Touring headlining... options for replacement???

[miniblob]

Going to need something doing to my headlining soon - now sagging quite a bit in the back of the touring (electric sunroof model).

It does have some stains and I suspect some water has got in somewhere towards the back over the winter - looks a little too much to be condensation, to my untrained eye at least!!!

Firstly, I obviously need to try and find any leaks - any ideas on that welcomed!!!
How does the sunroof drain??? To the rear anywhere???

Once I'm confident it's all dry - what are my options for replacement???
Has anyone had this done???
Can you recommend anyone??? Rough prices???

Ideally, I will want someone else to do the bulk of this, as I really don't have the time and if I'm paying out, I want a black headlining to go in!

All suggestions/help will be appreciated!!!

[Brianmoooore]

The whole fibreglass shell for the lining comes out easily enough through the rear hatch, once you've released it from the door rubbers, sun visors, sunroof, etc. (two screws hidden under the sunroof gurney flap).
Once it's out you'll be able to examine the sunroof tray and pipes (one at each corner), and be able to clean the lining shell right off, before getting it re trimmed with foam and a fabric of your choice. It needs to be reasonably 'stretchy' to fit neatly into the sunroof aperture.

[miniblob]

So no need to remove any glass like in the wiki???
Car needs to remain on the road & usable while this is done!!!

Can see this coming out and never going back in with me tbh - anyone had this done somewhere they can recommend???
South london would be ideal!!!

[pacerpete]

You do not want to be paying somebody to do this ! it is a VERY TEDIOUS TIME CONSUMING job

[dirtee-herbert]

I'm doing mine at the moment. Stripped it out of the touring in about an hour and a half and then took my time on Saturday stripping the dirty white stained fabric off and scraping off the foam and gluing on my new material of choice.
No glass needs to come out. The hardest part is getting the sunroof in bits. Only because there are a lot of screws and the liner on the sunroof is a pain to remove.

[Brianmoooore]

So no need to remove any glass like in the wiki?

Glass removal only applies to saloon models. BMW radically improved the roof liner design when they perfected the E30 range with the introduction of the touring.

[andrew_baran]

If it's been leaking, it'll be pretty obvious where from when you get the headlining board out. my sunroof tray has very obvious points where it is rotten, but thankfully not leaking yet...

[Sanchez]

Im in Caterham for a week next week and could help you get it out on the 17th. Im sure my wife will spare me a hour or 2.

[miniblob]

Pete - time consuming is exactly why I will prob need to pay someone to do/finish this job!!! Time is something I am very short on at the moment!!!

Dirtee-herbert - good to hear I could possibly have it all out in a couple of hours, if I can find an afternoon for it!!!

As for leaks - there's a small watermark, so I'm guessing (hoping) it's nothing much - just the odd drip every now and again by the looks of it!!!

Sanchez - appreciate the offer mate, but I'll let you enjoy your time down here!!! 17th looks a very unlikely day too!!!


Biggest problem other than time, Is that I don't really have anywhere to store/work on this!!!

How does re-fitting go, compared to removal??? Reasonably simple couple of hours again???

[capri_rob]

Pete is spot on as usual.

To do this properly takes a lot of time and patience

If you're re-doing it in black remember you also need to re-do the sunroof liner

The trickest bit is fitting the 2 clips the fit into the rear part of the roof
Pretty much the whole panel has to be supported and lifted into place and slid forward in one movement to engage the clips - virtually impossible to do on your own
Once the rearmost clips are engaged secure the fixings around the sunroof aperture and then it will stay in place as you work your way round.

It took me most of a Sunday to get mine back in - not a job I would want to do again in a hurry.

[Cloggy Saint]

Make sure whatever fabric you use to re-cover is UV resistant. The front edge of mine has turned light brown from the sun and needs doing again. Luckily there's no sunroof to contend with