Alcantara headliner...
 

So my headliner has started to sag and I am thinking of replacing it with alcantara. I did a little digging around on the net and to me it looks like the best solution. Alcantara is more resistant to uv Rays (so shouldn't fade over time) and is supposed to be easier to clean.

Today I called a local guy that does headliners to get an idea of price and it sounds like it won't be real expensive (but he was talking of just using suede, he hadn't heard of alcantara). My thought is I could buy the material myself if needed and then have him install it.
Any thoughts appreciated

Anyway it will be a few weeks as I am waiting on the dealer to finish getting the suspension working correctly...

Someone on the board did a DYI write up of it if you wanted to attempt it yourself.

I did the same - out here in the UAE the glue/ foam for the original sliding roof panel fabric just turned to dust, so I had the guys in the auto upholstery shop re-cover the panels in natural alcantara colour - getting the panels back in was a bit of a b!tch though!
Hasn't bubbled or dropped anywhere yet (*knocking on wood*), three years to the good with them up to now.

Just make sure whatever you use is UV resistant. I redid my reshelf in the E30 and it faded to gray, just like the original fabric did.

I guarantee your guy is using alcantara but calling it suede.

No one in the industry unless maybe Maybach uses real suede.

Alcantara is a brand name material, not a generic propduct, so "Real" Toray Alcantara is pretty expensive and harder to source than a typical Ultrasuede, or Microsuede, which is what most upholstery shops use. Additionally, there are different model lines of Alcantara, some thicker, thinner, nappier, and flexing/stretchable for headliners. A standard upholstery grade Alcantara won't stretch around the outside or inside contours of a headliner.

Genuine Alcantara will yield an OEM quality headliner that won't sunfade as badly as Ultra or Microsuede. When I had a quote done for my M3, the cost for Genuine Alcantara was 2200, versus only $800 for Ultrasuede. I'd suspect an X5 job to be more costly than that due to the material yardage required.

I got the X back from the dealer yesterday and it looks like the suspension issues are finally worked out (new airbags, alternator and compressor all by warranty luckily). So today I took it to a local guy that does headliners. He was a little hesitant because of the panoramic sunroof but it sounds like he will take on the job. He said to do the headliner, sunroof, pillars and visors it would take 6 yards of material but he was still figuring out the total price. Said he would let me know early next week. I'm hoping to be around $1500 but we will see. I will update this once I know

Ok so the material has been ordered. Total cost of this job is up to about $2,000 (that includes 6 yards of material and installation). Its scheduled for the 27th:wow:

Jesus Mary and Joseph thats expensive as hell. What are you doing with the plastic pulls and other pieces that won't be black once the pillars and headliner is wrapped?

Im actually doing the headliner in Anthracite (dark gray). Once I get the material I will post some pictures. It should all match up pretty well

2k? For what? I'm not a professional, but I have done headliners that came out as nice as OE, although not with alcantara. This better be some diamond stitched baby seal fur for 2k.

Just the material is $120 per yard so yes it gets expensive fast. Im doing the headliner, the pano sunroof ($$$), the visors and the A, B, and C pillars. I just hope it comes out looking great and holds up for a long time.

At $120 a yard that is lol.

I did a headliner on a VW about 8 years ago and I used $10/yard black stretch suede and it came out great. Matter of fact they still sell it lol!

Moleskin Suede Black Polyester Fabric - Fashion Fabric

I guess it is going to look like a brand new vehicle when its done. For that price, I would expect nothing less than absolute perfection in every aspect.

RB the Moleskin above has "3% spandex"....lol stretch it does no doubt

is that good or bad?

I told you real Alcantara would be expensive... There's no material on the market that comes as close to the quality. It'll be nice though.

3% isn't that bad, sure would be easy to apply. I attempted a material with no stretch once, and while it came out great, took a lot of patience and care to not get wrinkles.

Dropped it off. They are thinking it will take about a week:thumbup:

94csi how did the alcantara headliner work out? Can you provide some pictures?

Yes pics please!