Hello all.

Only got my Jag today and I love it, but one thing I need to sort out is the interior roof lining - it is really sagging.

Now a cursory look suggests that it might not be a very straight forward job so I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this.

Its a '98 XJ8 with a cream interior if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any anticipated help!

 

I cant be much help other than their 200quid on ebay and you have to take it out the back door in the end and its a pig of a job, you can see inside the car what you need to remove to free it up but due to the size of the thing getting the new one in is tough, good luck.

 

See if these help as a starting point

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/i...ight=headliner

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ging+headliner

 

Thanks for that. The one in the car looks fine apart from the fact that it sags badly in the back of the car. I was hoping maybe using carpet tape or something but it does look like rather a pain in the neck.

 

When I bought my 1999 Jag XJ8 VDP last year, I was in a similar position, BUT as I had past experience in replacing headliners in cars, (A PIG OF A JOB) I immediately went to an auto upholstery company at a cost of about 150 British Pounds. One of the main problems after removing all the ancillieries, sunvisors, door rubbers, grab handles, overhead console etc. was phyically getting the roof liner out of the car. AND worst still was getting it back in after recovering, without damaging what you had already done. Definitely must be a 2-3 man job. Its a BIG chunk of material to handle. I would always scrape the money together and get it professionally done ??????? 150 pounds MAY seem a lot, but materials must cost 25-30 pounds, covering, adhesive and remember sun visors would probably need to be done, so they don't look odd coloured. Glad mine is over and done with.

 

i did a tenporary fix on a 2000 i had with stick pins like the ones you get with a new shirt. you can make it somewhat "neat" if you pin it around the whole perimeter of the back raised roof area. i used a good number and spaced them maybe 2" apart... it almost looked "riveted" in the end...

 

I just recently recovered the headliner in my 2000 XJR, maybe 3 months ago. I didn't think it was that terrible to do. Certainly harder than others I've done, but easily doable. Looks great, and so far no problems. It really is fairly easy to do yourself, and I only had about $70 in the project total.

I always meant to do a little write up on the job, took step by step pics and everything, just never got around to it. I'll write that up tonight if you're interested.

 

I used twist pins, available at sewing material stores and some auto parts stores. Not a perfect fix, but you have to be looking up to see them.

 

Cabezagrande
Please post the step by step instructions and photos of your headliner replacement experience.

I have been thinking that I might try to reglue the existing headliner (only the rear section - about 20 inches - is sagging).

Jim Lombardi

 

Jim, from what I have read on the XJ6 forum, and I think the XJ8 is the same, the foam layer disintegrates. It's nearly impossible to reglue and have it look good. If you are successful I and many others will attempt the same.

 

This is an easy job man. Watch the YouTube video. U can remove the grab handles. Remove the pillar trims. Take down the visors. Remove the roof console. Once u have all that. The headliner is ready to come down. Fully recline both front seats so the backs rest on the rear seats. The headliner can fold and be removed from rear door. Clean off old material and use a hard brush like a tire brush to remove the old foam. I then used a shop vac to remove the dust and to clean the board off. After u have it clean it's ready to go. Assuming you have ordered the kit with new material. Roll it out over the clean board. Trim material leaving an inch all around. Start at rear apply adhesive a little at the time and once I have the rear attatched u can slowly glue down the rest. Let sit an hour then cut out he sunroof opening carefully and leave at least half inch of
Material so that u are able to put the sunroof trim piece back. Installation is simple. Fold the headliner board. It will not hurt it. Pull back the rear door. Unfold. Viola put it back up!! Done!! Entire job can be done in 3 hours or less.

 

Thanks for all the advice and ideas. I had no idea it was such a common problem. Perhaps because I didn't realise it was known as 'headlining', meaning none of my searches gave any results!

I think in the short term it will have to be pinned up in the style suggested by RJ237 and Domer94, at least while my time and money go on other rennovation jobs, but it does give me an opportunity to re-trim it as a blank canvas when I do - might put some tiny LED stars in or maybe an embroidery?

 

My XJ came with some push pins holding back the saggy headliner in the rear and since there is a decent recess back there I really can't see them - good for now.

I will be pulling the headliner when it warms up outside as spraying that contact cement is just foul, best left outside. I will be pulling the headliner scraping and relining - however since it is a massive pain to get in and out, I may put in a seam.

I have done this on other cars with large headliners, basically pick a spot in the headliner, probably near the sunroof and turn it into a two piece design, and fold the headliner material over at the new seal, much easier to reinstall, recover and easier to redo at a later date if necessary. When done near a large opening like a sunroof you end up with 2 very small seams and it doesn't break up the flow at all.

Just some food for thought.

 

Here's what I did took a can of spray adhesive change spray nozzle to accept straw from a Wd40 can.
Made a small hole on the side or rear near side and end and by the sun roof shook can up after warming in sun stuck nozzle and sprayed and prayed in wide sweeping arcs. Don't over do it I then used a small rooll 4" in lenght and rolled it. Was able to close the hole so you hardly see it.
Good Luck!!

 

U can order online. The kit comes with 2 cans of spray and material for under 60 bucks. The headliner is easy as hell man. You definitely should watch the YouTube video on the xj8. Never a reason for a 2 part seam. Old the damn thing like it says and it goes out he rear door and back in the same way. It's painless!!

 

Oh search the forum for headliner and u will get te web
Site for the kits.

 

has anyone thought of throwing Leather up on the Headboard? like a Bently Mulsanne

 

Hi
I found a post in the XK8/XKR forum section on removing the cloth on the A-Pillars, then cleaning/washing the original fabic, then regluing the fabic to the A-Pillars.

I wonder if the same process can be used on the entire headliner.

Here is the weblink to the posting:

HOW TO: Recover the A-Pillars & Windshield Header with New Upholstery (Video) - Page 4 - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

Jim Lombardi

 

I have done it with a synthetic leather on a VW. The spray can adhesive will not work for it, contact cement sprayed with a primer gun is your only way.

You will need a heat gun to help you in some of the contours but the look is very clean and easy to maintain.

 

reminds me of the headliners from the 70s lol. Leather would probably be cool up there, but the cloth headliner is easy to replace. I'd never done one before and I did my own.