Hi: To replace the torn dirty fabric interior sliding panel for sunroof in a 2005 S type, must I remove the entire headliner to get at it? Assuming answer is yes, does anyone know what the dealer assesses in hours to do this job acccording to "the book?" I asked the local dealer to provide that info and they are refusing to do so. This is for prospective purchase of otherwise nice car. Thank you. --Tom in Tucson

around an hour to drop the hood lining . and a little longer to refit .
i have no idea what is involved to get the slider out of the sun roof frame .my guess is that its strait forward easy .
you likely will not have to remove the hood lining from the car just lower it down . looks like it would be a nightmare to get it out completely with out removing the windscreen !

FWIW, on the X300, you put the roof panel in "tilt" and the interior trim slides out the rear. Not sure it works the same way on the S-type but expect it is covered in the manual, which is available via free download here in the forum.

For your purposes, I would plan the cost of an entire headliner recover because you are unlikely to get an exact match just doing the roof slider, even if you had a piece off the original bolt of material. The color will have changed somewhat with years of sun-exposure and what-not.

I believe you can find shops that will perform the task for $300-$500, or you can DIY for about $75. I believe there are posts here indicating chaps have done it without glass-removal. Generally will come out one door or another with some arrangement of fully reclined seats or removal thereof.

Well I'm new to this forum and 25 years young.. Never really worked on any of my cars myself until I got my 06 S Type.. I just recently did my headliner and sunroof sliding panel myself for the first time ever.. I had to remove my front seats and rear seat to maneuver the headliner board out the car. Which is a must if you wanna do the sliding board to the sunroof.. I also had to remove the entire sunroof, not sure if that's a must but there are 2 screws on the top of sunroof rails the must be taken off to remove sunroof sliding board. Took me around 10 hours to do, not sure if it was because it was my first time. You must be very care when removing headliner board because it is a very tight fit and car break board

By the way for fabric and the adhesive i paid about 75 to to confirm what Aholbro said.. make sure if you go with 3m adhesive spray can you buy 2