Saggy headliner preventative maintenance?

[TheJordanWhitte]

Just noticed in the rear passenger corner my headliner is just starting to sag and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to prevent it from spreading?

[shogun]

If you really want to fix it, the old material has to come off and you have to buy new headliner material and glue, did that just 2 months ago.
Some temporary fixes
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2082779-E36-M3-DIY-Sagging-Headliner-Fix&highlight=headliner+fix
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1498465-I-m-developing-a-way-to-repair-sagging-headliner-without-removing-it&highlight=headliner+fix
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1214712-Quick-and-Dirty-Headliner-fix!&highlight=headliner+fix
https://www.amazon.com/Sagging-HEADLINER-REPAIR-RETAINING-PINS-Set/dp/B002Z04XGK
http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s-type-s-type-r-supercharged-v8-x200-15/$3-sagging-headliner-repair-73835/

[TheJordanWhitte]

If you really want to fix it, the old material has to come off and you have to buy new headliner material and glue, did that just 2 months ago.
Some temporary fixes
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2082779-E36-M3-DIY-Sagging-Headliner-Fix&highlight=headliner+fix
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1498465-I-m-developing-a-way-to-repair-sagging-headliner-without-removing-it&highlight=headliner+fix
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1214712-Quick-and-Dirty-Headliner-fix!&highlight=headliner+fix
https://www.amazon.com/Sagging-HEADLINER-REPAIR-RETAINING-PINS-Set/dp/B002Z04XGK
http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s-type-s-type-r-supercharged-v8-x200-15/$3-sagging-headliner-repair-73835/

Fantastic!

[RRSperry]

Yep, once it starts there is no fix other than replacing it. I had to do mine. It has lived a very pampered life in a climate controlled garage since I bought it 21 years ago... The glue/foam just gives up.

[xxxxxxx]

I have not taken mine off to look at it yet, but I have thought about solutions.

Only the back corrner is sagging on mine. The cloth is still firmly attached.

What I am thinking of doing is coating the back side with a thin layer of epoxy and then using some jig to hold everything in place while it sets.

[shogun]

The problem of a sagging headliner is the 3mm foam between the headliner cloth and the board, it disintegrates and just falls off. The only way to do it long time working is to remove the headliner, clean the board from all old foam and glue new headliner material, then it will last another 15 years again.

[RRSperry]

That won't work.

[CblockM3]

That won't work. completely taking out the headliner board, cleaning it, and gluing down new material won't work??? Hmmmm worked pretty great for me.

[RRSperry]

No, sorry, it was a reply to XXXX. His idea to use epoxy. NOTHING short of remove and replace will work. It is purely a time in service issue. The sagging occurs at about 15 years. I really think it's because BMW tried to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful products used when making a car. They used crappy glue.

[AJLM34A]

I really think it's because BMW tried to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful products used when making a car. They used crappy glue.

This is not isolated to BMWs and it is not a glue problem. Fabric on foam headliners glued to cardboard is what most car manufactures use to use, and if the vehicle makes it to a certain age, the fabric will separate from the foam/foam separate from fabric, and sag. My M3 is 97' and was garage kept most of it's life until 2 years ago, and the original headliner is starting to separate in the front. Not too bad for a 19 year old daily driver. I guess it wouldn't hurt to take it to a dealership and ask BMW to warranty it.

[CblockM3]

No, sorry, it was a reply to XXXX. His idea to use epoxy. NOTHING short of remove and replace will work. It is purely a time in service issue. The sagging occurs at about 15 years. I really think it's because BMW tried to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful products used when making a car. They used crappy glue.

Got ya! I agree, only one real way to truly fix it.

[M3C]

How complicated is to replace the fabric on sunroof part, does the entire sunroof assembly get removed?

[MauiM3Mania]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to take it to a dealership and ask BMW to warranty it.

The car is a decade and a half out of warranty. LOL Let us know how it works out.

[shogun]

How complicated is to replace the fabric on sunroof part, does the entire sunroof assembly get removed?

A good info on that is on Pelicanparts, I used that to do it on my M3 with sunroof. http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-72-Headliner/101-Projects-72-Headliner.htm
Things WILL break. Especially the plastic clips A,B,C pillar. I even found broken clips on left side A pillar as pre-owner installed a highway automated toll pay uniy behind the mirror and had to pull of the A pillar. There are various ways to recover the clips. I partially used a soldering iron and some plastic to 'weld the broken parts together, larger parts I used fiberglass and epoxy and re-shaped the clips, works well.

The sunroof motor has a built-in switch to stop the motor when the roof is completely closed, which prevents it from popping open at the rear. This completely closed position is called the "zero setting," or "zero position." If you need to remove the sunroof motor from the car, be aware that you need to reinstall the motor with its position set to the zero setting. Start by setting the sunroof panel and assembly at the fully closed position. For sunroof motors prior to mid-1994, the zero position on the sunroof motor is when the shaft center points of the motor, notch, and pin all line up (yellow arrow). For motors in cars manufactured from mid-1994, the zero setting is no longer visible to the naked eye. Instead, set the motor to the zero setting by plugging it in and pressing the switch until it stops by itself. When you have the motor electrically unplugged from the car, you can move it quite easily by placing a 4-millimeter hex socket into the back of the motor gear and turning it slowly (inset). This is useful for troubleshooting the assembly when it is out of the car, with the motor still attached.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-78-Sunroof/101-Projects-78-Sunroof.htm

I did not remove any seat to remove the headliner, the rear door is just large enough to get the headliner out and in again, somehow.

E36 is headliner much easier that the long one on my E32 750iL, which was my first headliner repair more than 10 years ago, pics are on my website, there you see also that we used a soldering iron to repair the broken clips.

[xxxxxxx]

No, sorry, it was a reply to XXXX. His idea to use epoxy. NOTHING short of remove and replace will work. It is purely a time in service issue. The sagging occurs at about 15 years. I really think it's because BMW tried to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful products used when making a car. They used crappy glue.


With my headliner the board has lost it's shape along the edge that hooks up at the top of the rear class. The fabric is not detached.

As such, I believe it may be possible to put that edge back into shape and re-attain it's rigidity with a thin coat of epoxy on the back side. Perhaps in conjunction with thin layer of fiberglass.

[shogun]

Yes, fiberglass mat and epoxy can fix it, have done already on an E34 board where the owner broke it when he pulled the headliner out of the car.

[xxxxxxx]

Yes, fiberglass mat and epoxy can fix it, have done already on an E34 board where the owner broke it when he pulled the headliner out of the car.

Thank you for proving my point, shogun. :)

[SamGrant951]

I looked on realoem but didnt really see anything but some metal clips on the pillars - what can break while it comes apart, I heard someone mention some plastic clips - Id like to buy some more of them for the shop that does mine. Anything to break when messing with the sunroof to have on hand?

[AJLM34A]

I looked on realoem but didnt really see anything but some metal clips on the pillars - what can break while it comes apart, I heard someone mention some plastic clips - Id like to buy some more of them for the shop that does mine. Anything to break when messing with the sunroof to have on hand?
The plastic clips are tabs that are molded into the A&C-pillars. They are not replaceable, that is why other post talk about glueing/gluing, plastic welding, or epoxying them back to the cover.

[SamGrant951]

got it! ok thanks-

[btheo]

Avoid parking in the sun on hot days. Regardless redoing the headliner isn't too bad. Just take ur time. I also did the pillars in suede and deck lid and results r pretty. Our interiors aren't appraised by others but if done right (boots, headliner, cleanup) they can look good imo.

[shogun]

Thank you for proving my point, shogun. :)

fiberglass mat and epoxy >>>here you can see some work we have done on a C-pillar of my E32 750 to restore/re-model clips
http://www.bilder-speicher.de/image_community.php?id=07120208151023
http://www.bilder-speicher.de/image_community.php?id=07120208582802

[Mless5]

Has anyone been able to locate headliner material that is foam backed, but with the thin layer of foam? I've done ebay foam backed suede in my other e36 and it looked goody - the foam was thicker than original.

Thanks.

[TheJordanWhitte]

Has anyone been able to locate headliner material that is foam backed, but with the thin layer of foam? I've done ebay foam backed suede in my other e36 and it looked goody - the foam was thicker than original.

Thanks.

I was looking at this stuff.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160905/9766e200f28d70ede2b2b3ade7e989fa.jpg

[shoman24v]

You can find headliner material at Joann's. Much less than the link above.

[boarder2k7]

Harbor freight has a few different plastic welding kits available starting at $20. May help with the broken tabs.

http://m.harborfreight.com/welding/plastic-welders.html

[rajicase]

I bought the micro suede to do my headline for $5/yard on ebay. Not foam backed.

Looks brand new years later..

[TheJordanWhitte]

I bought the micro suede to do my headline for $5/yard on ebay. Not foam backed.

Looks brand new years later..

I have some MTech fabric that I'm thinking of using but my fear is that it will look like a VW douche:/

[xxxxxxx]

I was looking at this stuff.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160905/9766e200f28d70ede2b2b3ade7e989fa.jpg

Don't use that stuff. Try and locate some micro-suede or alcantara. Will look much, much better.

[rajicase]

I have some MTech fabric that I'm thinking of using but my fear is that it will look like a VW douche:/

Do it. I think it'll look cool.

[NeilM]

You can get the original foam backed material by the yard at https://www.headlinerexpress.com

Neil

[crqflier]

You can get the real stuff here too: http://www.veteranco.com. Don't let the circa 1996 website scare you off - just period correct for our cars.


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[Mless5]

You can get the real stuff here too: http://www.veteranco.com. Don't let the circa 1996 website scare you off - just period correct for our cars.


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Is OEM BMW FLOCK BODY CLOTH - 2000 & ON what I want?

Thanks.

[crqflier]

Is OEM BMW FLOCK BODY CLOTH - 2000 & ON what I want?

Thanks.

It doesn't sound right. I called them and they knew exactly the right stuff. I've got some left I can look and see if it has a label.


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[Mless5]

It doesn't sound right. I called them and they knew exactly the right stuff. I've got some left I can look and see if it has a label.


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Thanks. I'll call them directly.

[crqflier]

Thanks. I'll call them directly.

No markings but found my receipt. Item #BM134. Bought 3 yards - enough to include the rear deck. $42/yard 3 years ago.


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