Headliner replacement opinions

[mark99]

What experiences have you had with headliner replacement?

My car is a 72 with manual sunroof

Should I get a pre-made one or the raw material and have it done locally?
La Jolla advertise that they have ‘the best match’ for raw material
Headliner Express has pre-made and I have noted that people are happy with the product

How original looking is the Headliner Express?

What is the A pillar covered with?

My car has the ‘fold up and store’ shoulder belts and I am thinking of switching to the one piece that mounts to the ceiling bolt
How will this affect the headliner?

Other sources or opinions?

Thanks, Mark

 

[bimbill]

PM sent

 

[bwalvoord]

I have a 69 w/ manual sunroof and had a local shop here in Greenville install the material I purchased in bulk from La Jolla. I'll try and take some pictures.

If you're interested, I also have a headliner I purchased from Murray Fowler but I believe it's for an electric sunroof and not the manual.

 

[mark99]

Hi thanks,
I would be interested in photos, mine is a manual
Is there a difference in appearance, texture, color, from the La Jolla and Murray Fowler?

 

[nathanegger]

Im interested in that headliner. With sunroof if complete. Im tackling sunroof. Thx

 

[bwalvoord]

Here are a few pictures of the headliner I bought from Murray. It is two pieces, presumable one for the front portion where the windshield goes. It has the slots where the bows slide in for hanging.

From what I can tell there is no "diamond" hole pattern. It's a fairly uniform, almost linen like texture to it. Unfortunately by the time I got around to installing it, Murray was too sick to be bothered and I took the advice of my trim guy and bought material from La Jolla. I suppose I've hung on to it mainly as a souvenir of Murray and am happy to continue to do that if we can't determine whether it's like original or not.

I did find a picture I took of my headliner installed. It's also attached.

 

[Sven]

Mark,

La Jolla sells the material. Their piece is just barely large enough to fit. It has to be glued to a thin layer of foam which in turn is glued to a formed wood ceiling board. There is no material available that matches the original, but his stuff is close enough.

Both the front and rear windows need to come out. There are some interior trim pieces along the sides that also come out. I don't recall if you have to remove the door gasket or not. Also the molded headliner piece above the sun visors, in front of the sunroof, needs to come out.

The pillars have a black vinyl material that covers a molded foam pad. They go in before the headliner. I may have some of that material.

There are a few pictures on my website:

http://www.larsenarchitect.com/BMW/Sections/Headliner/HeadlinerFrameset.html

To attach the seat belt and rear ceiling handles simply involves carefully punching a hole in the fabric in the correct place.

I would say this is one of the more difficult coupe tasks. With patience and lots of spring clamps it can be done.

 

[mark99]

headliner

Hi Sven
I think you sent me a blank PM, I tried to replay, but it says you message folder is full
Mark