Can the headliner tray make it out the rear doors of a LWB x350? That is how they replaced the headliner on my old x308, but on the x350 it seems everyone online is removing the front or rear windshield-glass which makes it much more involved.

 

Yes, the removal via the rear door is actually the official of removing the headliner on a LWB X350 according to the Jaguar workshop manual.

The workshop manual only foresees the removal of the rear screen for the SWB X350, but also there it can be done via the rear door. The headliner needs to be carefully bent a bit to make it fit through the door.

On the LWB the rear door is big enough for the headliner topass without having to bend it.

Regards,

Thomas

 

Thank you - that's exactly the info I was seeking. Also, any shop with photos of lwb x350 vehicles pulling the headliner through the window should be disqualified from consideration, lol.

 

Here is a link for the instructions you are looking for.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...l-x350-164330/
John

 

Yes, I did it recently after viewing a youtube video. I bought headliner on ebay from a specialized seller: https://www.ebay.de/itm/171324319654

Then I did it exactly as this guy in the video
Overall it took less than an hour. It is really nice job and not much that can go wrong.

 

Is it not possible to just glue an new headliner to avoid taking it out?
Just remove the old fabric and glue in a new one

 

No it is not. There are some sprays (like a hairspray) that promise such a solution to your problem, but I'd advise against using them.

 

I would also say that removing the headliner is the only viable option to do a proper job.

You need to remove the old fabric (the only easy part), scrape away the old glue and residue of the foam lining (otherwise the new fabric will not stay attached), spray on the new glue and then try to put on the new fabric without wrinkles, all working overhead... even if that would be possible, I would not do it.
Removing the headliner is not that difficult.

 

I have a upholstery specialst who did the headliner in my e type, thats glue to the roof panel.
Will ask if she thinks it can be done. I dont think it impossible, but maybe the edges are a little tricky

 

I would say that the two are not comparable. Old cars, like your E-type, normally had no foam back on the fabric and where either glued directly to the metal roof panel, or they were only glued at the edges and a had metal rods to keep them in tension, similar to a tent.

The current method used by car manufacturers, like in our X350s, is a backboard made of a very brittle material, almost similar to cardboard, which is covered by the fabric that has a foam backing to give it a softer feeling. For the manufacturers this is an easier and less work intensive way to build the cars,because the whole headliner is being built and covered outside the car and just needs to be placed as a complete item, but it has the disadvantage that the foam backing disintegrates in time due to humidity, extreme temperature change during the lifetime of the car, etc,

Because of this, and the fact that the current headliners have mouldings for sun visors, handles, dome lights, etc., I would be surprised if your specialist would confirm that it would be possible, and especially easier, to recover the headliner without removing it.

Please keep us updated.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Those metal rods were called "listing sticks, and I fitted a headliner to a Mark 2 that used them. Later cars didn't use them it was glue, and directly onto the steel roof in some cases. I once took the headlining out of my XJ6 Series 3,. This was glued onto a "biscuit", and I managed to get it out and back in via a rear door. Cars that used listing sticks had tacks, later staples, to secure the headliner edges, but glue was used at the front and rear screen apertures. When tacks were used, the trimming guys had magnetic hammers and kept the tacks in their mouths ! Staple guns were much safer.

 

Also do not forget you may need the clips for the moon roof, because they may break from being old, and brittle from the heat. I have a X358 SWB and had the rear window removed, and the headliner cam our great, and the window was reinstalled with no issues. If you wan to removed it without removing the window, remember you are increasing the chances of damaging the leather, console or dash. Also if you have to bend or score the back of the headliner to install it, then it may sag sooner. Thomas is correct that the foam is the issue of the headliner sagging. Hope this help good luck.