthracite dash trim and black leather/leatherette seats, it breaks up the "all black" contrast and the cabin does not feel so confining. It is also a $0 cost option


It is a matter of personal taste. People that have ordered the antharcite headliner like it because they feel the interior looks more luxurious and confining at the same time. I have seen the antharcite headliner in cars with no sunroof and didn't like it. I thinkit goes better with sunroof equipped cars.

I still don't understand why MINI charges people extra for this headliner which is made of the same exact material as the standard one, difference being, it is dyed in a darker color. My guess is that the majority of people don't like it, hence they can't justify producing it as a $0 cost option.

If it had been a no cost option, probably I would have goine for it.

 

I have a CR/B, and I got the matching headliner. It was not something I went into the dealer planning to buy, but on the lot they had some cars with the regular headliner. The A and B pillar covers always match the headliner, so the standard gray gives sort of a two-tone effect where the pillars come down and meet the rest of the interior, which in my case also included the anthracite trim and black leather/red cloth seats. If it had affected just the headliner, I probably wouldn't have sprung for the anthracite, but the pillars are in your normal line of sight and the color mis-match between the dash and the pillars is visible from outside the car. Even so, it was kind of a splurge, but I do think it looks better inside and out.

 

I wonder if there is any chance for a post-production install? The headliners in my civics popped on and off pretty easy.

 

Yep--if you're going with anthracite trim, and you have a sunroof, I'd get the anthracite headliner. Some people with sunroofs have had problems as mentioned above with discoloration of the grey healiner with time--if you have a sunroof, the darker headliner shouldn't be an issue anyway. I thought the whole idea of the anthracite headliner was kind of odd at first, until I saw it in person--it really does look nice in cars with the anthracite trim--better than the grey one IMHO.

 

I like the look of anthracite, but think it would mess with my view when I'm looking out my side window on the tight twisties. Having those dark pillars in the way stand out alot more than light colored ones. I could change the roof color and leave the pillars alone though...hmmm

 

Does anyone have any interior shots of the anthracite headliner without the sunroof?

 

Man, lots to think about when setting up your new MCS!! I guess I'll be at the dealer at least once or thrice before we order - I'll just have to look at 'em and see if it's worth the $200. After all, we're saving almost $1,800 by buying CR instead of BRG (my wife would want the Cordoba Beige leather with the metallic BRG) so maybe we can justify tossing the $200 back in. . .need to go see in person, I guess.

Thanks for all the feedback. . .

 

It was a no cost option for those of us lucky enough to place our orders for early 05's (mine has an 8/04 production date). Personally, I wanted my interior as dark as possible to offset my PW outside, and the anthracite headliner brings it all together in a tight, clean way.

 

Check Ian's "GBMINI" weblog. His new '05 MCSa has the anthracite headliner with no sunroof.

 

When I ordered my '05 I ordered anthracite int. Anthracite headliner came out just as my car was going through the building process. I scramble was too late to add that option. I was bummed until I began to drive around and get used to my interior. I now feel that the lighter headliner matches the outside two tone feel of the car.

I haven't had the sunroof open a lot yet because the wx up here is just now beginning to warm up and feel like spring, but IMO asthetically, I am now happy (and perhaps happier) w/o a dark headliner.

If I were to order again, I would go for the nifty universal garage door opener (which I also missed by about a week ) instead of anthracite headliner

 

On my 47th visit of trying to decide on my '05 (had it been) I came to the conclusion that the light A pillars blended well with the white roof, mirrors and stripes. Just something to consider if you go for the white contrast.


NoDak - if you want an integrated GDO (and auto-up windows to boot), check out https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hlight=auto-up No connection, just an ecstatic customer. (and it won't cost you $200!)

 

I, like many of you, had a hard time with the $200 extra cost of a headliner that costs MINI the same as a regular one. But I had some wiggle room in the budget which unfortunately wasn't big enough for anything except the headliner. I also got the anthracite trim and that pushed me over.


Wow, what an awesome option. Yeah they shouldn't charge us $200 more but it is so freaking sweet. First off it makes the car darker. This was a plus to me because my eyes HATE light...it hurts. The anthracite trim, headliner and cloth seats make the inside nice and shady.

Dirt will not show up on this thing. Screw anthracite, it's Black. That was another positive.

I don't feel it makes the interior more confining...I think it just creates that darker feeling which some may interpret as confining.

DiD, if you still need pics let me know and tomorrow I will do my best to take some. Be forewarned, my work has a really crappy sony digicam.

Oh and a side note: it's truly **** of MINI to charge $200 for a anthracite headliner on a model with a sunroof. They have so much less headliner!

 

You could also consider that a $200 option translates into a $4 increase in your monthly payment... though it is kinda cheap that they charge us for the same freaking part... It's not like it is made of suede or anything...

 

Hey check my gallery if you want to see some decent pics of the anthracite headliner!! It is MEAN!! But my wife has the regular one and the contrast is actually kind of nice as well. Anthracite for me though!! Peace!

 

Thanks for the memory refresher

As a no cost option, the antharcite headliner is attractive. Is the same problem I have paying extra for metallic paint.....

 

Yeah, that is exactly my point. Now Suede! mmmmmmmmm!

 

I got the Homelink garage door opener and it is hands down one of the best '05 MINI options. I felt money was better spent in the convenience package, IMO.

 

I originally ordered my MINI without the anthracite headliner and I changed it after seeing in person a few MINIs that had it. The average person, non obsessive with MINIs or vehicles, would not pay much attention to the headliner. It was a personal preference for me to order, esepcially since my dog sheds black hair, so it won't show versus black hair on the grey headliner.

 

I love my anthracite headliner. I have a 2005 MC Hyper Blue w/ White roof. I went with the Lapis Blue / Black Leather Seats, Anthracite Dash & Door Bezels, Anthracite Headliner, Black Cloth Floor Mats, and Chrome Line Interior. I think it looks great and am glad I made this choice. Extremely pleased.

I think the hardest thing with spec'ing out a MINI is not being able to see all the options in person. Some dealers don't have cars with what you're looking for and the computer monitor just doesn't do justice to the options.

 

I taught that Lapis Blue leather was no longer offered for MY2005

 

Nope, it's in my car... My build was March 2005, so maybe it came back in January??? The MINI brochure calls it "Gravity Leather: Lapis Blue/Panther Black". This was another mental vizualization I had to do. There were a lot of doubts with the blue in the seats and carpet and the dark headliner, door, and dash. But it really turned out well!

 

I agree - some of the things I've seen on the computer look good (or bad) and then you see 'em in person and they look bad (or good) - and Colorado Springs isn't yet a hotbed of MINIs - we're getting there, but it's still tough to get to see a representative sample of options. . .[heavy sigh]