14 replies to this topic

[philly c]

Well its time to do it and i have been putting it off and putting it off for ages but it has to be done and now is the time!

I have got all the rods in the right order after managing to get some from mini machine. When i got my mini it didnt have a head liner so i cant use the old rods or the old headliner as a template so i am doing this as best i can!

Should i stick some foam to the roof?The same sort of stuff that i used to be there or simply place the head liner in with out??

Would it complicate things much if i had to put the foam back in?


Please give me as many tips and advise for this mission as you can!


Many thanks


Phil

[pikey7]

As standard there is a 3" wide strip of a heavy "foam" from front to back on the roof. It just stops the large roof panel from vibrating and doesn't really help any functioning of the headliner.

Word is, when fitting the headliner, then get things in place with a bucket load of bulldog clips to get things in position and then use a double sided tape to fix into place

[philly c]

is contact adheasive not better?

[nev_payne]

contact adheisive is what they used to originally fit them...as far as i know.

Word is the bloddy stuff gets everywhere exept where you want it! I suggest plastic cover over all of your interior.

[pikey7]

exactly. and it stains worse than a mini-bungle!

[philly c]

ha ha well shouldnt be a huge problem as there in no interior in the car and its pritty bear inside so might stick(get it) with the contact adheasive me thinks, leat then i no iots going to be stuck real good!!!!!

[nev_payne]

Thats some very clean body work there...perhaps you should let me do the headlining for you...on a non-returnable basis in exchange for George?

That does give you an advantage but the headlining (if your putting the leather/vynil cover on aswell) needs to be tucked into the window and door seals...at least thats what I can see from most headlinging I've looked at.

[philly c]

ha ha sorry i am in love with POM! otherwise it would be a done deal...

I have got a black headliner from mini spares its a textured vynal finish, and it will need to be tucked into to door seals thinki am going to need a punch bag from the sports shop,load of clips some contact adheasive and some one to shout at:)

[nev_payne]

best thing do to is as above then if you havent as yeat got all your window seals at the ready is go for the bulldog clips....prolly need at least 2/3 per window area, and a couple for the rear area where the head lining meets the parcel shelf.

[philly c]

is it best to clip one end in first all glued up then pull it tight from the other end ensuring that all the ripples are out??
The biggest pain at the min is trying to trim it all to the correct size.

Is it worth glueing the foam to the roof before the head liner?

[nev_payne]

in terms of the foam first, yes...from the tutorials and pictures I've seen the foam goes on first - that way you can get the dimensions of that correct without causing any lumpiness.

As for the which way round to go, my knowledge stalls as much as my car. I would have thought that a front-back path is better - once you have the front mesured out have a friend keep the centre of the lining from sagging down while your in the back wroking out the rest. LEAVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF SLACK FOR THE WINDOWS (and fiddly bits) - or as much as you can get without running out of headlining - you can always trim up later. I wouldn't glue in 1st itme round either - just make sure you know how to handle it before perminantly sticking it to the wrong place!

[philly c]

think a few test runs first will be in order!!

I ran a search on the head liner and didnt manage to come up with much...

Antone else managed to get anything??

Many thanks

Phil

[1984mini25]

There was a really useful guide with picks (don't happen that often) in the MARCH 06, ISSUE 118 of MINI MAG,

If it was me and I do have to re-do mine soon (bodged with tape) is to use double sided tape instead of glue, as once it gets onto the headling, mostly on the bits you don't want glue on it, WILL stain and ruin it.

If you are looking for something to use instead of the foam, I’ve found normal carpet underlay (traditional grey one) from B&Q about £25 a roll is great, you can also cut it a bit bigger than needed and tuck all the edges into the gutters to stop them from coming unstuck and falling down,

Works great for the rest of the car to, floors, boot, behind the dash etc.

[pikey7]

Thanks Karl, you just reminded me! That "foam" I was on about, is more like a strip of underlay than what you'd normally associate as foam. Either will do though. It's just something "heavy-ish" you need to stop the vibrations.

[philly c]

Can anyone scan in the march copy of mini mag for me so that i could have a look at how they managed??

would be very greatful!

Cheers

Phil