Starlight Roof Install Near Me? The 127 Detailed Answer

During our recent test drive of the amazing Rolls-Royce Ghost luxury sedan – a vehicle that feels like a condo on wheels – the only feature that left passengers in awe was the car’s Starlight headliner.

Rolls-Royce has many eye-catching features that draw attention, including the power-operated doors, rear-hinged rear doors for maximum rear seat access, power-deployable “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament (with built-in Up lighting, natch !), and the British isle must-have, the built-in umbrellas in the doors for easy access when you step straight out onto a rainy tarmac. You know, your basic car stuff.

But it’s the car’s headliner, the ceiling inside the mammoth sedan, that draws the attention of anyone lucky enough to crawl into the car. The leather lining is perforated with between 1,400 and 1,600 holes, hand-threaded with fiberglass threads that, when lit, create the effect of a star field inside the car.

The meticulous work of the craftsmen who hand-build Rolls-Royce vehicles at the company’s headquarters in Goodwood, England, and the factory trim each fiber end at a unique angle, fitting it flush to the surface of the leather. The different angles at the tips of the fibers create a sparkling effect for the viewer, as the intersection angle affects the direction of light exiting the fibre.

[Related: The First Rolls-Royce SUV Has Tricks That Might Actually Justify Its Price]

This fascinating feature made its debut in a bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom in 2006 when the customer requested an 800 star headliner and it was such a sensation that the Starlight headliner is now standard equipment on Ghost models. Sunbathers can choose a panoramic skylight instead, but most buyers opt for the Starlight headliner, reports product manager Will Vetter.

Today’s headliner not only has at least twice as many stars as the first – it also has new functions and individual designs. A basic example: The Rolls-Royce craftsman needs at least nine working hours for the production. Some of the additional stars represent an increase in light density, but most of the added stars are there to fill in the increase in area covered by the synthetic starfield.

“Originally it was really just focused on the rear cabin,” notes Vetter. “It wasn’t the expanse it is today.”

Workers create the layout using a plexiglass template that indicates where the perforations should be to allow the fiberglass to show through. They thread hundreds of glass fibers into bundles and lead them to five to seven light modules, which illuminate them.

[Related: Ford’s Electric Mustang Mach-E Is a Major Leap Forward]

Customers specify star fields, such as the stars that would have been above them on the day they were born, their zodiac sign, popular constellations such as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, a family crest or even a company logo.

Just as the glare of the full moon at night spoils the view of the stars outside, a conventional ceiling light would ruin the effect of the Starlight Headliner. Therefore, Rolls-Royce uses fiber optics as a virtual overhead light that illuminates the cabin, increasing everyone’s brightness to bathe the interior of the car in all-encompassing light.

In addition, there are areas of the “sky” for reading and map lights, optionally with local brightness above certain seats in the car.

The latest innovation is a shooting star feature that animates the celestial scene with movement. The shooting star is created through a network of 24 path lines that animate the motion of a randomly spawning meteor streaking across the sky. The shooting star can fly in either direction on its path and varies in brightness, using between one and four fibers to illuminate each star along the way. They can change the length of the fireball’s tail using up to five fibers to create a trailing effect, Vetter reports. There are 196 fibers dedicated to the shooting star effect.

The headliner in Tempus. Rolls-Royces

Another dynamic starfield effect is the continuous variability in the brightness of the stars, causing them to smoothly undulate in brightness and intensity to appear more like shining through a turbulent atmosphere.

The company continues to experiment with even more refined modifications, such as with its collection cars like the “Tempus,” which features hand-painted images on the leather accompanied by a pulsar light effect. The company has pioneered alternative lighting uses with a custom Wraith coupe dubbed “Kryptos.” It uses fiber optic lighting technology to attach a printed circuit design to the ceiling.

The inside of the crypto resembles a circuit board. Rolls-Royces

As Rolls-Royce executives often point out, an economy car reliably gets its occupants to their destination, so the luxury British brand must offer an experience rather than simple transport. The reaction of our passengers during our weekend with the Ghost is convincing that Rolls-Royce retains its ability to amaze people with its “surprise and delight” amenities.

Some of the most common questions asked online about Starlight headliner kits are: Which Starlight headliner fits my car? How many stars should I get for my Starlight headliner?

There are many different ways to buy a Starlight headliner kit online and it can often be confusing as to which kit works best. At Starlight Custom, we recommend kits based on the size of your car, whether it has a sunroof, and the class and budget of the vehicle to determine what type of Starlight headliner kit you should get.

To find out which kit suits your car best, you can follow our shop guide here.

The components of the kits can change in 3 different ways as the vehicle size and class changes. We have listed the details below.

amount of fiber optic lights. Optical fibers are built into the fabric of your vehicle’s roof and then lead to a light source hidden somewhere in the car. Larger cars, such as full-size sedans, have larger headliners and require a larger number of stars to adequately cover the space. As an example, we recommend an average of 150-350 stars for an average 2-door coupe, while a larger SUV may require between 600-1500 stars depending on size. Please see our shop guide to find the right kit for your car.

Power of Light Engine: The Light Engine is the energy source for the Starlight headliner. These contain the bright LEDs that shine light through the fiber optic strands to appear on your headliner. Some light engines may also include a “flash engine,” which is a metal disk with holes that rotates to break the spot of light and create a “flash effect” at the end of the fiber optic. The output power of the light source can be scaled from 6 watts (W) up to 50 W. To determine the appropriate power source for your car. Performance is linked to the amount of light required to adequately fill the headliner. More lights require a higher power source to ensure the light is bright enough to create a proper starlight experience. Not enough power and the lights may be barely visible! A 6w power source might be good for around 150-200 lights, but anything higher will require more wattage to function.

Fiber Optic Length: Fiber optic lights can be available in many different lengths as well as diameters for different applications. The lights typically vary from 6.5 feet to nearly 16.5 feet depending on the size of the car and where the light source is to be stored. Of course, smaller vehicles like 2-door coupes only require 6.5 feet, while larger cars require lengths of 9.8 feet to 13.1 feet to properly fit the vehicle.

Starlight kits can also be purchased with different light diameters. In our opinion, the different lights are necessary to get the most out of your car’s Starlight headliner. The different lights give your headliner a realistic ‘three dimensional’ effect with the different light intensities, as it appears as if some smaller stars are further away and the larger stars are closer and more intense. All the deluxe and elite kits we provide usually come with three different light diameters (0.03″, 0.04″ and 0.06″).

The Rolls Royce is like the kings of the car world, so it’s no wonder that this model is expensive to maintain. An oil change alone can cost $650, and annual maintenance is estimated at $3,900. Repairs are just as expensive. 03/10/2015

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Some Starlight headliner installations are not too difficult, it usually depends on the technique used to install it. Some tutorials on youtube show drilling holes in the headliner mold and fabric where the lights will be pierced and eventually protrude the other end. This technique can help speed up the process and make things easier, but can produce subpar results as it causes damage to the headliner and sometimes protruding lights, ruining a headliner’s clean, “sleek” look.

This is a poor install, the lights are too intense as they protrude through the headliner fabric and you can see the light protrusion.

A professional Starlight headlining installation installs the lights in an elegant and subtle manner, in proper Rolls-Royce manner. The lights are not visible when off and are not noticeable when looking up at or touching the headliner fabric. The professional installation technique requires a high level of skill, precision and careful handling that is maintained over the course of the installation of potentially hundreds if not thousands of delicate optical fibers into a vehicle’s headliner. This will of course create the best looking Starlight headliner for your car, but can be exponentially more difficult than a driveway installation at home.

This is a great install by the guys at RR Auto. You will not feel or see the headliner lights when they are off.

At this point, you probably have a lot of questions to ask. Although we’ve covered most of the practical stuff in this step-by-step DIY fiber optic star ceiling guide, the questions below directly answer some of the key points that may determine how or when you decide to start your project.

Q: Where can you install a fiber optic star ceiling kit?

A: Since the light source will be sitting above the ceiling and the fiber optic tails will run through the ceiling to create the stunning star points, you will need either access to the overhead area (the loft area) or adequate space in a ceiling void). Alternatively, you can create a special case or recess for the board that houses the light engine and fiber optics. Another option that we will discuss in this post is creating a frame. Many people do this when they don’t have the above access. If you use a board, it can be made from a number of materials:

plasterboard

Acrylic Sheets – Perspex or Plexiglas

PVC

Dibond

Wooden panels – MDF or HDF

stretch ceilings

In this guide we have focused on giving you instructions on how to create a star ceiling using an MDF board to hold the fiberglass. However, the steps described can easily be adapted to other installation methods.

Q: Which Starlight kit should I choose from your product range?

A: We typically recommend 50-100 fibers per square meter, so calculating the Starlight ceiling area is a good starting point. On our fiber optic star cover page, the light engines are divided into small/medium/large projects to help you decide. In some cases we sell the light engines bundled with the fibres, but for most products you can choose from a wider range of compatible bundles and will need to add these to your basket separately.

Our alternator summary table allows you to compare alternators by features and maximum bundle capacity, while the fiber optic bundle summary table shows you the available bundle options with details on fiber count, diameter and length.

Q: Do I need to hire an electrician to install it?

A: This largely depends on where you intend to install your fiber optic star ceiling kit. It is important to consider the electrical connection of the light engine as this may require the involvement of a trained and competent person. Our light engines are supplied with a UK 3 pin plug.

Q: How long does it take to install a fiber optic star ceiling kit?

A: The approximate time it will take you to install a 3 square meter panel with around 200 fiber ends is approximately between 8 and 9 hours. This includes the construction time of the frame and plasterboard. Then there is the drilling of the holes and the installation of the fiber optic tails, the latter taking around 1.5 hours in total.

Q: Can you prepare two independent panels with one kit?

A: Yes, it is possible to prepare two panels independently. If you are using a fiber optic bundle, you can work on either panel at the same time if there is enough space. Alternatively, you can remove the connector plug from the end of the fiber bundle, split the bundle, and reattach the bundle connector once you’re done.

During our recent test drive of the amazing Rolls-Royce Ghost luxury sedan – a vehicle that feels like a condo on wheels – the only feature that left passengers in awe was the car’s Starlight headliner.

Rolls-Royce has many eye-catching features that draw attention, including the power-operated doors, rear-hinged rear doors for maximum rear seat access, power-deployable “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament (with built-in Up lighting, natch !), and the British isle must-have, the built-in umbrellas in the doors for easy access when you step straight out onto a rainy tarmac. You know, your basic car stuff.

But it’s the car’s headliner, the ceiling inside the mammoth sedan, that draws the attention of anyone lucky enough to crawl into the car. The leather lining is perforated with between 1,400 and 1,600 holes, hand-threaded with fiberglass threads that, when lit, create the effect of a star field inside the car.

The meticulous work of the craftsmen who hand-build Rolls-Royce vehicles at the company’s headquarters in Goodwood, England, and the factory trim each fiber end at a unique angle, fitting it flush to the surface of the leather. The different angles at the tips of the fibers create a sparkling effect for the viewer, as the intersection angle affects the direction of light exiting the fibre.

[Related: The First Rolls-Royce SUV Has Tricks That Might Actually Justify Its Price]

This fascinating feature made its debut in a bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom in 2006 when the customer requested an 800 star headliner and it was such a sensation that the Starlight headliner is now standard equipment on Ghost models. Sunbathers can choose a panoramic skylight instead, but most buyers opt for the Starlight headliner, reports product manager Will Vetter.

Today’s headliner not only has at least twice as many stars as the first – it also has new functions and individual designs. A basic example: The Rolls-Royce craftsman needs at least nine working hours for the production. Some of the additional stars represent an increase in light density, but most of the added stars are there to fill in the increase in area covered by the synthetic starfield.

“Originally it was really just focused on the rear cabin,” notes Vetter. “It wasn’t the expanse it is today.”

Workers create the layout using a plexiglass template that indicates where the perforations should be to allow the fiberglass to show through. They thread hundreds of glass fibers into bundles and lead them to five to seven light modules, which illuminate them.

[Related: Ford’s Electric Mustang Mach-E Is a Major Leap Forward]

Customers specify star fields, such as the stars that would have been above them on the day they were born, their zodiac sign, popular constellations such as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, a family crest or even a company logo.

Just as the glare of the full moon at night spoils the view of the stars outside, a conventional ceiling light would ruin the effect of the Starlight Headliner. Therefore, Rolls-Royce uses fiber optics as a virtual overhead light that illuminates the cabin, increasing everyone’s brightness to bathe the interior of the car in all-encompassing light.

In addition, there are areas of the “sky” for reading and map lights, optionally with local brightness above certain seats in the car.

The latest innovation is a shooting star feature that animates the celestial scene with movement. The shooting star is created through a network of 24 path lines that animate the motion of a randomly spawning meteor streaking across the sky. The shooting star can fly in either direction on its path and varies in brightness, using between one and four fibers to illuminate each star along the way. They can change the length of the fireball’s tail using up to five fibers to create a trailing effect, Vetter reports. There are 196 fibers dedicated to the shooting star effect.

The headliner in Tempus. Rolls-Royces

Another dynamic starfield effect is the continuous variability in the brightness of the stars, causing them to smoothly undulate in brightness and intensity to appear more like shining through a turbulent atmosphere.

The company continues to experiment with even more refined modifications, such as with its collection cars like the “Tempus,” which features hand-painted images on the leather accompanied by a pulsar light effect. The company has pioneered alternative lighting uses with a custom Wraith coupe dubbed “Kryptos.” It uses fiber optic lighting technology to attach a printed circuit design to the ceiling.

The inside of the crypto resembles a circuit board. Rolls-Royces

As Rolls-Royce executives often point out, an economy car reliably gets its occupants to their destination, so the luxury British brand must offer an experience rather than simple transport. The reaction of our passengers during our weekend with the Ghost is convincing that Rolls-Royce retains its ability to amaze people with its “surprise and delight” amenities.

At this point, you probably have a lot of questions to ask. Although we’ve covered most of the practical stuff in this step-by-step DIY fiber optic star ceiling guide, the questions below directly answer some of the key points that may determine how or when you decide to start your project.

Q: Where can you install a fiber optic star ceiling kit?

A: Since the light source will be sitting above the ceiling and the fiber optic tails will run through the ceiling to create the stunning star points, you will need either access to the overhead area (the loft area) or adequate space in a ceiling void). Alternatively, you can create a special case or recess for the board that houses the light engine and fiber optics. Another option that we will discuss in this post is creating a frame. Many people do this when they don’t have the above access. If you use a board, it can be made from a number of materials:

plasterboard

Acrylic Sheets – Perspex or Plexiglas

PVC

Dibond

Wooden panels – MDF or HDF

stretch ceilings

In this guide we have focused on giving you instructions on how to create a star ceiling using an MDF board to hold the fiberglass. However, the steps described can easily be adapted to other installation methods.

Q: Which Starlight kit should I choose from your product range?

A: We typically recommend 50-100 fibers per square meter, so calculating the Starlight ceiling area is a good starting point. On our fiber optic star cover page, the light engines are divided into small/medium/large projects to help you decide. In some cases we sell the light engines bundled with the fibres, but for most products you can choose from a wider range of compatible bundles and will need to add these to your basket separately.

Our alternator summary table allows you to compare alternators by features and maximum bundle capacity, while the fiber optic bundle summary table shows you the available bundle options with details on fiber count, diameter and length.

Q: Do I need to hire an electrician to install it?

A: This largely depends on where you intend to install your fiber optic star ceiling kit. It is important to consider the electrical connection of the light engine as this may require the involvement of a trained and competent person. Our light engines are supplied with a UK 3 pin plug.

Q: How long does it take to install a fiber optic star ceiling kit?

A: The approximate time it will take you to install a 3 square meter panel with around 200 fiber ends is approximately between 8 and 9 hours. This includes the construction time of the frame and plasterboard. Then there is the drilling of the holes and the installation of the fiber optic tails, the latter taking around 1.5 hours in total.

Q: Can you prepare two independent panels with one kit?

A: Yes, it is possible to prepare two panels independently. If you are using a fiber optic bundle, you can work on either panel at the same time if there is enough space. Alternatively, you can remove the connector plug from the end of the fiber bundle, split the bundle, and reattach the bundle connector once you’re done.