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Thread: Quick and Dirty Headliner fix!

  1. #1
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    Quick and Dirty Headliner fix!

    I Figured out a way to fix a sagging headliner permanently!(well it has lasted 2 months so far) All you need is a Hand-held steam cleaner, an absorbent Paint roller, and a friend. To make this work, you need one person on the steamer, and one person on the roller. The steam man needs to steam the headliner slowly, while the roller man follows the steamed area with the roller and rolls the headliner flat and works out the wrinkles. The reason why this works is because the steam melts the glue while re-hydrating it. the roller absorbs the excess water from the fabric/glue, at the same time as working out the wrinkles. This is the steam cleaner I used, I would recommend using the first attachment on the right, attached to the end of the hose:

    I would recommend a somewhat dense roller, I haven't used a sponge style roller so I cant recommend or discourage use of it, I used one that looks like this.

    This is what the headliner used to look like:

    And how it looks now:


    Last edited by shogun; 11-19-2015 at 02:09 AM. Reason: update

  2. #2
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    Very nice job indeed. Beats the crap out of what I used to do on my old cars. Who amoung us hasn't torn down the rotting headliner only to be covered with dried out glue fibers?
    Last edited by shogun; 11-19-2015 at 01:58 AM.
    2001 740iL BI-XENON 3" Projectors LED AE's. Clear corners. EuroDyne tails. Bilstien S&S / H&R Stage 2 springs. Widescreen/Mark4 DVD. Escort 9500ci Radar/Laser.Beyern 19" Multi's staggered.


  3. #3
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    FYI allmost a month later and its still good!
    The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

  4. #4
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    Too much crap
    I used this on my E32 and it works AWESOME.
    Last edited by shogun; 11-19-2015 at 02:02 AM.
    Originally posted by pup "yeah. stick to pedophilia, racism, misogyny, homosexuality, the disabled and the poor"
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    Aindriu "It is made to be a crusing machine. Top down, cruise control on at Autobahn speeds, bit of classy music and an attractive woman in the passenger seat with the IQ of a peanut."

  5. #5
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    would this work for an e23 moonroof as well? Thanks

  6. #6
    eaglecomm's Avatar
    eaglecomm is offline Senile Member BMW CCA Member
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    checking in.. how is this holding up almost 7 months out?
    Best recent quote: 'I got passed the other day by a 535. He was doing the speed limit. I was trying to do the speed limit.' -FieroZ34


  7. #7
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    wow, excellent idea and job!!!
    1994 BMW 740I E32: SOLD
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    1997 BMW 540i/6 sport: polished/ported throttle body & traction control unit, E60 short shifter, ss braided flex lines, 2000 M5 tail lights, genuine Alpina bumper lip, genuine M5 auto fold mirrors, facelifted color matched trim


  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by eaglecomm View Post
    checking in.. how is this holding up almost 7 months out?
    its still holding out as we speak, it has survived thru the hot-as-hell Wisconsin summer so I am satisfied.
    The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

  9. #9
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    Hey that looks like a good idea I think im gonna try it and see what happens

  10. #10
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    So its been over a year since your original post. How's she holding up? Mine finally fell this summer...

  11. #11
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    hello, I have a traditional garment steamer....do you believe that it would do the same job? let me kno if you get the chance, really appreciate it

  12. #12
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    since im in a DESPERATE need of my headliner to be fixed and I live about 45 min away from you, well.........

  13. #13
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    So, this is done with the sagging headliner still in the car?

    Steam heat momentarily re-melts the old glue?

    Paint roller pushed along the heated surface while the old glue is still hot, for re-stick?

    Any reason this would not work with a mid-90s BMW, such as different type of glue used then?

    For those who've done this, please describe best techniques. (My E36 headliner sux, and I don't want to remove it for fix.)

  14. #14
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    Will try this on my 2001 E38 Headliner next week.

    Will let you know results in May

    The steamer in the image is probably a McCulloch available many places (eBay, Google shopping Amazon etc) for around US$70, depending on attachments

    McCulloch Handheld Steam Cleaner MC1126 or MC1226
    Ideal for cleaning and detailing cars and motorcycles, this hand-held Steam Cleaner is versatile and easy-to-use. Its 900 watts and 6-ounces of water provide 8 minutes of steaming time to clean and sanitize surfaces and get at dirt and grime that brushes can’t reach. Simply fill with water, and the steam ready indicator light lets you know when you are ready to begin steaming. When used along with a degreaser, this unit makes removing engine grease, brake dust, ink, oil and other substances easy and effective. You can use it to clean your auto wheels and floor mats, among other automobile uses. Use it to clean your BBQ grill too! Power: Plugs into any wall outlet (110V). GREAT PRICE!
    ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE! Ideal for cleaning and detailing cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles!
    Features:
    900 Watts
    Holds 6 ounces water
    8 minutes of continuous steam
    Product Specs:
    Steam Cleaner unit weight – 3.31 lbs
    Steam Cleaner unit dimensions – 8.66” X 5.31” X 8.46”
    Temperature range: 140-428ºF (60-220ºC)

  15. #15
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    Thankyou sooooo much whoever started this thread! I just got done doing this on my e32 and not only did it fix the headliner and make it stick and look amazing, but it also cleaned it and made it look brand new! I couldn't be happier thanks soooooo much.

  16. #16
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    I have a saggy headliner as well.
    (I have a clothes wrinkle steamer that I believe will work nicely)
    I will do this DIY tomorrow and report back with crappy cell pics.
    BMWCCA Member 376052
    RIP Pandashizzle

  17. #17
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    Worked for me headliner looks brand new now!

  18. #18
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    I'm glad this is working for people, I traded the car for a 93 Suzuki katana 750 last year and the headliner was still holding up great. Too bad about the rest of the car lol.
    The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

  19. #19
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    I tried this today , don't know what I did wrong but it didn't work for me , I guess ill be calling a headliner repair shop ...lol , but thanks

  20. #20
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    I'm a little confused of the process with the roller. Do you roll the headliner from front to back, start in the middle and go to each side, or in a curricular motion out-side-in? (this is on my dads e32)
    Last edited by shwagon; 08-10-2011 at 03:39 PM.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by shwagon View Post
    I'm a little confused of the process with the roller. Do you roll the headliner from front to back, start in the middle and go to each side, or in a curricular motion out-side-in?
    I'd sure like to know this too. Seems like an important step. Seems it would affect the following concern.

    Are there any tricks to getting it to stretch back out so as to make it from one side to the other and have enough to fit under the various trim.

    Speaking of trim, do you remove any, none, just where the fabric has slipped from under.

    Could really use some help with this. If not the OP, how about one of you who've used this method. What did you do with these items.

    TIA,

    IMSARS69
    'ol corps rac'r

  22. #22
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    i tried on e66 but no luck

  23. #23
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    I tried this with 2 different types of steamers. The garment and the hand held cleaner steamer type like you used. It didn't hold up. Perhaps it's because of the constant warm & hot weather hear in Hawaii? It did, however, clean my dirty headliner material.
    Last edited by shogun; 11-19-2015 at 02:04 AM.

  24. #24
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    I'm next. My 94 840ci headliner is sagging like flock! I will be using a clothing steamer and the exact paint roller. Only thing I don't understand is if it's sagging pretty bad, as you roll the headliner where is the excessive headliner going to go?

  25. #25
    Join Date
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    S/C Tacoma 4x4, + 330Ci
    i did this about a year ago and it is still holding...

    tip: use thumb tacks or other small pins to hold it in place during/after you steam everything into place, obviously remove them when it dries
    Glare shielding www.justoffroad.org

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