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Thread: CT-NYC area shop for headliner replacement

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Brooklyn, NY
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    1995 840Ci, 2013 X5

    CT-NYC area shop for headliner replacement

    I'd like to replace my sagging headliner, but my local shops don't seem to want my business. They are pricing $2000 +, which to me means they either don't want to work on my car or I look like a real sucker. Can anyone recommend a shop somewhere near Fairfield County?

    Brett

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
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    1,570
    My Cars
    1972 3.0 CSi-1988 M6
    I did my headliner about 2 years ago for about $400 or so in San Francisco. About $125 for the material and the rest in labor. Granted, it is not NY, but no way should it cost $2k+. The original material was about 1/16” thick, which can’t be sourced anymore. 1/8” headliner material should work (which I used), anything thicker would cause a lot of jamming issues.
    Bert
    91 850i-A
    1972 3.5 CSi (L-jet, Getrag 265 5 speed)
    1988 ///M6
    2021 X3 M40i

    The back to back BIG COUPE” duo

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Brooklyn, NY
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    1995 840Ci, 2013 X5
    (bump)

    Anyone do a headliner near NYC?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    Western Coastal CT
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    E31s
    Just had mine redone up in NH through Mario Langsten's Vintage Sports and Racing (vsr1.com).
    SteveCT
    E31s
    F30 daily driver

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2013
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    Stamford, CT
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    1991 BMW 850i
    Hi Brett. Some may not want to touch it because it old and it's likely that tabs and things will break. I'm in Stamford and need to do it as well. I was planning to do it on my own (I would rather break the clips myself and try to fix it correctly than have a place try and hide things). If you want to get together and try it ourselves, I would be more than happy to meet up with. I was going to try and tackle it this summer if you want to wait. (have some body work that needs to be done. see post soon to be posted).
    Paul.
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
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    North New Jersey
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    1989 325is, 1995 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by PabloRock View Post
    Hi Brett. Some may not want to touch it because it old and it's likely that tabs and things will break. I'm in Stamford and need to do it as well. I was planning to do it on my own (I would rather break the clips myself and try to fix it correctly than have a place try and hide things). If you want to get together and try it ourselves, I would be more than happy to meet up with. I was going to try and tackle it this summer if you want to wait. (have some body work that needs to be done. see post soon to be posted).
    Paul.
    My car needs it as well. I am in for a group attempt if you guys are up for it lol.

    I'm in NYC.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Mt. Dora, Florida
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    CSi#18, Tesla S85
    You can get the CORRECT material from Headliner Express. Bill is very knowledgable regarding the E31 and can send the correct thickness material.
    CSi #18 - Car & Driver Magazine 1994 actual test car
    -- Hellrot/Black-Gray (1 of 1 NA CSi color combination)
    BMWCCA E31 Chapter International Clubs Liaison
    North America Representative, 8er.or Board of Directors




  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Brooklyn, NY
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    1995 840Ci, 2013 X5
    Thanks Steve, Roger and everyone. I'm still hoping to hand this off to a shop, but if not, I'd be happy to host a little wrenchfest.

    I saw a recommendation for a NJ shop, which might be a possiblity:
    Mike O'Neill's Northeast Motorsport in Mahwah, 6 Leighton Place, 07430, tel 201-485-7800
    I spoke with Mike and he estimates $500-$600, which seems reasonable.

    What is needed to complete this project? I'll start a list of things I know will be needed:
    I think the consensus is headliner express for the fabric.
    For adhesive, I've heard good things about V&S: http://www.raamaudio.com/v-s-spray-adhesive/ or 3M super 77
    Sunroof clips BMW-51441938868 8 required
    For the inevitably broken plastic clips:
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2356872-Pillar-Repairs
    Shogun's excellent writeup on a 7-series headliner: http://twrite.org/shogunnew/fixes/he...t_--_750_iL_wo

    What else am I forgetting?

    Brett




  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA
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    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by rogbmw View Post
    You can get the CORRECT material from Headliner Express. Bill is very knowledgable regarding the E31 and can send the correct thickness material.
    Rog

    When you say 'correct' -- is it just the right thickness, or is it matching material? I guess my question really is this -- can I just recover my sagging headliner, or do I have to recover the headliner, sunroof panel and A and C pillars to ensure that everything matches? Thanks.

    Mike Barrett
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    NY, NY
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    84 633, 91 M5, 91 850
    Also interested in knowing what the "correct" material is. I imagine the pillars have to be done at the same time. I'm hoping to get mine done this spring, probably by myself. I'm also in the NYC area.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2013
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    Stamford, CT
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    840
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    1991 BMW 850i
    I don't mind having a headliner party if others are into it.
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    Whitestone, NY
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    97 BMW 840ci
    Quote Originally Posted by ltbrett View Post
    I'd like to replace my sagging headliner, but my local shops don't seem to want my business. They are pricing $2000 +, which to me means they either don't want to work on my car or I look like a real sucker. Can anyone recommend a shop somewhere near Fairfield County?

    Brett

    TJ Kustoms did my headliner. Hicksville, NY. Cost several years ago was $600.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    San Antonio
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    850,76 2002 &530,84 633
    I am using some Alcantara fabric that is a very popular material in autos, planes, boats, furniture, etc. Its very expensive, about $150/yd, but I found a source that buys leftover rolls from mfrs using the fabric so I paid about $25/yard. This is a fairly heavy microfiber suede that does not have a foam liner so I will clean off headliner and pillar covers and use spray adhesive to glue fabric directly to parts.

    https://www.alcantara.com/en/index.do

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    NY, NY
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    84 633, 91 M5, 91 850
    Has anyone done the job yet? Now that the weather is tolerable I'm going to get this done soon on my 8. Just need to make a decision on what headliner material to get.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Brooklyn, NY
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    1995 840Ci, 2013 X5
    How about a little wrenchfest on Saturday, May 19? I'd be happy to host, although I've never done this procedure before. I live in Norwalk, just north of Merritt exit 41. I have a reasonably well-appointed garage if you don't have your own tool kit. The Merritt and the roads near my house are very scenic and might be worth a day trip just to enjoy and meet other owners. There are even a couple of car shows in the area on Sunday. Who's interested?

    Brett

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    NYC
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    91 850i-95 850csi- 94 85
    I have done this before I would recommend you buy some extra clips before attempting this job. Also rather then use a similar material I would rather go with an swede black similar to a CSI.

  17. #17
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    NY, NY
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    84 633, 91 M5, 91 850
    Thanks for the offer Brett. That sounds pretty cool, and I would be interested for sure. My 8er is stored in Wilton currently.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2013
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    Stamford, CT
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    1991 BMW 850i
    I'm interested, but not sure if my car will be back from the shop by then (body work). I'm in Stamford and attend pretty much every show in the area. Will probably be heading to Wilton this Sunday in my Saab. (Check the CT forum section for pics from New Canaan C&C last Sunday).
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  19. #19
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    It turns out my godson is getting confirmed on the 19th, so I need to move the date. In the interim, I've been doing some research on materials. I spoke with Bill at Headliner Express and he is definitely the man for this job! I was all set to buy some Ultrasuede HP (Alcantara is NLA) until Bill talked me out of it. Apparently, Ultrasuede has no stretch and is nearly impossible for a novice to mount around compound curves. So if I'm going to DIY, he recommends the current BMW fabric which he regards as the best available. I'm waiting on him to get back to me on the specific color I need, then I'm placing my order. The next Saturdays I'm available are June 9 or June 30. Any interest in either date?

  20. #20
    Join Date
    May 2013
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    Stamford, CT
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    1991 BMW 850i
    Looks like I should get my 8 back this week, so either date would work for me. The 9th would be better since there is a show in Stamford on the 10th. I would need to order the fabric as well. What color is yours? (mine is the gray).
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    84 633, 91 M5, 91 850
    +1 for wondering what material to get for grey. June 9th or 30th is good for me.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    May 2013
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    Stamford, CT
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    840
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    1991 BMW 850i
    Maybe they will give us a discount for a multi order. Also, I have read a ton of threads on this (been meaning to do it for a couple of years), and Bill at Headliner Express is the man to go to (pretty much the only place to go).
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Vena, Sweden
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    134
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    1992 BMW 850ia
    I would love to see some pictures.

  24. #24
    Join Date
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    84 633, 91 M5, 91 850
    Quote Originally Posted by ltbrett View Post
    It turns out my godson is getting confirmed on the 19th, so I need to move the date. In the interim, I've been doing some research on materials. I spoke with Bill at Headliner Express and he is definitely the man for this job! I was all set to buy some Ultrasuede HP (Alcantara is NLA) until Bill talked me out of it. Apparently, Ultrasuede has no stretch and is nearly impossible for a novice to mount around compound curves. So if I'm going to DIY, he recommends the current BMW fabric which he regards as the best available. I'm waiting on him to get back to me on the specific color I need, then I'm placing my order. The next Saturdays I'm available are June 9 or June 30. Any interest in either date?
    Let us know when you receive your material- interested to know what it looks like. Planning to order from the same source because there have been so many recommendations.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Uk
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    My Cars
    1994 850csi rhd
    My headliner fell down today as I was driving fast with all 4 windows down. Has anyone found a material similar to the CSi material ?

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