Where to source a headliner poll

[gwb72tii]

Like most things on my 535is from Mesa, AZ, the headliner was completely dried out from the constant heat. I tried to remove it carefully but it would rip anytime I pulled on it, so it came out in pieces. Plus it was discolored.
I’ve researched headliners here and anywhere I could find a web post, but most responses to my searches were old.

So a question for all you that have done a headliner yourself:
Where did you purchase your headliner, and what is your opinion? Good quality, fitment, would you buy the same one again?

[jdb]

World upholstery is who I bought from for 2 E21's and a E28.
Match to factory pattern was pretty good. Quality was also up there; they will send you samples.

Worked for me,

Jeff

[HayekFan]

After doing 3 headliners what were your main lessons learned?

My headliner is actually pretty good but I could see myself replacing it one of these days to correct that funky area on the C-pillars.

[jdb]

Glass out
Go slow and easy
Use lots of squeeze clamps as you pull headliner into place and get fitment right, clamp it to the pinch weld
When you trim the headliner do not use a razor blade and cut the headliner against the painted surface, this will cause water ingress under paint = rust.

Jeff

[HayekFan]

Got it -- thanks. Did you use any adhesive or just rely on the clamping action of the rubber window gaskets and door seals to attach the headliner around the openings? When my windows were out a few years ago during a repaint, I tried to tell how the headliner was attached at the factory. My impression is they used very little adhesive and mostly relied on the gaskets. They also used some little metal clips here and there, presumably to tack it in place. About the only area where it looked like they used adhesive was along the top edge of the rear window opening.

[vinceg101]

Got it -- thanks. Did you use any adhesive or just rely on the clamping action of the rubber window gaskets and door seals to attach the headliner around the openings? When my windows were out a few years ago during a repaint, I tried to tell how the headliner was attached at the factory. My impression is they used very little adhesive and mostly relied on the gaskets. They also used some little metal clips here and there, presumably to tack it in place. About the only area where it looked like they used adhesive was along the top edge of the rear window opening.

You're mostly correct: in looking at the pictures of when I removed mine, that's definitely the case at the doors and through the main middle of the cabin.
It did look like they used a dab here and there along the way just to hold it in place before the gaskets go in (how else are you going to hold it up while you're installing the whole thing?)

The two noticeable places where adhesive was used were the rear window (as you mentioned) and up along the top of the sunroof opening. Here the sunroof tracks largely secure it down but you need to hold them in place before that; not to mention it is the only way to get tension on it.

I didn't install mine nor witness it the installation, but I don't see anything inherently wrong with gluing the edges as you go as long as you don't overdo it. Binder clips are your friend in this. But I could be wrong.

[HayekFan]

Yep, that pretty much squares with what I saw. I didn't get a chance to see around the sunroof opening but it makes sense that they might've used some adhesive there. I guess the most interesting thing to me was the tiny metal clips they used. They have an aggressive bite but are small enough that they can remain under the gaskets and not cause a hump. There were about a half dozen of them along the upper edge of the rear window, probably/guessing to tack the fabric in place while the adhesive dried. I don't think I've seen them mentioned before but they have a BMW part number so they're a thing.

[vinceg101]

Yep, that pretty much squares with what I saw. I didn't get a chance to see around the sunroof opening but it makes sense that they might've used some adhesive there. I guess the most interesting thing to me was the tiny metal clips they used. They have an aggressive bite but are small enough that they can remain under the gaskets and not cause a hump. There were about a half dozen of them along the upper edge of the rear window, probably/guessing to tack the fabric in place while the adhesive dried. I don't think I've seen them mentioned before but they have a BMW part number so they're a thing.

Yeah I didn't run into any of them on my removal, was your headliner original and what year is yours?
Mine is a EU with factory moonroof which means it got the older foam backed fabric headliner. It was an assembly of headliner, thin foam (which disintegrates after 35 years), and a muslin/cotton backing liner. So they had to use some kind of glue to tack it place. The vinyl headliner I'm sure behaves differently.

[HayekFan]

This is a US market 1986 535i with sunroof and vinyl headliner, which as far as I know is original. The headliner actually is in great shape except for the characteristic stain that these cars get on the C-pillars.

[Mike W.]

This is a US market 1986 535i with sunroof and vinyl headliner, which as far as I know is original. The headliner actually is in great shape except for the characteristic stain that these cars get on the C-pillars.

I'm unsure on the details, but I seem to recall some posts over the years about people "painting" them, claiming good results. Paint I'm guessing was vinyl coat or similar, ever the skeptic myself I'm doubtful, but might be worth a search. Replacing a headliner would be a major PITA.

[HayekFan]

Yep, I'm one of the people who painted over my C-pillar stains with some initial success and in fact posted a thread about it at the time. I used the Leatherique headliner dye. I started with their off-the-rack E28 headliner color which came close to matching but was a little off maybe because of lot variation in the fabric or something along those lines.

So I sent Leatherique a swatch of my headliner fabric (snipped from the excess hidden by the back seat) and they sent me a bottle of dye with an exact color match. And indeed the color was really spot on. It would have been a near invisible repair except that I didn't follow their directions. I used one of those cheap foam brushes which they specifically warn against using. As a result I over applied it causing a noticeable funkiness in the surface finish. It sort of filled the weave in the fabric in a bad way. You don't notice it when you're not looking for it -- it doesn't grab your attention like the original stains did -- but once you've seen it you can't unsee it.

So I'm kicking myself because I know it would have looked great if I had just applied it correctly. Whenever my eyes happen to land on my C-pillars, the thought arises that I ought to replace my headliner. But of course then I think "boy that would sure be a PITA" and don't do it...

[vinceg101]

To add to the "Total PITA" aspect: you have to pull the sunroof out also since you need to lap the headliner up and through the roof opening. The only way do that is removing the whole cassette and tracks.
This is fraught with peril since you need to have experience removing and especially installing them to do it right. That's not accounting for breaking what is now becoming irreplaceable parts.

If I never have to remove & re-install another BMW E28 moonroof, it will be too soon.

[HayekFan]

Right, that's exactly what stops me. I get a wheezing, sardonic laugh from "fraught with peril" but I know the danger is real and hesitate...

[DJM1986-5]

We "painted" actually professionally sprayed a headliner in place several years ago using color -matched vinyl paint (about $100 a pint if I recall). Removed the rear seats and rear deck panel, sunroof and front seats. Pulled down the b pillar trim and mouse fur, sunroof panel etc and taped any exposed areas and taped plastic from top to bottom basically creating a spray booth inside the car. The results were amazing though. Having a professional do also was extremely helpful. Made it look easy.

[gwb72tii]

My thread has been hijacked! Back to the op's question:

Has anyone on this board ever bought a headliner? Where and what was the quality?