Best way to fix a sunken headliner??

[andersofsydney]

Hey Guys,

I've had my 3 door 1.8 CL for a few years now and am still in love, even though she's now in need of some cosmetic love!

Recently my headliner has started to sag down (just the grey lining, not the whole foam insert). It started off in a small section but has quickly spread to the whole lining, hanging down like aladin's cave across the whole interior of the roof!

I'm keen to fix this myself, but i'm not sure if i'm biting off more than I can chew? Do i need to replace the foam piece as well (it's also quite degraded and crumbling)?? Are replacement headliners hard to come by? Is it something that a professional detailer/smash repairs would be better at doing?

Thanks in advance! I'm sure I'm not the first Mk3 driver with this problem!

Anders (andersofsydney)

[rayray086]

It's a very common problem mate. I've written a DIY over on the other forum, but here's the link - http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f22/diy-headlining-fabric-replacement-pic-intensive-31256.html

[schoona]

If you can find a spare one, do it on that one first, but then go nuts like Rays. It looks awesome!

[manol]

Buy a Golf R. It's the solution to life's problems, everyone is doing it man! Everyone will like you if you buy a Golf R! Don't you want people to like you?

[DeanCorp]

Buy a Golf R. It's the solution to life's problems, everyone is doing it man! Everyone will like you if you buy a Golf R! Don't you want people to like you?

That's actually incorrect. All you need nowadays is DRL's and everyone will like you! Cheaper alternative than buying a Golf R IMO.

[DubSteve]

That's actually incorrect. All you need nowadays is DRL's and everyone will like you! Cheaper alternative than buying a Golf R IMO.

People dont know you unless you own a mk5 or mk6.

[andersofsydney]

Thanks Ray - That's an awesome post and a full on job you did on your headliner!!.

Just one little question. Did you have to remove foam from your headliner or was it ok to use as is? I presume removing the old foam from the head board would be a pretty big job - how does it affect the acoustics and overall squeekiness of the car??

Thanks again, look forward to getting around to doing this!

Anders (andersofsydney)

[rayray086]

People dont know you unless you own a mk5 or mk6.

Think I need to get one aye, should I make another thread about it?


Thanks Ray - That's an awesome post and a full on job you did on your headliner!!.

Just one little question. Did you have to remove foam from your headliner or was it ok to use as is? I presume removing the old foam from the head board would be a pretty big job - how does it affect the acoustics and overall squeekiness of the car??

Thanks again, look forward to getting around to doing this!

Anders (andersofsydney)

It's not really that much foam in there to begin with - by the time you rip the old headliner off, patches of it are taken off already. We just used some 80 grit sandpaper and went at it, took off the old foam/glue pretty easily then brushed it all off so the new glue has a good clean area to cling onto.

I tried to put on additional foam on my own headliner and it failed horribly - it ended up too heavy for the headliner and started sagging again. Just lay the new headliner and you'll be sweet. Make sure not to peel the cardboard overlay, but instead to just score off the old foam/glue that is still stuck on it.

[BenRichesIII]

I had the same problem and replaced mine with quiet a thick furry 'dalmatian'. the foam underlay was pretty bad but it just pulled off fairly easy.

i originally used spray adhesive, but it didn't work so well. my second attempt i used a contact past and painted it on. works great. just have to be careful not to let the glue seep through.

i didn't do the pillars though, however i might paint them and the handles black after seeing that other guy do it.

[73landau]

I did the headlining in my old Daimler. I bought the material from the upholsterer. He said, after cleaning off all the old foam from the board, to apply a coat of acrylic paint to allow the contact to adhere to without soaking in too deeply. Also ensure you use a high quality 3M spray contact. If you dont, you will be repeating the process.
At least the golf headlining is a lot smaller than the old daimler :-)

[rayray086]

What contact paste did you use Ben?


He said, after cleaning off all the old foam from the board, to apply a coat of acrylic paint to allow the contact to adhere to without soaking in too deeply. Also ensure you use a high quality 3M spray contact. If you dont, you will be repeating the process.

That's a great tip, didn't think of that!