UKSaabs

Can't seem to add this to the knowledge base forum, so posted here.

I have created a 189 photo step by step guide on c900 headlining re-trimming, including the sunroof assembly that is missing from most guides.

Feel free to use this as a DIY guide or even just for info on the sunroof assemblies.

Note we do not sell the headlining material seperately, but we recommend Woolies as a good source.

There is a shamless plug for our retrimmimng service in the guide, so if the mods deem this inappropriate then please delete this post.

Dan.

EDIT:
URL CHANGED. NOW AT:

http://www.paradisesaabs.com/diy-headli ... guide.html

Dan.

Dan

Thanks for posting that - most interesting and convinced me NOT to try it myself

Shameless plug forgiven!

Superb! Thanks for taking the time to capture all the steps.

Yeah, really helpful Dan.
I was also thinking about doing it myself next year. Might have just got yourself a new customer in 2009

G

Superb, very useful. Makes most of it look pretty easy....and then some parts hard enough to discourage me from attempting it just yet

I'll be Ok with the tea pictures, but everything else.

- Dave -

Excellent write-up, thanks. However, you could have saved yourself a lot of photographing and typing by finishing halfway through with "Reassembly is a straightforward reversal of the dismantling procedure"

Great Dan but I think most of us will need more cups of tea. (because it'll take probably take 2-3 days.)

Great photos.

It says in the advert 4 door saloon models are more expensive as the rear window has to be removed to get the headlining in/out. 4 door cars £poa.

The rear window doesn't have to be removed on 4 door saloon models. The headlining can be easily taken out through the boot - I've done it. But it took me much longer than the 6-7 hours stated in the advert to compete the job.

My headlining's been propped up in the hall since March. You can imagine how pointed the comments are getting, and how frosty the atmosphere is becoming.

Thanks, Dan...

She's got no excuse not to get on with it now.

HAZARD ALERT!
TEMPTING FATE WARNING!



That cup of tea is way too close to the new headling for the average DIYer!!

Well played, Dan!

Is there anything to do down your way if one drops a car off for this?

As an aside, my old biscuit got broken in two (either side of the sunroof) by the 'trimmer' who was supposed to know what he was doing. I repaired it by bonding in those metal strips found in wiper blades, with glass fibre matting. You could cantilever the whole biscuit while holding onto the front end. Then I bought an already fixed one and put that in!

The headlining I removed through the boot had an aftermarket sunroof. I removed the parcel shelf first as this was retrimmed at the same time, but I have read elsewhere that others have managed to remove the headlining through the boot without removing the parcel shelf. You really need an assistant to manouvre it out of the boot to avoid the risk of breaking/damaging the headlining.

I seem to remember about 8-10 years ago there was an article in 'Driver' where someone replaced a headlining in a 4 door c900 (could have been a 4 door 99) where they managed to get it out of a door. IIRC all the seats had to come out.

Ursa Minor wrote:I seem to remember about 8-10 years ago there was an article in 'Driver' where someone replaced a headlining in a 4 door c900 (could have been a 4 door 99) where they managed to get it out of a door. IIRC all the seats had to come out.

That's how you get it out of a 2 door. The door opening is too narrow on a 4 door.

Dan.

ParadiseClub wrote:

Ursa Minor wrote:I seem to remember about 8-10 years ago there was an article in 'Driver' where someone replaced a headlining in a 4 door c900 (could have been a 4 door 99) where they managed to get it out of a door. IIRC all the seats had to come out.

That's how you get it out of a 2 door. The door opening is too narrow on a 4 door.

Dan.

It's a long time ago, Dan, but the point of the article was that it is possible. I seem to remember it took a lot of fiddling. Maybe someone has a collection of old 'Driver' mags and can find it.

Sounds like a lot less hassle, and not much different in time (read cost) to remove/refit the window!

Dan.

I agree. I believe the point of the article was that it can be done. Not that there are many 4 door cars around any more. I don't think I'd want to do it. When I need it done I'll pay for it. Even though mine has a tailgate.

Just to add, Recently did a 4 door and with the parcel shelf removed, along with the two rear seatbelts, then the biscuit does indeed come out through the boot.

Dan.

I'm about have a go at this cos i likes a challenge and i'm a tightwad.

I've read through Dans instructions a few times to familiarise myself and i have only one question at the mo.....

Do you glue the material to the sunroof panel over it's entire flattish face or just at the edges as it looks in the instructions? i'd have thought it's got to be glued all over so looking for confirmation or correction.

Gaz

Gaznod wrote:Do you glue the material to the sunroof panel over it's entire flattish face or just at the edges as it looks in the instructions? i'd have thought it's got to be glued all over so looking for confirmation or correction.

When I got mine, there was no material on the sunroof - so I don't know how it was done originally. OTOH, there was absolutely no glue residue on the paint on the inside of the roof.

When I put the material on the sunroof, I glued it front and rear only - but didn't quite get enough tension, so it's a LITTLE saggy-down. Not much, but (partly because there's no headlining in the rest, so no edging trim on the lip) there's a line across the material to show exactly how far back it goes in the aperture when open. Nowhere near enough to be miffed, but definitely not quite right. The metalwork is pressed into reinforcing patterns, which you wouldn't want showing up through the material.

I'd go for edges only, but find some way of holding much more tension whilst the glue sets.