Anyone remove a headliner intact from a W124?
 

I have most of it off except where it attaches at the rear window and at the sunroof. I can see where it's attached to the sunroof but the rear is puzzling me. There is a rod perpendicular to the car that I need to pry off but the end next to the top of the rear window is pretty firm. I looked at a Benz drawing which is like an exaggerated cartoon.

Mine is slowly removing itself on its own...or at least separating from the foam backing.

My indie is going to help me do my install. I'm guessing the C-pillar plastic covers are going to be the most grief...

The rod is in compression, you'll need to flex it to remove the ends. I did this by removing the sunroof-side and flexing the rod rearward.

The window end is a different story, IIRC the window seal has the headliner captured, that is where I stopped and sent the car to the scrapyard with the headliner still hanging from the rear window.

hmm, I may try to remove the rear window but since it's bonded I will likely break it. Everything else was removed without much problems...

C pillar has tabs facing out so you just have to be careful pushing them in while pulling on the panel as not to break them.

thanks

Good time to install the optional reading lights in the C-pillars and wiring harness.

Ooooooh...tell me more.... :)

these are very handy for the rear seat passenger at night. My daughter used it on trips to Disneyland...;)

Optional. I removed them along with the (palomino) C-pillar/sail panels from my '87 and the wiring harness for the reading lamps. I figured I'd use it all in my other 124, but realizing that the headliner has to come down to install the wiring harness (connects to the rear dome light for power and the RH rear defroster wire for ground) I'm probably never going to do it. Love to install them in my black car if I wasn't afraid of damaging the headliner.

It's a fairly rare option on the 124, the lights are exactly the same as the standard 126 lights.

You could tap them into any convenient 12V source. ;)

True, but since I had the harness, ...
I guess it's a more realistic goal to drop the wires into the trunk and power them there. Maybe I'll keep the panels, the black car needs another option.

You could power the lights from the trunk light, it's on the same fuse as the rear dome.

-Jason

I just took my headliner out intact! The rear edge to glass is a sewn on seal similar to the seal above the doors under the windlace. You "may" be able to pull it out (1/4" - 3/8") toward the window to clear the lip. The only thing to consider is the wiring is buried under some thin foam glued to the roof. Part of that harness screws to the window defroster and is also under some foam. You would have to replace it, maybe with Dynamat or spray glue new foam up there.