I will retrim the sagging headliner so it has to come out. Unfortunately the service manual is 1.5 hours away from here.

I have removed the front headliner trim strip. Grab handles and interior lamps are away. How does the side rail come away? It looks like there are a couple of tiny Philips screws behind / in the interior lamp nacelles that are part of the side rails, do these have to come out? Further, I can see/ feel some kind of bracket behind the liner at the C-pillar. Is it the same type of tongue and catch as found near the top of the front screen side trims?

Any other tips / caveats? Strangely I have not found anything on the series 2 headliner when searching the net.

 

in 1960's cars, the side roof strips or trim is screwed on through the outside of the door jamb. You can check for any screws by pulling the jamb's rubber seal at the top horizontal edge.

In the Series 3 XJ, you find the brackets by inserting a string behind the trim with a round upholstery needle and then sliding the string with both hands either way until it is stopped, then you pull the trim at that point, the brackets are the spring-steel tension type. Otherwise I have no clue about the Coupé.

 

The two Philips heas screws inside interior light nacelle have to be removed. Then there are a number of metal spring clips to be popped out by prying and popping out with a suitable tool.