Who has actually DONE a headliner refurb

[freakgeek]

I've read the threads and it seems a little overwhemlming sometimes. No foam backing............have to HAVE foam backing. Use this glue, spray, gel, spam gel. How long have you had the headliner last in yours since doing it? So has done it, to include getting the damn thing out without removing the seats?

[flyfishvt]

Hears the story. Fabric must have some stretch to it so you can mold it to the contours of the headliner. Adhesive must be sprayed onto both the fabric and the headliner board. Allow it to get tacky and press them together. You really only get one shot at that. The fabric doesn't have to have foam backing but regardless of what posts have said here it helps. It just cant have a cloth backing or be a material like leather the is very heavy and doesn't stretch. What ever adhesive you use make sure its rated for headliners. If it doesn't say it on the can then dont use it.

[Jmyres]

This was the first thing I did to my 94 325is. I just went to the fabric store and picked out a close match and went and got some spray glue from home depot. I went with 3m super 90 (??? it was the largest of the 3m spray glue) and everything seems to be holding up 5 months later.

I did not have to take out my seats but it was a little tricky. Then again because mine is the 325is I don't know if the two door made this go a little smoother.

The hardest part of the job was getting the foam backing from the old headliner off. that shit gets everywhere. There is a ton of stuff to read but plan on once you have all the stuff plan to spend a couple of hours pulling it out and putting it back in. I split it into two days and it went smooth...and it gave my neck some time to relax after bending every sort of way to see whats was going on
Good luck

[flyfishvt]

+1 on JMYRES

[freakgeek]

Did you use a heat gun to help with the corners?

[flyfishvt]

Nope. Just pressed it into place

[B Rad]

Taking it out will definitely be the hardest part. I got to cheat and pull it out the hatch! :D I got headliner fabric from the fabric store. Its foam backed, soft(microfiberish) front. And got headliner adhesive from Autozone. it went smoothly and 8mo or so later, no problem.

[ConvGeorge]

I end up doing about 1 a year (I buy a lot of cars!) Just did one last week. The hardest part is indeed removing the backer board without breaking anything.

Anyway, you want foam backed fabric. You can get it at fabric stores, it's called - foam backed fabric - and is available in many colors.

You want to use 3M General Trim Adhesive. It runs about $15/can but it's worth it. Follow the directions on the can.

I usually cut the fabric too big. then wrap it around the edges and openings in the backer board and then doing a final trim cut. When laying the fabric on the backer board, you start in the center, and work your way to the edges. This will let you fill in the valleys of the backer board.

[txaviator]

its really easy!!

drop the headliner card

sand off all the old CRUD (this is the HARDEST PART!!)

then just go to town with the new adhesive (follow directions, i suggest the orange can with blue top, permatex brand)

let it get tacky, press it into place, mind the corners (get a fabric with some stretch!!!!!!) and bam youre done.

go for it. it only took me 4 or 5 hours, and most of that was cleaning the old crud off the headliner card.

its held up to the texas heat so far this summer and man its BRUTAL..black car, black headliner....

[flyfishvt]

Get plenty of latex gloves. That adhesive is nasty to get off.

[WrQth]

I have done my headliner and I was able to buy everything I needed at Pep Boys. That being the fabric w/ foam backer and the adhesive. Brand name of the stuff was Heads-Up. Have heard great things about it unlike the 3M stuff that can dry out when it gets really hot. I have a couple so I found that the only what to get the headliner out of the car was through the passenger side and didn't need to remove the seats though it did help to lean them back.

[uncle]

I used a stiff brush to remove the old foam. No need to remove the old glue. Just get things smooth and clean. I have used the 3M adhesve as well as the othe non name product. The best value, and the one I had the best luck with is the Permatex spray adhesive that I bought at AutoZone, It is about $10.00 per can. This is what I would use in the future. I have done a few headliners, and it is an easy job. Stay neat and organized so you don't get glue on everything. Also, apply the glue to both surfaces, and let it set for a few minutes. This will prevent it from penetrating thru the foam and staining the fabric. Use something broad to apply pressure.

[BMDub325]

I was wondering what I should do about my headliner. I'm a novice when it comes to working on cars at all, and the only time I ever tried to repair a headliner was on an old buick and I epic failed at that (of course I just had at it without looking up the proper technique).

I'm starting to think that it isn't worth the risk of screwing it up and that I should just cough up the $100 that I was quoted at a local upholsterer. Anybody else think the effort isn't worth what you save or do you think I should try it myself?

[WrQth]

I was wondering what I should do about my headliner. I'm a novice when it comes to working on cars at all, and the only time I ever tried to repair a headliner was on an old buick and I epic failed at that (of course I just had at it without looking up the proper technique).

I'm starting to think that it isn't worth the risk of screwing it up and that I should just cough up the $100 that I was quoted at a local upholsterer. Anybody else think the effort isn't worth what you save or do you think I should try it myself?

The adhesive I used was $9 and the fabric was $48 I took my time and followed the DIY floating around on this site somewhere and it came out nearly perfect. Only wrinkle I had was where the curve is going over the sunroof motor from the sun visor.

$100 doesn't sound so bad if it includes them removing it and re-installing. I would still do it myself cause it was that easy when you follow some general guidelines.

[ConvGeorge]

I've had bad luck with the Permatex stuff, that's why I always use (and recommend) the 3M General Trim Adhesive. In fact, there's a headliner in my Audi that I put in 4 years ago and it's staying up just fine.

[CHR15714N]

I have done a couple of them heres how i do it..
to take them out i recline the seats all the way down and angle it out the back door if possible. once out you have to remove all the old foam and fabric, and get it fairly clean because the glue will not stick to the old foam, i just did mine in a checkerboard pattern but its black/black, instead of just puttin my fabric on the board i put headliner material which is fabric with a little foam behind it then my own fabric on top of it, i do half and half, i lay the fabric on there then fold it in half put something to prevent it from moving (paper weight) spray glue on the board and the fabric and smooth it out so you dont get any air bubbles, then do the other side and thats pretty much it. I hope i didnt confuse you more than you are :)

[kurtf114]

I'm in the middle of doing mine. I got one question though, how the hell do you get the old foam off the headliner? Its one there pretty good, and peeling it by hand doesnt work, nor does using a blade. any tips?

[freakgeek]

How cool, my car takes a crapper on the coolant, but it was anly a 60.00 fix, and come back to find all the great info. I think I'm going to gather all the stuff you guys recommended and get to work. I'll post some pics while I work.

[Mad Machine]

Believe it or not.. I used rubber cement. I bought the foam backed fabric from Jo-anns fabric and peeled the fabric off to leave just the foam (thinnest foam you can easily buy) and then after coating the backing board and letting it tack up.. pressed the foam into place and held until it stuck. I did it a couple inches at a time until I had that part done.

A day later I did the same with the microsuede. Rubber cement on the foam, let it tack up, press the fabric a couple of inches at a time.

Other than not using a sunsafe fabric, I have not an issue at all with the work I did. I will redo it again this winter with alcantara so it does not fade around the windows.