Reattaching alcantara headlining

[greeny12]

Hi all,

So glad to have the forum back!

Anyways, here's a question - my alcantara headlining is coming away from the roof on the passenger's side, so it droops down a bit now. Driver's side is still OK and my wife is short(!), so it's not a crisis, but it looks cr@p and untidy, and I'd like to fix it. Is this possible for a non-professional (i.e. me) to somehow get in there and re-glue it? Or if (as I suspect) that's not advisable, does it require a detailer kind of person, or a body shop, or what?

Ta!

 

[jluis]

Don't know about the maser but on other cars it's difficult to remove the headliner without breaking it.
It's usually made of a fiber glass piece with some foam glued to it and the tissue glued to the foam.

Usually when they start ungluing the foam also starts to tear apart.

My advice is to have a professional do it as they will scrape out the foam and put a new one.

 

[CatmanV2]

Don't know about the maser but on other cars it's difficult to remove the headliner without breaking it.
It's usually made of a fiber glass piece with some foam glued to it and the tissue glued to the foam.

Usually when they start ungluing the foam also starts to tear apart.

My advice is to have a professional do it as they will scrape out the foam and put a new one.

I'd go this route as well. Once the foam gives up, the only solution is to replace it all

C

 

[safrane]

There are a couple of leather headliners on e-bay - nice upgrade if they match your car.

 

[greeny12]

Don't know about the maser but on other cars it's difficult to remove the headliner without breaking it.
It's usually made of a fiber glass piece with some foam glued to it and the tissue glued to the foam.

Usually when they start ungluing the foam also starts to tear apart.

My advice is to have a professional do it as they will scrape out the foam and put a new one.

OK - but what sort of professional? I've never been in this situation before and I have no idea who does this sort of stuff!

Don't want to go for leather 'upgrade' - just don't like it.

 

[StuartW]

You should go to a professional automotive trimmer / upholsterer, there's plenty of them still around

 

[jluis]

A good upholster.
Make sure you get a good one, I had this problem in an old car and the idiot broke the fiber headliner when taking it out.
To be fair, it had a sunroof and that makes it harder to remove.

 

[Felonious Crud]

OK - but what sort of professional? I've never been in this situation before and I have no idea who does this sort of stuff!

Don't want to go for leather 'upgrade' - just don't like it.

Where are you based, greeny? There are one or two round my way I could direct you towards...

 

[greeny12]

Where are you based, greeny? There are one or two round my way I could direct you towards...

I'm in Sussex, close to Brighton. Now I know what I'm looking for I will do some investigations, but will bear you in mind should the need arise to travel further afield!

Thanks!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Dub Customs in Basildon seem very competent if you don't mind travelling over the river and out to the badlands of Essex. Don't be put off by the more "adventurous" work they do on posers' cars.

 

[greeny12]

Well well, now I know what I'm looking for it appears I'm spoilt for choice locally!

There's The Trimming Centre in Lewes, CA Upton & Son in St Leonard's, CW Trimming in Henfield, and Mark Thomas Trimming in Lancing. All within 50 miles of me.

Anybody happen to have experience of any of these fine establishments??

 

[rockits]

Yup, I used some guys in/nr Lewes that my brother recommended to do the acrylic glass replacement in an SL I bought recently. Top guys & a top job. They do lots of old stuff and were just doing a full refit on an old E type when I picked the SL up. I will dig out their name & contact details.

 

[rockits]

My brother is in the car trade & has been In Brighton a while now. He knows lots of good & bad guys to use or not.

 

[greeny12]

That would be fab - thanks rockits!

 

[rockits]

I used the guys at Car Trim. Tel: 01444 411228. Address: Unit 1, Dinnages Business Park, 22 Wivelsfield Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 4EG. Don't think they are Vat registered so no vat to pay if not going through a business which is good.

 

[greeny12]

Love this forum...