Headliner, Who's done it?
 

Anyone replaced the headliner on their 123? I have one drooping, the upholstery shop quoted me $600-800. :eek:
Man, the interiors on these old MBs will be the death of 'em. Too costly to restore using Gahh or World stuff.
I think I can sew... or learn how pretty quick.

We tried it, and gave up on the W123. Partly our fault, partly World Upholstery's.

I bought a headliner from them about 5 years ago for $165. They sent us the old-style perforated kind and then wouldn't take it back or even acknowledge that there was any other type ( like the later textured solid kind).

So we procrastinated a year or two. Then tried to put it in- too short by about an inch. But even if they had made it right it would have been a booger because it tucks under the rear window seal (supposed to be glued).

We took it to an upholstery shop and the guy found some excess material on it somewhere and made it work/installed it for $150. I'm not sure if we could have done it even if we had the correctly fitting piece. If you do get one, though, I would think hard about getting the early style because it has the holes and is more stretchable.

That said, I am going to attempt to replace the one on the W116, maybe this weekend. The W116 seems a lot easier because the back is tucked under a panel ( as are the sides and front). I got a perfect one ( 30 years old!!) out of a 77 280SE for $4 that I am going to try to put in.

Rick

Rick

Your's may be too far gone, but mine was pretty ratty, drooping and badly discolored, but not ripped. I wiped it down thoroughly with alcohol, VERY carefully tucked the drooping edges back where they belong. Then I removed everything installed through the headliner, isolated it from the rest of the interior with acres of plastic, newpaper curtains and masking tape and sprayed it with three thin coats of white vinyl paint (Duplicolor brand I think). I was prepared to rip it out and install a new one if it didn't work, but the results were amazing and gave the old interior a completely new look with four hours work and about $25. A year or so later no peeling or other issues, looks like new.

Take some pics of the W116 headliner process if you can. I may need to replace mine on the 79 SD.

On the 123, how do the bows come out? The 123 has one that seems to bow downward pulling the material out from under the rear window seal.

IIRC, the W123 only has one bow about 9" in front of the rear window. It is set in two rubber bushings that seem to deteriorate with age.

How do you ever remove the bloody thing? Most of the time if I could see how thing came off I can put back together. Once you mange to remove it to can use it as a template and go to Hancocks Fabrics for a similar suede or leather sheet... ohhh! Suede interior, now that's an idea...:)

While we're brainstorming...how about spraying on a popcorn or knock-down ceiling? ;)

Rick

This is purely a stop gap measure, though I have no intention of replacing mine. I used the same spray glue we use for the hood pad. Poke some small holes liner in appropriate spots for your sag. Use wand with spray can, put wand thru hole and while spraying turn can around 360 to coat inner liner and roof. Let the glue set up and then rub with palm of hand to stick liner to roof. At least this procedure keeps the liner off the heads of back seat passengers.

I need to replace mine. it has a small tear and is hanging down around the rear dome light. As well as the front MB TEX piece. and the C pillar needs to have the tex glued back on.. interior is like 8/10 because of those three pieces

I don't know about the 123 models but on my 115 it requires the removal of the front and rear roof support frame covers (not too hard), the side rails above the doors, and the removal of both the front and rear windshields (very hard and expensive because you need new seals).

If your liner is 30 years old as mine is the window seals probably need to be replaced anyway. If you go this way read mine and other's threads about installing these windows. Not for the feint of heart.

the 116 is easy but requires a lot of interior disassembly to actually get to the easy part. You'll probably want a fresh set of the black plastic plugs that hold the rear part of the liner to the roof just in front of the rear window...the others will get ratty after you pull them out.

Slide rails on the sunroof also need to be removed and where the headliner folds over should be glued. You'll also see old glue marks around the roof and side areas where you should also headliner glue up the fabric. Since it's all covered up by interior finish pieces any minor mistakes are hidden, particularly with gluing.

Be VERY careful when installing the finish pieces back in, particularly the rear headpiece. It's a mega PITA to get back in with all 4 metal tabs slotted into the roof. Probably easiest with 2 people doing the job. The risk here is slipping, etc and ripping the headliner..which is easy since it's generally so old.

Keep track of the order in which you disassemble the finish pieces around the headliner...order of assembly is a real jigsaw puzzle if you don't....heck.it is a puzzle no matter what. i think it should be relatively straight forward since you shouldn't have to touch the pieces around the dash.

I just did a full interior swap and there was about 3 weeks between taking apart and reinstalling....had to start over a few of the reassembly steps. :freak:

I wish I had photos but I was rushed and by myself.

oh..and contrary to the 115 it should only be the side rails (with handles) and the rear headpiece. the headliner mainly rides on the sunroof frame and nothing else.

I am doing the W116 in combination with replacing the front and rear window seals , so I have/will have a lot of the panels off anyway. I just hope I don't break anything. Right now I know of two local W116s in boneyards with my yuck brown/tan interior( I thinks its called tobacco- its kind of like palamino with an attitude) so I need to get this done before they get crushed.

I think that's parchment. I have tobacco which looks like..well, tobacco (dark brown). Very nice color which is why I got rid of the blue interior with the dash cracked like the grand canyon when I had the choice between the two.

Upholstery
 

I'm finding very little (more like none) DIY upholstery links.
It seems we do everything else but, few if any, are doing their interiors.
If I could find a reasonable source for the material I might be up to having a go at it. When I was young I used to watch my mom sew and picked up a few things. The most important being "don't use my good scissors" she used to yell. My dad had a favorite hammer I was not to touch also. I understand now.

There's lots of 'rust' discussion in the restoration forum. Interior resto threads...nil. I'm I the only one needing interior work on a 28 yr old car?

At the NTX GTG Rashakor showed me where he had replaced a seat panel using some material he obtained at a local fabric place. I agree with him on if it can be taken apart... we should be able to put it back together.