[X5MFiddy]

Originally Posted by TomCat6065

Interesting. I have a 2021 X5 M50i with Alcantara headliner. My center section is NOT Alcntara, or anything like it. It's a nylon mesh...typical of the standard headliner. Can someone provide a close up picture? I took delivery about 3 weeks ago. Looks like I may need to get this fixed.

Just took delivery this week of a '21 M50i completed two weeks ago. The sunroof section is anthracite but not alcantara. Truthfully had no idea until I read this. However my back seat has no wrinkles so that was an awesome win!

[mikuda]

So this is a change for 2021s?

Had I known I would not have spent the money. Mine is being built now.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by TomCat6065

Will do...

Can we get a picture with the sunroof visor closed which also includes a picture of the surrounding Alcantara? That way we can compare yours with the full Alcantara equipped vehicle pictures.

[Paladin1]

As another comparison, 2018 Q7 sunroof shade in their Alcantara package was an open mesh (and not Alcantara) that didn’t actually block sunlight completely, but didn’t look bad....

[TomCat6065]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Can we get a picture with the sunroof visor closed which also includes a picture of the surrounding Alcantara? That way we can compare yours with the full Alcantara equipped vehicle pictures.

As requested...

[Kristian_TT]

My dealer told me that this was a change on MY21 when I took delivery of my MY20 45e 3 months ago.

[philooo]

Originally Posted by Kristian_TT

My dealer told me that this was a change on MY21 when I took delivery of my MY20 45e 3 months ago.

ohhh what a shame ! I was really excited to have the alcanthara moonroof cover...but also I was wondering how the alcanthara would deal with being rolled in/out over time, that fabric doesn't strikes me as something that would strech well overtime... but the idea of a more complte covering from the sun was attractive to me!

that sucks.. they could have documented this better on the website

I took a bunch of photo on the website and they still clearly show alcanthara cover for sunroof..

[philooo]

if I had known I would have switched because now we have 2 different textile on the roof...

how does that look ? for the 2021 owner out there ?

[pho]

Do most of you close that cover? I drive with mine open all the time day and night (for me extra light in the cabin is the whole reason to get the moonroof + at night the kids dont see the skylounge if it’s closed) so in practice it wouldn’t matter that much to me.

Having said that, my OCD would be triggered too.

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by pho

Do most of you close that cover? I drive with mine open all the time day and night (for me extra light in the cabin is the whole reason to get the moonroof + at night the kids dont see the skylounge if it’s closed) so in practice it wouldn’t matter that much to me.

Having said that, my OCD would be triggered too.

Open shade = more noise (less insulation) and more heat (for those of us in sunny climes).

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by pho

Do most of you close that cover? I drive with mine open all the time day and night (for me extra light in the cabin is the whole reason to get the moonroof + at night the kids dont see the skylounge if it's closed) so in practice it wouldn't matter that much to me.

Having said that, my OCD would be triggered too.

Mixing and matching of materials won't look coherent. This inconsistency will be an eyesore, especially when you're aware of it.

While it'll be kept open most of the time I see a few other use cases:

* During warm summer days (as mentioned before).
* When the car is parked out in open to block sun.
* Passengers sleeping/napping.
* Suppressing noise (as mentioned before).

This alacantra fabric is inexpensive polyester materials. I doubt BMW is doing it for cost cutting. There must be other reasons and in typical fashion they aren't communicating why they did it.

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

Mixing and matching of materials won't look coherent. This inconsistency will be an eyesore, especially when you're aware of it.

While it'll be kept open most of the time I see a few other use cases:

* During warm summer days (as mentioned before).
* When the car is parked out in open to block sun.
* Passengers sleeping/napping.
* Suppressing noise (as mentioned before).

This alacantra fabric is inexpensive polyester materials. I doubt BMW is doing it for cost cutting. There must be other reasons and in typical fashion they aren't communicating why they did it.

Don't know BMW's supply source, but likely Hydes Leather or Hans Reinke, and Alcantara fabric can be upwards of $100/m, compared to automotive mesh, at one-fifth the price. So per individual car not a huge difference, but I'm guessing cost is not an insignificant factor in BMW's decision.

[MystroX5]

I have had alcantara headliners since the early 2000’s. It’s a well established material for this use. This has to be another supply chain cut back for 2021 models. Mixing materials is a absolute faux pas at this price point.

[PeterK1]

The mesh a bit disappointing but it’s certainly not an eyesore in my opinion.

It’s not something that’s going to trouble me much as I tend to look at the road when I’m driving and not the sky ..... :-)

[mikuda]

So the 2020s have alcantara for the moonroof cover and 2021s have mesh that does not match?

[TomCat6065]

Originally Posted by PeterK1

The mesh a bit disappointing but it's certainly not an eyesore in my opinion.

It's not something that's going to trouble me much as I tend to look at the road when I'm driving and not the sky ..... :-)

Agree... It is disappointing that its not the same Alcantara material, but not a show stopper.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by rkgantz

So the 2020s have alcantara for the moonroof cover and 2021s have mesh that does not match?

Correct.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

For prospective buyers this is good info; however, for the current buyers whose vehicles are being built are unaware of this change. I have not seen any communication from BMW on this material change/tweak - IMO this is unacceptable.

Exactly, this is what pisses me off. BMW made no mention that they deleted the alcantara from the sunroof shade and went with the cheap nylon shade for the 2021 model year that a 1 series uses.
Unacceptable in a so called luxury vehicle.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

Exactly, this is what pisses me off. BMW made no mention that they deleted the alcantara from the sunroof shade and went with the cheap nylon shade for the 2021 model year that a 1 series uses.
Unacceptable in a so called luxury vehicle.

Aren't they using the same shade, and perhaps even a higher quality, that the non-Alcantara X5's are using?

[philooo]

My issue is that the website ordering guide is plain misleading.
When ordering the only thing we have is the website configurator, but if we can't trust that then what ... are we supposed to accept whatever BMW decide to put on the car...

I would have skipped the alcanthara if I knew of the mixed materials...

[MystroX5]

In general, 2021 model year is a train wreck in what may show up at your dealer. It started with the crystal gear shifters and what might be included, no soft close doors and progressively went down hill from there. BMW brings out model changes like the M440 but can’t keep current vehicles with consistent parts??? I would not accept a mix and match parts bin vehicle at this price point without some $$ compensation. If your leasing then maybe you don’t care and ride it out for the lease term but if your buying your car outright then compromising this much would be a deal breaker. The issue with mismatched fabrics is most of the roof is glass so when your sunshade is closed, a huge portion of your roof doesn’t match the alcantara look or texture. This isn’t about how opulent of a look you are after but just expecting a coherent interior.
This is like having your hood gloss black with the fenders frost satin black.
What’s next, mixing merino leather and vernasca leather on the seats??

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by philooo

My issue is that the website ordering guide is plain misleading.
When ordering the only thing we have is the website configurator, but if we can't trust that then what ... are we supposed to accept whatever BMW decide to put on the car...

I would have skipped the alcanthara if I knew of the mixed materials...

Yes, that is very poor of them. One thing I noticed since I started researching BMW's years ago is that they often do not publish much detail on options, features, etc. I guess to be fair there are other auto manufactures that are similar. Thanks to forums like these potential customers can get the information although unfortunately many times it is too late.

You obviously would have a right to refuse delivery but not sure it would be worth that.