anyone used this for headliner/sunroof repair?

[Russianblue]

I have a panoramic sunroof that has zero FUNCTIONAL issues. Works like new. I never use it though and will not, bc I do not want to deal with repairing the sunroof track/plastics/parts.

However, the headliner on the sunroof is completely effed. I've gotten quotes ranging from $2300 to $3500 to repair it.

Here's my question. If I pull the fuse for my sunroof and vow never to use it again, could i get away with pulling the old material off (which is super nasty, being held up with tape/staples) and just 'peel and stick' a piece of this stuff and on the main sunroof panels, tucking it up under the edges etc? I'm not even worried about matching the color. I just do not think i have the patience to pull the full headliner and take the sunroof hardware apart. I can ONLY imagine how many pieces of old BMW plastic I would break.

https://www.amazon.com/Y-LOTUS-Micro...69&sr=8-7&th=1

[andrewwynn]

I've repaired a few headliner by peeling off and using 3M headliner adhesive and put it back on. You can get the felt in any color.

I'd be a little concerned about the self stick vs spray but what you propose is sound and i would def replace the crappy old stuff.

[Homerlovesbeer]

I bought a second headliner and glass sunroof off a parts vehicle. It really doesn't look that bad to do to be honest.

I'm not sure about the actual 2 panels that cover the glass but everything else looks pretty easy.

[workingonit]

solving interior problems my way:

• 1) I always hated sunroofs, so when mine leaked water, I cleared the drains, lubed the mechanism (tested fine), pulled the fuse, sealed the glass with PPF, and called it done. I never used it, so no matter.
  
  
• 2) Though I've never driven my '04 Chevy 2500HD with the windows down, it sits facing the sun without shade, everyday, forever, and the leading edge of the headliner had let go a couple of years back, anyway, so I used Gorilla Tape, then aluminum duct tape to hold it in place. Neither can work in the heat.Last time I used 3M Spray Adhesive (Super 77?) on another car's headliner, I created so many wrinkles, that I tore it out and spray painted the cardboard/composite backer with Krylon (it was on my wife's old '85 chrysler LeBaron Coupe, so it was no big deal).
  
  
• 3) So, this time around, I'll be trying a different method (before I resort to the paint method); I'll be trying these two items from Amazon (after the weather cools, of course):
  
  • a) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B49NYD3C...sin_title&th=1 "60PCS Car Roof Headliner Repair Kit, Auto Roof Snap Rivets Retainer for Interior Ceiling" and
    
    
  • b) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLB591GH...d_asin_title_2 "Car Headliner Adhesive, Upholstery Glue for Cars, High Viscosity, Yellow, Waterproof, Heat Resistant, Automotive Adhesive" brush-on.

It doesn't have to look good, just stay up and not hanging down. The snap rivets will hold the bulk of the fabric's weight screwd"gently" into the backer, and the adhesive will tack up the frayed front edges (from the use of the ineffective tape jobs). why not try something different?

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by workingonit

...It doesn't have to look good, just stay up and not hanging down. The snap rivets will hold the bulk of the fabric's weight screwd"gently" into the backer, and the adhesive will tack up the frayed front edges (from the use of the ineffective tape jobs). Why not try something different?

Temperature outside was under 100F today (but hotter inside the truck), so I tried to use the snap kit and glue that I had bought for this job (see post #4). I had to cut away the ultra-thin and ragged fabric that had fallen down (basically it'd been falling down for years), all the way back to the sunvisor mounts, leaving a large bare strip next to the windshield. Not a big deal...only I will see it.


The repair kit did the job OK, and I used 9 of the 18 snaps, to hold the fabric in place. The fabric was trying to reattach itself to the backer (still somewhat sticky after 21 years), but it needed a little help. Unfortunately, when i tried daubing on a little of the headliner glue, I got it on my arms and none under the fabric. My bad arms (the reason why I installed a wheel spinner on my X5) made it impossible to apply the glue.

So, I ordered a small can of 3M Super 77 spray adhesive from Amazon, and will use it to stick the fabric edge in position (I'll use a foam brush to work it in; it dries clear). The finished product has to look better than the fallen headliner.

I'll use the remainder of the adhesive (which one, I don't know) to tack the loosening fabric on the X5's sunroof sliding cover back in place, and to seal the edges of the A-pillar covers, too.

[rwilson]

google "repair headliner with heatgun"

I've not tried it yet, but it may be worth a review

Rich

[amebb]

Very easy to do and will not take that long either.
There are so many instructions on youtube that you can follow.


Good luck

[Factory6speed]

From what I remember, the headliner cards don't come out easy. I had the cassette out for disassembly, and sent them out to a local guy to cover in new fabric, along with the headliner. $400 for nice roof fabric. I repaired the cassette, reinstalled it without the headliner, to test for operation / leaks. Then when I got the cards back I had to take it out again, take the glass out and it took me a whole afternoon to get the headliner cards in and working. I don't know if you could do much without pulling the cassette, covering the edges won't be easy in place.

[Henn28]

Get some more quotes I think. I took mine to an upholstery shop and had them do the headliner and pillars (I changed my liner and pillars over to black). They do a zillion a week, have seen it all, and had it done in a day. Turned out much, much better than anything I could have done. They also re-secured the moulded liner to the roof of the car in a various places where clips had failed over the years.

It wasn’t very expensive, if I recall and was one of the better investments I made in my e53. No where near $3500…maybe 700 or 800, if I recall?

As a bonus I was able to run RCA cables over the top of the car for a sound system upgrade, and check the sunroof drains after they had pulled the liner moulding and pillar covers.

[Russianblue]

If i were confident removing the sunroof cassette I would pull out everything but every time i look at one of those sunroof videos or walk-thrus, I get lost pretty quickly.