Hakk403

I've been thinking about replacing the ugly *** grey headliner in my car for a couple years, and the shop that I went to gave me a quote of $800 for suede, and labour has increased big time since then. So I've been thinking about getting a nice big sheet of suede and doing it myself over a weekend, but I have no idea where to start, I have a sunroof as well.

Any idea how to take the headliner out of the car? I'm not sure what is under it so I'm wondering if I can just staple the suede on like you would a chair, or what I need to do...

I'd really like to do this myself since I'm back in school and no longer have the money to drop stupid amounts of money into my car.

berti_00

yeah shoot 800 for a headliner thats quiet a bit man... i was watching a show on extic cars and shiit and they took everything off to bear metal and did it like you are saying it... i dono about doing it your self... you might run into shiitty problems and break somehing lol... but i know what you mean about being in school and stuff... i would love to have my inteior done too but not anytime soon lol

Hakk403

Yeah, that quote was 3 or 4 years ago, and we've had a boom up here and labour costs have skyrocketed, I don't even want to know what they would charge now.

I can't imagine it being too difficult, but I have no idea where to start.

I'm thinking about getting it done in a deep red, or black. If I do red I might redo my seats as well, or just get red stitching done to them, and paint the wood or carbon fibre them.

I also want to do something with the gauges to update their look, and then the interior will be fine.

berti_00

i sort of hvae the same idea too... but later, do my seats and such

i am about to buy some carbon fiber sheets and working with it around engine interior and such
am always up for something lol

Bigpete123

I don't know about sedan headliners, but suede isn't a stretchy material so the curves on my headliner would make it very difficult to do a good job without doing some sewing.

You might be able to find a synthetic suede that has some elasticity to it. That would be the ticket.

There's more to it than stapling, also. You will need to use some kind of adhesive (contact cement or something that won't seep through or damage the fabric) to stick it on so it doesn't sag in the middle/etc. Don't forget the complications for sunroof and stuff as well. I don't think this would be a one weekend job if you've never done it before. Definitely doable, but make sure to research it carefully first.

CDP

This is something I'd like to tackle later down the line as well.

I want to do the headliner, the A,B & C Pillars and finally the sun visors. Hopefully it shouldn't be too expensive. I want to wrap it in Alcantara.

ZorroAMG

Alcantara.....I think it's thinner and easier to work with...people use that, they don't use suede...cowhide is too thick.

Hakk403

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll go with Alcantara for sure. I've kept the sunroof in mind, I'll be sure to do it, I don't mind a little hard work, I just need to figure out how to get the headliner off in the first place.

BENZITCH

This is for an S class coupe, but it will give you some ideas on how it is done.
I have seen the results, and they were outstanding.

Bruce

http://home.comcast.net/~chwilka/dro...ner_repair.htm

Bigpete123

Thanks for posting that link. All that tells me is that I don't ever want to do that project for my car!!! lol

Hakk, major props to you if you do this. It would be awesome if you'd post up step-by-step pics and instructions if you do it...

CDP

+1

Hakk403

Thanks for the link Benzitch!

I think I will give it a go. I'm pretty busy right now, but both my Saturday courses end on the 15th I believe, the the weekend after I'll probably try to dismantle everything.

BENZITCH

Just take your time. It all comes apart. I was with this guy in Chicago when I saw him do it for the second time on a friend of ours coupe.
Best of luck

YNVDIZW124

Don't use alcantara....ultrasuede is good enough....man these boards make me feel like i should re do my interior and post some info on how to do it....

By the way the headliner is not that hard. You just use the original one as a template and have someone with a juki machine stitch everything up by copying the original.

CaliE320

$800 Is way too much.... Two tone suede and leather interior. Sunroof-liner,door panels A, B, & C pillars smooth as silk.Dash next.......It's all about skill do it yourself...

~Cali

YNVDIZW124

Yeah i can buy a whole interior for my benz for half that....and ultrasuede is like 20 bucks a yard...

CaliE320

Hakk - it's pretty easy, all it takes is alot of patience.

Tips

1) Take several pics of interior before dismantling
2) Take pics of dismantled parts and label accordingly
3) Place all screws for the separate interior parts in SEPARATE ziplocks and label each bag
4) Buy 2x extra yards of material then you expect to use. You WILL screw up a few pieces before getting this down.
5) Supplies that helped me sharp razors, Xacto, tons of 3m adhesive spray, metal straight edge for slicing materials clean and straight, 20 or so binder clips to hold materials in place while glue sets, liquid cement for those stubborn edges that won't stay down, clean paint roller to roll out air bubbles, good air mask to block the glue fumes.
6) Let glue dry a bit and get tacky before laying down material or the glue will seep through the suede.
7) Do ONE piece at a time and be patient don't fiddle with it till the glue sets over night. USE the binder clips !!!
8) Read all the above again and don't miss a step or you'll end up with some sort of issue..


* YNDV -haven't seen you in a while bro, how are things going with the W124??
Good Luck

~Cali

YNVDIZW124

What's sup cali....I'm getting back into modding my 300e...I got some new wheels and some other parts i'm going to be installing. Still looking for those side skirts but i may even make some. On the interior I'm doing ultrasuede and some other little mods here and there. I'm trying to put together another black interior with the bucket type of seats from the newer e320.

STLe320

Where is a good place to get Ultrasuede for a reasonable price?

CaliE320

YNDV - post some pics bro I can't wait to see it. Side skirts are all over Flea Bay lately I saw a set of Brabus and Lorinser skirts. Are you going to the meet this Sat? I'm tearing down my baby and re-doing the exterior and tackling the engine compartment. To bad you're in the LBC if you were closer you and I could help out on modding each other's rides.

* Ultrasuede look on Fleabay they always dump tons of yardage on there or where I got mine was WorldUpholstery;I'm not sure if they're the cheapest.Again buy 2x more yards then you actually need, you WILL screw up on the first few panels.

~Cali

vixapphire

you win the interior of a lifetime award for best in show. in a walk. jeez that looks nice!

ZorroAMG

LOL...his interior is BEAUTIFUL, but best ever??

All the CF is custom, right Cali?

Shake

Hi its me alec did it on e46fanatics and it's pretty inspirational. I don't think it tell you exactly how to do it but these threads are nice to look at.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=520842

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=531857

YNVDIZW124

Cali - I actually bid on those but i didn't like the brabus ones from CEC. The lorinser skirts where to expensive for the shape they where in. I'm trying to do low budget mods and make it look like a million bucks with my skills lol.

I'll post pics of my mods in the other thread. I'm just thinking of new ideas i can come out with. If you need help with your ride i'm free on sundays. I drive from long beach to lancaster sometimes, im sure your not that far lol....

GORBETTTEAM

very nice work