It seems to me that the standard gray MINI headliner just doesn't get the respect it deserves, so I'm going to come right out and say it: I LOVE GRAY. I love the lightness it brings to the interior, I would never consider getting the anthracite. It seems so many people are carrying the torch for the darkness inside....well I'm here to say my headliner is GRAY AND PROUD!


So where are the other people out there loving their standard gray headliners? Are we going to have to do a gray pride celebration?

 

Well I have it but I've second guessed it, but can't/won't change it, besides I'm always looking out the window anyway.

 

My 02 MCS had the standard gray headliner.
My 06 MCS has the anthracite headliner.

IMHO the anthracite... looks much better and should come as standard equiptment.

The gray has the propensity to get dirty.. quicker.

As a MA.... I get to see loads of these cars in all the color combo's... and I've yet to see an anthracite headliner that doesn't match/fit a particular color combo.

Just my 2 cents

Peace,
D

 

i love the anthracite headliner. it wasn't available when i bought my 2002 and my 2005, well, doesn't have a headliner (since it's a convertible). when i buy my next tin top, it will definitely have the anthracite headliner. IMHO, it's much cooler and it matches my dog's hairs that somehow get on it.

 

I have the Anthracite interior but not the headliner...go figure. I pick up my MINI Friday...will evaluate then.

 

Sorry Kenny, but my headliner is gray and I wish it was straight anthracite. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option in 2004.

John

 

The anthracite headliner doesnt really appeal to me. If it was free then perhaps I would take it, but I definitely won't pay $200 for it.

I'm going to sound like a 22 year old grandma here, but my eyes are really senstive and they're even worse with contacts in. If the interior is really dark and its really sunny outside, my eyes would be in pain. The anthracite makes it much too dark for my liking. Plus, I've had two Coopers with the light gray headliner and its never gotten dirty.

 

I opted for the standard gray on my build. Reading the posts here I was beginning to think I made a mistake, but I think it'll be a cool way to tie the inside with the silver of the roof. I only wish I had been able to get the Space Cloth.

Gray Pride!

 

I too had a problem with dirt on my gray headliner... After ordering both MINIs with the standard gray, I got a custom suede and anthracite headliner... and I will never go back to the gray side

 

 

I really do love that Seven dash with the chrome line interior.

 

I'll offer my opinion. I like both, but for two reasons.

Think of how these interiors differ:














The first pics are of a mid-80's Porsche.
The next pic is of a muscle car.
The next pics are of Lotus Esprit Turbo (pure "British").
The last pics are of a Maybach.

Now, for cars with that black leather, black dash, black carpet German sports car look, anything but a black headliner will look out of place.

In a MINI, getting the anthracite or alloy dash, all black (or better yet, English leather) seats, no chromeline interior, and anthracite headliner, will coordinate nicely to give the car that mid-80's Porsche or muscle-car 'feel' interior.

Alternately, getting the piano black dash, chromeline interior, and black or English Leather seats and anthracite headliner, will give a more "classy" version of the same.

The Lotus shows a light colored carpet, dash, and seats, and a matching light-colored headliner is the only thing that would be appropriate.

Going with the cordoba beige interior, lighter carpeting, and silver dash, the gray headliner is a good choice in a MINI.

Also, going with lighter colored accents, such as panther/gray seats and silver dash, gray headliner is a good choice, but it can 'swing both ways' with this combo. If you add chromeline, it tilts more towards the classy look, and the gray headliner becomes a better choice.

I included the Maybach pictures because I've occasionally seen poorly-chosen interiors. For example, wood surfaces are completely out of place in some environments. The muscle-car, for example, would look outright ridiculous with woodgrain surfaces (and unfortunately, some muscle cars came from the factory with not even wood, but that simulated shelf-paper adhesive woodgrain, and it looks just terrible)!

A woodgrain dash is an option for the MINI, but in my ever-so-humble opinion <G>, it is out of place. The MINI is not a luxury car (let's not try to make it something it's not), nor is that real wood, but just wood-colored plastic.
I suppose you 'could' make a cordoba beige and woodgrain combo work, but I'd need to be convinced...

A lighter headliner in general makes the car less 'pure musclecar' or 'pure German sports car.' A darker headliner makes the car less 'pure British' or higher-brow.

Of course, in the MINI, the object is to be unique, so feel free to go out there and create your own style! (Outside of my own opinions), there really is no right or wrong color combination if you chose it and you are happy with it.

 

I had silver with my 03 with the anthracite dash. I had to order the anthracite headliner for my 06 since it was available and I was going with the anthracite dash again. With the darker color the chrome shows very well.

I never had a problem with my silver headliner while I had my 03. It tied in with the interior since back then the tach housing was gray no matter which dash color was ordered. Unless you went with chrome aftermarket. The one thing I did like over the anthracite were the sunvisors. The sunvisors on my anthracite are cheap plastic instead of the cloth feel of the 03 silver headliner. I'm not sure if that is an anthracite only thing.

 

Those having this problem should remove their shoes before engaging in activities with your SO. Other than that easily rectified issue, $200 seemed excessive to me for this option.

 

Had to chime in since we also had the gray in the 03 then went for the anthracite in the 05 for the same reasons. Have also disliked the light headliner on other bimmers as it gets dirty over time so had to resort to Ms to get the black

So sorry, no vote for the standard light gray here, we love the anthracite it looks great

 

i love my anthracite headliner. On the other side, if you have light color interior like light gray, beige, tan, camel, dark headliner would look odd

 

MIB has a grey headliner. Only because I couldn't find the extra $200 for the Anthracite one.
I wish that I would have gone anthracite.

Personally I think that MINI should build the car with a matching headliner and if you
choose to go with a contrasting headliner that is when they should charge the extra $$$.

 

I'm a fan of the anthracite as well. Got it on the headliner and interior, which makes for a great combination. Originally slated for the silver/gray, but after seeing a local MINI event with all the cars on display, it was a pretty easy decision.

Hmm, yes. Pictures. Need to take some.

 

The first picture is actually that of a mid 80's 928 Porsche, NOT a 911.

Just felt obligated as a recovering Porschefile to point that out...oh and just in case you didn't already know, its "Por-sha", not "Porsh".

Btw, "class" could not be more subjective. Ask me what I think of chrome and its general appearance on anything, especially cars. If you love it you won't like the answer...

TJM

 

Adding the $200 option to your loan payment, the resulting cost of the anthracite headliner over 60 months, at 6% apr, is $232. At 9% you pay an extra $50.

 

I'm not a big fan of dark interior. I like to bring in the light and brighten it up. On the issue of making things darker it isn't in my oppinion a good look to black out a car. That doesn't me it isn't cool, just not to me. I like the touches of chrome and color though out the exterior and interior.

 

Have they dropped this option? Why were you unable to get it?

I've got the space cloth and love it. Grippy, warm, comfy. Also I got the anthracite headliner (since I don't want to hijack). It looks great with the anthracite interior and seats, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd probably save my money on that and the arm rest. But I'd definitely get the cloth!

Michael

 

There was a fire at the supplier's plant. http://motoringfile.com/2005/12/15/s...-january-2006/

 

The factory that made the material had a fire and MINI has been unable to find an alternate source to be able to offer the Space Cloth seats from another supplier.

 

I must be blind . I don't see anywhere in the story where it mentions the word fire - it just states that fabric supplier is closing their factory.