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Some of you may remember my Slate 2007 XK that has the perforated suede headliner installed after the factory one fell apart.
Sure enough, two months after owning my 12 XKR, the headliner came down again. I’m sure the dealer did a quick fix and got me out the door.
The factory suede liner was canvas colored. A light beigey color. I figured I would try something new and go for a more aggressive look. I really wanted to create a more exotic feel inside.
I was able to source an oem center console in black. I also have factory black visor clips on order.
All of the other trim parts were painted with SEM satin interior paint. These are all parts that see no wear, so they should hold up very well (the sunvisor clips will see use, it was cheap to buy new oem black clips.
Granite Street Suede (perforated). I almost went with the black suede, but I’m glad I went a shade lighter. They also did the back shelf in suede. Hard to take good photos of darker materials They were able to do the visors too. Most shops are scared to do it, but the two different shops I used didn’t have any issues Painted black mic
The pattern is the perforations. Because the material is synthetic napped suede, it has different appearances depending on how you brush it. It will appear darker or lighter or swirled when you use your hand to brush it forwards, backwards, or sideways.
Wow dude, that looks fantastic! You should be sure to put those guys on your Christmas Card list, they would be a great go to for future needs!
I am curious, wonder why they used perforated vs not on the headliner. Just wondering what the advantages or disadvantages are with perforations on a headliner.
Wow dude, that looks fantastic! You should be sure to put those guys on your Christmas Card list, they would be a great go to for future needs!
I am curious, wonder why they used perforated vs not on the headliner. Just wondering what the advantages or disadvantages are with perforations on a headliner.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave,
They did great work. I hope I can get many years without this headliner falling. I chose perforated just to make it a little different. I did the same (although lighter color) in my previous XK and had a lot of compliments. My factory headliner did the same thing with the patterns. People love to touch it lol
The factory suede isn't just suede, it's "Alcantara" if you look at all the marketing materials. On my vert, we only get it in the sun visors. It's a shame it still sags within a couple years. The perforated suede looks great though!
Thanks! Yes in 2010+ the x150 got the factory suede. The R-S models got leather (special edition also had leather).
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thanks for that, it is nice to learn something new each and every day! :-)
BTW, I can see parts of your interior in some of the pics above, I am very jealous! The Warm Charcoal with the light contrast stitching is bad a$$, especially when it is like new the way yours appears to be. Combining that with the charcoal headliner has to look incredible in person!
The factory suede isn't just suede, it's "Alcantara" if you look at all the marketing materials. On my vert, we only get it in the sun visors. It's a shame it still sags within a couple years. The perforated suede looks great though!
Didn’t they have a fancy name for it? Suedecloth? I’ve been told by a few upholstery shops that they are no longer selling “Alcantara” by the yard/ roll anymore. Apparently they are only working with OEMs / Car manufacturers. Makes it very hard for us to match factory headliners.
The factory suede isn't just suede, it's "Alcantara" if you look at all the marketing materials. On my vert, we only get it in the sun visors. It's a shame it still sags within a couple years. The perforated suede looks great though!
I just had to check my window sticker and my convert. had the leather headliner option for $900.
Didn’t they have a fancy name for it? Suedecloth? I’ve been told by a few upholstery shops that they are no longer selling “Alcantara” by the yard/ roll anymore. Apparently they are only working with OEMs / Car manufacturers. Makes it very hard for us to match factory headliners.
Joe
Yes, the name is Alston TechnoSuede and is touted by some as an alternative to Alcantara, or vice versa. From what I can find the Alston Suede is still leather based to some degree where as Alcantara is purely chemical based (synthetic)
Joe, do you know the process they used to sew the visors? I would think they sewed them inside out for the sake of the seam. I see no sticking on the outside, but I don't understand how they fitted it over the visor once done.
Joe, do you know the process they used to sew the visors? I would think they sewed them inside out for the sake of the seam. I see no sticking on the outside, but I don't understand how they fitted it over the visor once done.
Can you explain please?
Hi Sean,
I’m told they take the visor apart and then wrap it in suede. Many shops were worried it would break, but in my two headliner jobs, the shops said it was easier than it looked. Here’s a pic of my previous XK. The shop did it a little differently (no seam) on one side.
Either way, no broken visors. Make sure you have a decent shop do the work. The visors are expensive to replace.
Joe, do you know the process they used to sew the visors? I would think they sewed them inside out for the sake of the seam. I see no sticking on the outside, but I don't understand how they fitted it over the visor once done.
Can you explain please?
Hi Sean,
I can't speak for the XK Visors, but on the Leather Porsche visors 3 sides are machine sewn as you say inside out, then it is rolled on (like a condom)LOL . Then once the leather is over the visor the last end/edge is carefully hand sewn to hide the seam.
New headliner installed
No suede in my future...
