My Headliner Removal
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Re: My Headliner Removal
Hey George, don't feel like the lone stranger... I have a coupe and don't know anything about Velcro either. I have my entire headliner out and will be getting around to finding someone to replace the cloth (or maybe not still on the fence if I can DIY). So, I don't have a clue about Velcro in the headliner and this is the first I heard of it. Maybe, just maybe, someone used some Velcro to 'fix' it before on this particular auto? 
;)
Here is a picture of one that is for sale in Germany and the USA, and both have the Velcro in the center rear as does mine.
Now I'm stumped as to why some have it and others don't, so on those that don't have Velcro what holds the liner shell up to the inner roof in the rear center?
Last edited by csteve0355; 05-09-2015 at 11:54 AM. Reason: spelling
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Re: My Headliner Removal
OK, got a quote from a mom-n-pop business who has been in business over 4 years that a local dealership referred me to. The guy has done (according to him) hundreds of headliners, if I carry it in (which I said I would) he will remove all, clean, recoat, and refabric with new, for $65.00 plus materials tax (that is tax on the materials). A one year warranty against anything that happens that can happen to a re-headliner job. The next quote was $95.00 plus those taxes and only a 30 day warranty. Others were from 120 and up. I visited the shop, it is away from the high priced business district (much lower costs to run a business) and his Mrs was the 'office manager'. I am going to go with them because he confidently answered all my questions (first on the phone and then in the shop face to face). The final question I asked, was does he roll the edge over and glue (vs) the way it came trimmed to the edge. He right away answered even before I finished the question, that he rolls about one inch over all edges and glues. I believe one reason these come loose, is the edges (happened on mine) break away and then it drops 'travels' farther along wherever it can. This is exactly what happened to mine (and a few of the posts I read along the way of my research into this problem here with our XF's), and other headliner posts in forums I belong to. So, 65 bucks and a couple bucks for the materials tax, very reasonable. I'll be dropping off the headliner sometime this week. Do you have your headliner out of the car? Do you have Velcro or clips in the very center of the rear of the liner or do you have clips that hold it to the underside of the roof?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Central South Carolina
Age: 69
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Central South Carolina
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Re: My Headliner Removal
I am also in the process of removing the headliner to fix it. How do you remove the a pillar covers? I have the drivers side one off except there is still one clip hanging on towards the bottom and I dont think its gonna come off without breaking it.... If anyone has any tips for removal of these please let me know!
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Re: My Headliner Removal
I'm busy finishing a home remodel when my headliner sagged last month. I think it was due to being parked outside for 8 months straight.
Anyway, I paid $125 to have an upholstery shop near work do the entire job. Perfect match and job well done.
They broke a few clips but luckily there was a Chrysler dealer on the next block.
Anyway, I paid $125 to have an upholstery shop near work do the entire job. Perfect match and job well done.
They broke a few clips but luckily there was a Chrysler dealer on the next block.
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Re: My Headliner Removal
Well the headliner in my 2007 finally has drooped all over. Edges were coming loose at the hatch and along the windshield when we went to CAA6. But 90+ heat for nearly a solid month now at home just was more than the Coupe could take. Probably will use this thread as a guide in getting the headliner out.
Also attached a copy of the Headliner Removal procedure in the manual. Practically the same as GraphiteGhost described.
Already know where to take the headliner for rework. Local guy (Bucket Stitch) in Greenville is rated the best in area. Nearly all the dealers use him for difficult stuff. He does rodder custom work, too. I used him to install a new convertible top on our 2006 VW New Beetle a year & a half back. Fabulous job!
Wish me luck,
Also attached a copy of the Headliner Removal procedure in the manual. Practically the same as GraphiteGhost described.
Already know where to take the headliner for rework. Local guy (Bucket Stitch) in Greenville is rated the best in area. Nearly all the dealers use him for difficult stuff. He does rodder custom work, too. I used him to install a new convertible top on our 2006 VW New Beetle a year & a half back. Fabulous job!
Wish me luck,
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Re: My Headliner Removal
In removing and reinstalling the headliner from the car I found it was much easier to do this with the glove box door and light removed from the car - only took a few min. each way. Hope this hint will help others.
Headliner is back in the car and all trim/parts accounted for and none left over! Wooohooo!
A few hints to help with problems that I ran into, might help someone so here we go;
1. Like the service manual says put both seats full forward (with driver side lowered to bottom) and the backrests all the way back. Many hints below ARE NOT in the manual, most of these are not in any section of the manual.
2. Set it on level ground and put car in drive (auto, remember to chock wheels) DO NOT SET BRAKE, the handle WILL be in the way. The shift **** fully back helps get the liner out (and back in).
3. Steering wheel full forward.
4. Remove mirror assembly, USE THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL.
5. Careful taking the left and right sill panels out (below the small triangle windows), they have extra clips/tabs that will break if your not real careful. If you break them, something might rattle/not line up.
6. Both upper rear side and both lower rear side trim panels must be removed. If you leave the lower ones in, they are in the way A LOT.
7. You will need some new trim clips. They are thin nylon and some will break. If you do not have them all in, are you willing to risk a rattle? Flea-bay sells them real cheap and they are working perfectly (I needed some as they broke when the rear upper trim panels were removed). They are real brittle, and they have been in the car for quite the time in all kinds of weather.
8. When you remove the headliner, lower it (DO NOT TURN IT) and slip it down front first below the glove box/center console. The drivers side will ride on the steering wheel as it slips out down and to lower side of passenger door (which should be ALL THE WAY open). The rear of the headliner must be as high as it can get to clear the side window. It will come out below the top of the passenger door so do not try to take it out over the top of the door as it just would not twist out that way. It 'kind of' turns and spins right front first, take your time, you'll see how it needs to come out. I thought some said it needed to spin, I had a hard time until I positioned it as it sits in the car, it seems it is wider left to right and just does not come out if you spin it trying to get the front to come out first. When I put it back in, it went in super fast with no problems.
9. When you reinstall it, put the headliner in first, reverse the way you took apart (you'll know as you go). The headliner goes in through the passenger side just as it sits in the car (meaning drivers side first with the front to the front and rear to the rear, do not 'spin' it). You'll find the opening where the lamps/garage opener is, easily slipping past the 'rearward positioned' shift ****. I then put the rear upper headliner pins in, then trapped it with the front pillar trim. Put in the top rear panels in before the lower left and right panels. On the drivers side, I had one helluva time snapping the 7 left upper trim (clips) in to the body while they were all in the trim panel. I got them in but when doing the passenger side, I found if you clip in the LOWER FRONT one (of the 7 on each upper trim panel) closest to the 'devider panel' into the body, then have the other 6 in the trim panel and while positioning the panel into place slipping the panel into the clip already put into the car body, the rest almost line right up in place and no 'bending' of any plastic parts of the panel was needed. I was extremely concerned installing the drivers side with all 7 in the panel, as I had to twist/force the front lower trim clip into place before the rest lined up. Putting that clip into the body first allowed me to just slip the trim INTO that clip in the body so I didn't have an alignment problem and did not 'bend' any of the trim nor force anything into place.
10. After the upper trim was in place, the lower (formed rug-like) trim slipped in easily. Make sure you take out that lower center rug panel so the lower side trim slips in without hanging up on that jack area cover. Putting in the rest is just a formality now.
Total job to recover the headliner was $66.50, I don't have to tell you all how much you save on just bringing it to someone to recover it. Having never done this type of work, I am sure glad I didn't try it myself. The guy who did mine, gave me a 1 year warranty on it staying attached. The higher priced people was only a 30 day warranty or none at all. It is good to know I can remove it and reinstall it should the liner come undone again. I do not foresee it needing to be done again for quite a while. Oh, forgot to mention, this guy did not 'cut' the material flush with the liner like it came from the plant. He rolled about 1/4 to 3/8" over and glued it in place. I found the OEM job had peeled away from the edge and it just travelled along. Being he rolled the material over, it might not fail that way onward. Just another little thing that makes sense. I wonder why MB just trimmed the material to the edge, and not rolled it over any? Hope this helps someone, sorry I didn't take pictures this time, it was hard enough to get it out, then in again. My body just isn't in any shape to be doing much more of this twisting/turning type pretzel boy gymnastics anymore. Good luck!
Headliner is back in the car and all trim/parts accounted for and none left over! Wooohooo! A few hints to help with problems that I ran into, might help someone so here we go;1. Like the service manual says put both seats full forward (with driver side lowered to bottom) and the backrests all the way back. Many hints below ARE NOT in the manual, most of these are not in any section of the manual.
2. Set it on level ground and put car in drive (auto, remember to chock wheels) DO NOT SET BRAKE, the handle WILL be in the way. The shift **** fully back helps get the liner out (and back in).
3. Steering wheel full forward.
4. Remove mirror assembly, USE THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL.
5. Careful taking the left and right sill panels out (below the small triangle windows), they have extra clips/tabs that will break if your not real careful. If you break them, something might rattle/not line up.
6. Both upper rear side and both lower rear side trim panels must be removed. If you leave the lower ones in, they are in the way A LOT.
7. You will need some new trim clips. They are thin nylon and some will break. If you do not have them all in, are you willing to risk a rattle? Flea-bay sells them real cheap and they are working perfectly (I needed some as they broke when the rear upper trim panels were removed). They are real brittle, and they have been in the car for quite the time in all kinds of weather.
8. When you remove the headliner, lower it (DO NOT TURN IT) and slip it down front first below the glove box/center console. The drivers side will ride on the steering wheel as it slips out down and to lower side of passenger door (which should be ALL THE WAY open). The rear of the headliner must be as high as it can get to clear the side window. It will come out below the top of the passenger door so do not try to take it out over the top of the door as it just would not twist out that way. It 'kind of' turns and spins right front first, take your time, you'll see how it needs to come out. I thought some said it needed to spin, I had a hard time until I positioned it as it sits in the car, it seems it is wider left to right and just does not come out if you spin it trying to get the front to come out first. When I put it back in, it went in super fast with no problems.
9. When you reinstall it, put the headliner in first, reverse the way you took apart (you'll know as you go). The headliner goes in through the passenger side just as it sits in the car (meaning drivers side first with the front to the front and rear to the rear, do not 'spin' it). You'll find the opening where the lamps/garage opener is, easily slipping past the 'rearward positioned' shift ****. I then put the rear upper headliner pins in, then trapped it with the front pillar trim. Put in the top rear panels in before the lower left and right panels. On the drivers side, I had one helluva time snapping the 7 left upper trim (clips) in to the body while they were all in the trim panel. I got them in but when doing the passenger side, I found if you clip in the LOWER FRONT one (of the 7 on each upper trim panel) closest to the 'devider panel' into the body, then have the other 6 in the trim panel and while positioning the panel into place slipping the panel into the clip already put into the car body, the rest almost line right up in place and no 'bending' of any plastic parts of the panel was needed. I was extremely concerned installing the drivers side with all 7 in the panel, as I had to twist/force the front lower trim clip into place before the rest lined up. Putting that clip into the body first allowed me to just slip the trim INTO that clip in the body so I didn't have an alignment problem and did not 'bend' any of the trim nor force anything into place.
10. After the upper trim was in place, the lower (formed rug-like) trim slipped in easily. Make sure you take out that lower center rug panel so the lower side trim slips in without hanging up on that jack area cover. Putting in the rest is just a formality now.
Total job to recover the headliner was $66.50, I don't have to tell you all how much you save on just bringing it to someone to recover it. Having never done this type of work, I am sure glad I didn't try it myself. The guy who did mine, gave me a 1 year warranty on it staying attached. The higher priced people was only a 30 day warranty or none at all. It is good to know I can remove it and reinstall it should the liner come undone again. I do not foresee it needing to be done again for quite a while. Oh, forgot to mention, this guy did not 'cut' the material flush with the liner like it came from the plant. He rolled about 1/4 to 3/8" over and glued it in place. I found the OEM job had peeled away from the edge and it just travelled along. Being he rolled the material over, it might not fail that way onward. Just another little thing that makes sense. I wonder why MB just trimmed the material to the edge, and not rolled it over any? Hope this helps someone, sorry I didn't take pictures this time, it was hard enough to get it out, then in again. My body just isn't in any shape to be doing much more of this twisting/turning type pretzel boy gymnastics anymore. Good luck!
Re: My Headliner Removal
It seems that there is more work to this if you go by the manual. I removed mine without removing glove box and light, or moving anything else. Just loosened the sail panels in back, took out the front pillar trim and maneuvered it out. I also did my own installation of a new liner, it's been 1 1/2 years and is just fine. It really isn't that hard. Some times you just have to try things, most things aren't as hard it looks, as long as you use the right tools and a little common sense.
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