Better than a saggy headlining. Possibly.
Discussion
This would probably work on other cars but the car featured is a '98 SLK. The headlining and backing come out as one. A word of warning, the fibreboard backing is a bit delicate and care is required.
Trim round the edge of the vinyl carefully with a Stanley knife. Scrub off foam remnants with a dry nail brush.
The more fresh blades you use, the neater it will be. Or so I found out.
Speak to your local auto paint shop. Take the old headlining with you for them to match. Two coats of primer, two of top coat.
Stick back any edges that have come adrift. Refit headlining. Job done.
Replacements are unavailable, this bodge was £20 on paint. Not perfect by any means but better than driving round with the headlining draped over your head.
Off topic - the car was registered new in UK in early December 1998. This was under the headlining.
It's the latest date on any original component I've found on the car.
Trim round the edge of the vinyl carefully with a Stanley knife. Scrub off foam remnants with a dry nail brush.
The more fresh blades you use, the neater it will be. Or so I found out.
Speak to your local auto paint shop. Take the old headlining with you for them to match. Two coats of primer, two of top coat.
Stick back any edges that have come adrift. Refit headlining. Job done.
Replacements are unavailable, this bodge was £20 on paint. Not perfect by any means but better than driving round with the headlining draped over your head.
Off topic - the car was registered new in UK in early December 1998. This was under the headlining.
It's the latest date on any original component I've found on the car.
Edited by DickyC on Sunday 17th October 07:46
Venturist said:
Good work but, I’m curious why you wouldn’t re-cover it with some foam backed fabric instead of paint? Similar amount of work and cost.
Had the shape been shallower i may have tried but - certainly on the early SLK - it is sufficiently deep for me to doubt my ability to recover it without wrinkles. The curves are such that I don't think thixotropic glue would hold the lining in place while it cured. So you would, in my opinion, need to use right-first-time contact adhesive and that's where i had to be realistic about my abilities. You can see the original vinyl was stretched in manufacture as it shrinks back from the edges when it comes adrift and I did wonder, briefly, about making a buck in the upturned headlining with polyurethane foam and stretching new vinyl over it ready to glue in place. Painting seemed the better work-to-agro solution.As I said, the fix hasn't prevented a better solution later and wasn't expensive. Some vendors are asking £150 for secondhand headlinings on eBay. Cheaper ones are available and come ready-drooped.
Classic Range Rovers - and other Land Rovers - do the same.
It's the foam deteriorating that's the issue and if you want to DIY it's vital ALL this is removed.
I recovered mine a few years ago using a kit from Martrim.
In the kit is aerosol high temperature resistant adhesive.
It's an instant grab and there is NO room for adjustment, once it touches it's stuck.
Best done with a helper so as they hold the lining up you can smooth it down a bit at a time.
www.martrim.co.uk
I've seen a couple of write-ups of Land Rovers where people have painted instead and like yours the results have been good.
It's the foam deteriorating that's the issue and if you want to DIY it's vital ALL this is removed.
I recovered mine a few years ago using a kit from Martrim.
In the kit is aerosol high temperature resistant adhesive.
It's an instant grab and there is NO room for adjustment, once it touches it's stuck.
Best done with a helper so as they hold the lining up you can smooth it down a bit at a time.
www.martrim.co.uk
I've seen a couple of write-ups of Land Rovers where people have painted instead and like yours the results have been good.
Edited by paintman on Sunday 17th October 23:35
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