Jakez

I have a 2003 E55 with a suede / alcantara headliner and it began sagging a year or so ago. It progressively got worse until it kind of just got to its current state like 6 months ago, probably because the door handles, sunroof framing, etc that holds it keeps the rest of it from sagging any further.

A good headliner shop quoted me $2,000+ to replace it. Which seemed outrageous but he told me it is because the material is not cheap.

Haven't gotten around to asking him if he could just fix it instead of replacing but I am hoping there is a way he or I could repair it? Perhaps a good adhesive sprayer and rollers and/or other tools and some TLC?

I don't think the material has stretched much if at all from the sagging, and I've also read online that this type of material does not like to stretch anyhow which is good news..

Yacht Master

It is the foam backing that breaks down and allows the Alcantara to sag.
I did my W210 a few years back and did a DIY if you are interested I'll find the link.

Edit,
Here this will give you an idea of what is involved.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...attle-fix.html

Jakez

I found your DIY thread on Google earlier, I think it was the one where you removed the entire roof and reupolstered it with lots of pics? Definitely a great write up but I want to see if there's maybe an easier fix without removing everything before I try tackling that size of a job?

How is your headliner holding up by the way?

Yacht Master

It is bullet proof (no foam backing) but it was a lot of work and took a lot of time.

stockC43

Where do you live? Is it hot? I've never seen that happen around Chicago. At least not in a MB. I've had plenty of gm cars that have done that though.

On a side note, looking at your sig this was my old 240 I sold. Ricy but it was fun

55kAMG

my e55 started this about 2 months ago. i am very surprised no one has a DIY on an e55 for this... mine is not as bad as yours. i know 3m adhesive spray would work... but idk about the removal of the headliner...

Jakez

Nothing ricy there. Looks beautiful to me. You obviously put a lot of time/effort into that car based on that pic alone.

I live in Orlando FL and have a pool table in the garage that takes up the space (priorities right? lol) so I park in the driveway and the sun beats down on the car every morning and day. Which I figure is the cause, the sun heating up the roof and melting the factory adhesive and/or foam that holds the headliner on..

I'm hoping I could spray the adhesive via the dome light entry since the headliner has sagged past it. Just trying to get some tips maybe on what the best method of doing that would be and try my best to avoid the sloppiness that would come with doing it that way. The center dome light fixture, as well as the far rear of the headliner curve touching the rear window (pic #2) also hangs a bit so I'm guessing they also rely at least to a certain extent on the foam backing..

2000UZJ

Mine is sagging. I went to a fabric store and purchased the smallest staples I could find and did a temp fix. It's not perfect, but it looks better than a falling headliner. Most people don't even notice it's stapled. I can post pictures later today if you'd like. I have no time or interest in redoing my headliner now. When winter comes around and she is in the garage I do plan on converting the gray headliner to a nice black headliner. I'll have a DIY up around Dec.