Alcantara headliner or stock?

[old///MFanatic]

Ok all done. I’m very pleased with how it looks.

[old///MFanatic]

Looks real good in the hardtop. 👍🏻
Interesting how the black Alcantara photographs a lot like how the anthracite looks in person.

Until one tries to photograph Alcantara, it’s hard to describe how difficult it is to get the real look/shade across.

[genesis]

The headliner on the hardtop for my cabrio was sagging, so I went with black alcantara-love it. Shame that it’s only going to be for the winter months, if I could do the soft top liner in alcantara I would, lol

[old///MFanatic]

Alright, for anyone in the future wondering the difference in color shades. Here is the Alcantara anthracite against the Alcantara black.

[TwoD]

Careful using the foam backed stuff on the headliner if you have a sunroof. At some point my headliner and sunroof shade were re-wrapped with foam backed material (not alcantara) and it made the sunroof shade very difficult to slide which ultimately increased wear on the already brittle sunroof shade clips.

[tnord]

I have a factory slicktop. So the headliner is a bit more rare, and expensive as is the configuration (no sunroof). I baby this car but it was outside in unusual sun/heat while getting construction done on condo. To my dismay the stock headliner separated and needs to be re-glued. My first E46 in 2000 had a sunroof. I think perhaps non-sunroof headliners are closer to roof and thus get exposed to more heat, or maybe not.
My question is would you stick with the factory headliner, or go Alcantara since taking it out? I feel car value would actually go down with Alcantara vs stock on a slicktop. Interested in hearing thoughts of which to do? Thanks

If I have to spend the time or money to fix something, I make every effort to fix it in a way that makes it better than before. Sometimes an OE part is actually the best available, but in this case I definitely think the Alcantara is an upgrade, especially if you're going with an OEM material. If you put a blue headliner in or something I would agree that it would devalue the car, but if it was installed correctly I for sure would see the OEM anthracite as an upgrade. If I do the carbon roof I'd definitely do the alcantara headler also.

[liam821]

The M5 is what made me do it. Never thought about it twice till I got the M5, then after I got it the M3 felt cheapened by its stock headliner.

Once I get around to cutting out the sunroof and replacing it with a slicktop I have a completely new slicktop headliner waiting... but Just like repoman89 said I'm a bit hesitant to mess with it since its new.

[Obioban]

It's a surprisingly nice touch on my E39 M5. Didn't expect to care or notice but I really like it (and oddly enough has been the one thing someone comments on when they get in the car more than once). If yours is damaged then it's a no-brainer, but not sure I'd spend the effort on an undamaged stock piece.

The M5 is what made me do it. Never thought about it twice till I got the M5, then after I got it the M3 felt cheapened by its stock headliner.

[repoman89]

It's a surprisingly nice touch on my E39 M5. Didn't expect to care or notice but I really like it (and oddly enough has been the one thing someone comments on when they get in the car more than once). If yours is damaged then it's a no-brainer, but not sure I'd spend the effort on an undamaged stock piece.

[liam821]

^ Nice Ian, beautiful. Your headliner is the same as my old M5 - and probably the same as your e39m5 too. I think BMW uses the same color for all the 5 and 6 series M cars. The few X5M's i've been in all had the same headliner as well.

[Obioban]

Yeah I think the anthracite 9002 probably is the way to go. Slight contrast from the black leather and the headliner being dark inside cabin probably helps it look darker.

i know most photos never do it justice but could you possibly post a few pics of your Alcantara headliner Obioban, thanks.

I still need to figure out something to do about the sun visors, but at least the airbag stickers are dealt with...

Steering wheel has since been changed to full alcanatara.

[old///MFanatic]

Thanks Obioban for your earlier photo.

Thank you liam821.
Looking up the part number BMW does list it as anthracite alcantara on the M5.
That's what I'll get then.

I'm probably going to see how the headliner looks with the factory cloth sunvisors before pulling the trigger on doing those too. That looks like a pita job to do right and visors hopefully blend in well enough.

[liam821]

Here are some pictures of the stock headliner on my e60m5..its dark gray in color

[old///MFanatic]

It’s interesting when you pull back the factory anthracite cloth from the pillars it’s black insulation underneath. You don’t realize the factory cloth isn’t truly black until it’s compared up against it.
Agreed I think “Black” Alcantara might be too dark.

[old///MFanatic]

Yeah I think the anthracite 9002 probably is the way to go. Slight contrast from the black leather and the headliner being dark inside cabin probably helps it look darker.

i know most photos never do it justice but could you possibly post a few pics of your Alcantara headliner Obioban, thanks.