|
|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Sagging headliner in W123
All,
The headliner in my W123 is sagging near the rear of the car. The liner hasn't torn, but it looks as if the bracket that holds it in place is no longer seated properly. How do I fix this? Thanks. Last edited by dawsonj3; 04-24-2008 at 10:28 PM. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Wow, guess I need to tear into it and create a WIKI.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
I am looking forward to following this thread - I remember someone saying that replacing the oil cooler lines was less scary to them than repairing the headliner - don't know why though.
Take pictures, please!!!!
__________________
Current Mercedes 1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed Gone and fondly remembered: 1980 orient red 240D 4-speed Gone and NOT fondly remembered: 1982 Chna Blue 300TD Other car in the stable: 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
John
__________________
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) 2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion 1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold 2006 E320 CDI |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
When I bought my '62 240D, the rear headliner was hanging very low, partialy blocking the back window. I pulled the rubbe weatherstrip at the rear doors, and the panels coverig the rear roof pillars to see and repair the problem. I discovered the rearmost metal bow that suspends the headliner had dropped because the rubber sockets that supported and tensioned the bow-ends into 1/2" holes in the inner roof had disintgrated. I made some metal sockets from heavy galvanised sheet steel that clipped into the roof holes for a permanent repair. My headliner has also separated where it was fastened under the rear window gasket, but the newly suspended rear bow solved the visibility problem enough that I haven't tried to tackle the rear window issue.
If you can't rig up something from scratch like I did, you might be able to find some 1/2" metal 'dummy-plugs at a hardware store or Radio-Shack, designed to plug unused holes in metal sinks, cabinets, etc... and drill appropriate holes in the dummy-plugs to fit the headliner bow. Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 04-25-2008 at 07:37 PM. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Think I would consider taking to a pro for a headliner as with a windshield
__________________
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
PNP Practice
Went to the pick-n-pull today. 300d with sagging headliner, like mine (and others). Pulled the pillar cover, cut the headliner perpendicular with the rear window, pulled the weatherstrip at the door opening and the handhold above the rear door opening at the headliner.
I anticipated seeing some sort of mounting device to hold the bow tight against the roof - didn't find one. In fact, the tube containing the sunroof cable runs along the back of the rear window then toward the sunroof at the middle of the roof. The bow would contact this tube as the lowest fixed object near the back window. There was nothing behind the headliner to indicate the bow is supported in the middle - only with the plug mentioned by Mark DiSilvestro in the previous post. The pnp vehicle had one good plug which I removed and have attached pics. The end of the bow was not captured in this plug but was too far within the plug on the other pillar. The plug is behind the pillar and partly covered with an open cell foam. I would guess these could be had at a dealer - perhaps from Phil at Fastlane. These would seem a necessity to repair the dropped bow. The entire rear portion of the vehicle is covered with a thin layer (1/4") open cell foam. In the PNP car, the foam was still well attached to the car but the headliner had dropped from the foam. By removing the rear pillar cover, weatherstrip and grabhandle I would suspect one could spray adhesive onto the back side of the headliner and perhaps the opposite side of the foam to attempt to re-attach the headliner to the foam. I may go back to the PNP and remove a portion of the headliner material and foam to see if I can attempt to attach the two using 3M spray adhesive. The majority of the sagging
__________________
83 300d - 390k |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
if the foam is seriously degraded, the contact adhesive wont work for long- the foam will just separate again.
__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven. 1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
The foam is only there for padding and insulation and doesn't support the headliner. When the ends of the bow are inserted into holes in the rubber sockets, tension holds it up tight against the roof. Otherwise, there isn't anything in the center of the roof that supports the bow. Many cars used to hang the bows right into holes in the metal roof frame. Don't know why Mercedes felt they needed to add perishable rubber sockets, except maybe they thought there could be a noise problem
I made sheet-metal inserts to replace the damaged rubber sockets because this way I could fix the bow quickly, with something that would probably outlast the car. Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 05-04-2008 at 09:48 AM. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
My experience supports Mark's analysis. Most likely to be an issue with the rubber plugs that hold the bow to either side of the roof. That's all that holds the center of the headliner- and getting to them is a DIY affair - so long as your headliner hasn't seriously deteriorated have at it.
Rick
__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??) |
Bookmarks |
|
|