The headliner on our MKV Rabbit is sagging and needs to be replaced. I was planning on dropping the board and recovering it with new material and glue. Does anyone have a recommendation of fabric and where to get it? Also what glue to use, spray on 3M or roll-on?
I was thinking of using either microfiber(fake suede) or a plaid pattern like some of the old school VW's used for seats.
Strip the fabric and foam. Get the board as smooth as possible. I'll tackle the microfiber/suede material first. That stuff is hard to work with. I've done it, it's difficult and not forgiving at all. You need fabric that can stretch, a lot.
For material and glue, find a local sunroof installation shop (check with inalfa and webasto for installers local to you) and buy the material and glue from them. That stuff will stay up for a decade or two with no problems.
The glue they use usually needs a spray gun. Just buy a cheap harbor freight gun, or ask them what aerosol they use. I've sued the 3M stuff and didn't like it very much. Not much tack, and it didn't stay up very long.
I redid the headliner on my old 240sx a few years ago and it still looks like new. I found a foam backed fabric at the local fabric store and used permatex brand headliner adhesive. First strip the cardboard liner as best as you can so you have a clean surface for the adhesive to stock to. I then laid out the fabric over the headliner and trimmed it with about 3-4 inches extra on all sides so you have room to work with it. Then spray the headliner board with the adhesive and spray the fabric separately. Let the glue get tacky (about 5-7 minutes) before putting the two together. If you don't let it get tacky, the glue will soak into the fabric and it will look like crap. Start at one end of the headliner and slowly work towards the other end, smoothing out the fabric softly with your hands. Then I flipped it over and sprayed the backside edge of the headliner and folded the fabric over and trimmed any excess material. Same for any openings in the headliner (I.e. done light, oh E36 M3 handle, etc). It's really pretty easy. Just take your time to minimize mistakes. Good luck!!!
One mistake I always make is pressing to firmly on the foam backed fabric. There is no reason for this as the con.tact glue works well. But I am an over tightener type and this is no different. So I push away crushing foam into the tacky cement leaving imprints.
Done it more than once.
Most would never notice. But still.
I need to do it on my E36 M3. How the heck do you get the headliner out without removing a windshield?
I redid the headliner on my 1991 GTI like Spoolpigeon did. I was able to take the substrate out through the hatch pretty easily. The material is pretty brittle ,so some care has to be taken so you don't snap off the corners.I'll bet that the BMW unit can come out through the doors IF the front seats are removed.
Have that problem with a 90 Shelby Daytona. What is the best way to take out the substrate on that car?
You could be like me. Pull down that headliner and slap that bedliner up there.
viking wrote: Have that problem with a 90 Shelby Daytona. What is the best way to take out the substrate on that car?
I'm 99% certain you can get it out the hatch once you have it free. I'm sure I've done it and I don't have any traumatic memories, so it must not have been too bad. I'd at least pull both front seats first though. It's only 8 bolts and it will make your life worlds easier.
google "headliner replacement".
I used contact cement shot out of a harbor freight HVLP gun. This was recommended to me from a friend's dad who does this for a living. Give it a minute or so to get tacky, otherwise it can bleed through the fabric. Joann's fabrics sell headliner material but the color didn't match my interior (they have black/grey/tan). If you go there, don't forget the 40% off coupons they always have. I bought my material from yourautotrim.com. You can get a color palette from them to match your interior perfect. Work from the center out and just take your time. You don't have to get it perfect the first time, but you really only have 2-3 tries before you need to strip it and try again.
I did the headliner in my 318ti 8 years ago. I took it out and down to the bare fibreglass. I then went to the local fabric store (jo-anns) and bought 3 yards of their "headliner fabric" it is a truely nasty fabric with a very thin layer of foam. I glued it down using spray contact adhesive and dabbed on rubber cement, and then peeled off the fabric to leave the foam behind.
With the cement, you want to liberally cover the backing and then let it dry to a tacky surface. Do a little at a time, too much and you will just make a mess of the project. I found 6 inches to a foot to be the perfect size to work on at any one time as you want to firmly hold the foam/fabric to the board, but not so much at the glue soaks it.
When that is done, you have a headliner with a very thin layer of foam. Now you take your fabric, and do the same thing. Take your time and let the glue do the work. Make sure your edges have overlap and do not cut any holes for lights or sunroofs until everything is done. be -very- conservative in cutting those holes, You can always make them bigger to fit stuff, but it is harder to make a hole smaller.
The only thing I would have done differently would be to use a sun-safe product. Even though the headliner looks protected, it will still fade over time if it is not.
Had good results with 3M 08090 Super Trim Adhesive! Did My Escort 11 years ago and it still looks great considering the headliner I replaced was 11 years old!
Usually the foam and fabric are what fail, so make sure you get the backboard cleaned of all this old stuff. I use a light touch with a wire wheel to knock it down to clean. Careful though, you can get a bit impatient and dig some great gouges.
Follow the instructions on the can and don't break stuff taking it apart and you should be fine!
Bruce
I'll be doing this soon on my truck. I figured I'd take the easy route and ordered a new one a couple years ago to replace the original fibreboard one. The new one was a firm plastic with the fabric glued to it. It lasted about 6 months, then the fabric let go of the plastic backing, Crap.
Now I know. Better to do it yourself than buy some aftermarket crap.
I used some nonheadliner fabric from Joanns and 3m Super 90 on my Saturn recently. Not bad, but some spots it was hard to follow the curves since the fabric didn't have much stretch and some parts I pressed it in before the glue got tacky and it soaked through. Came out ok for my first time and acceptable for the Saturn.
Mine, from my FD:
ZOO wrote: I need to do it on my E36 M3. How the heck do you get the headliner out without removing a windshield?
It can be done, when I removed the one from the ti, I think it was only held up by the side trim panels, sun visors, and possibly side weatherstripping. Granted, I didnt care if I destroyed it either.
I have been looking for some plaid fabric to use for the headliner and can't find any. I found quite a few threads on vortex of guys who used sheets since that was the only plaid they could find.
This is an example
I like that. If the headliner ever goes in my car I am going plaid
In reply to Wally:
Note to self, avoid any vehicles with "Plaid" in the interior.....because I don't want whatever mental disorder they have. 
I did the headliner in my old Jetta with this
It was awesome. Folks would get in and it would take them a minute to notice the color and another full minute to process what the color blobs were.
yamaha wrote:ZOO wrote: I need to do it on my E36 M3. How the heck do you get the headliner out without removing a windshield?It can be done, when I removed the one from the ti, I think it was only held up by the side trim panels, sun visors, and possibly side weatherstripping. Granted, I didnt care if I destroyed it either.
the Ti is easier than the sedan and coupe'. you just slide it out the hatch.
it -can- be done on the other E36s, it just takes being careful
@JamesMcD that looks like it came out really well!
Ohhh sheets, that's a really good idea. Probably a lot more workable than the stuff I used too.
DuctTape&Bondo wrote: @JamesMcD that looks like it came out really well! Ohhh sheets, that's a really good idea. Probably a lot more workable than the stuff I used too.
So you think a sheet will be thick enough to come out okay? I was thinking that would not look good but if I am DIY it is worth keeping it cheap.
I got a quote for $275 to do the Rabbit. To me that is way high, at $150 I would have let them do it but I would rather try it since I am going to inherit the Rabbit once I get a new car for SWMBO. So she can only complain for so long.
jonnyd330 wrote:DuctTape&Bondo wrote: @JamesMcD that looks like it came out really well! Ohhh sheets, that's a really good idea. Probably a lot more workable than the stuff I used too. http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm189/1thanh/Scaturn/sroof2_zpsbbb9eaf9.jpg http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm189/1thanh/Scaturn/headliner2_zps60e6d0b3.jpgSo you think a sheet will be thick enough to come out okay? I was thinking that would not look good but if I am DIY it is worth keeping it cheap. I got a quote for $275 to do the Rabbit. To me that is way high, at $150 I would have let them do it but I would rather try it since I am going to inherit the Rabbit once I get a new car for SWMBO. So she can only complain for so long.
Depends on your car, but I'd imagine a queen or larger would be enough. I got 2.5 yards and that was more than enough to do the headliner and the sunroof cover and still had some left over. Not much but that should give you an idea.
The fabric and 2 cans of 3m Super 90 was still under $60 and I bought "pricey" fabric.
You'll need to log in to post.
