How-To: Remove Cabriolet Headliner for Cleaning Options

[Mike T]

My headliner was filthy as will be most cabrio owners' headliners, because when the car is driven with the top down, it catches the wind and filters any dirt that is in the air, trapping it in the light coloured fabric.

So how is it removed?

You start by releasing the very end at the back of the car. Open the tailgate, flip up the rear window and dig your fingernails into the hard plastic ridge at the end of the headliner, on either the left or right side, pulling it gently out of the slot in the black plastic panel, into which it is embedded. Work gently from one side to the other.

Note: this rear part is not held in by a barbed clip or anything that is difficult to release; it is a friction fit only.

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[Mike T]

After the rear is released, it's time to open the roof to about the 1/3 open position. You need to be able to see the inner framework, where the headliner rails attach to the metal roof struts that lie transversely across the fabric roof.

The headliner is bonded ans sewn to long plastic U-shaped channels at the points where you can see transverse stitching from the underside, and these U-shaped channels are clipped onto the metal struts.

The U-channels run the entire width of the headliner. They are not just little clips on one end or the other.

So with the roof partly open, take a blade screwdriver and jam it gently into the space between the U-channel plastic and the metal roof strut, on the strut nearest the rear window. Twist the blade slightly until the first part of the U-channel is released. Do the same on the other side, until one of the ends is completely released for a couple of cm. Then stick your fingers in and pull downwards on the plastic U-channel across the width of the car, working from the side you started on to the opposite side. Be firm, because the headliner's U-channels are clipped on very tightly, and the metal roof struts are robust so you can crank on it if you have to.

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[Mike T]

Once you have released one of the U-channels, the others are all done in a similar fashion, so just repeat the process another 5 times.

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[Mike T]

Third U-channel - it's the same as the frst, you will be getting more efficient at this point....

The other three drop like flies and then you have the whole headliner hanging only by the front attachment!

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[Mike T]

So with the headliner hanging by the frontmost attachment only, all you need to do is release the friction-fit clips. I did the centre portion first, which is identical to the rearmost attachment of the headliner.

But on the front, there are two clips on either lateral extremity, which must be released separately. You will need the screwdriver to do this. Gently pry them out from the underside of the headliner.

Presto, you're done!

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[Mike T]

Lying on the hood of my 404 C, maybe you can see how dirty it is....

The underside shows the foam insulation that is bonded to the fabric, and the U-channels.

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[Mike T]

So for cleaning, I put mine in the bathtub and used laundry detergent and a fingernail brush to get the dirt out. It was about 99% effective.

Although I have not done it yet (headliner is drip-drying as I write this), re-installation of the headliner will be the reverse of removal, working from the front to the back of the car.

[Diesel Dave]

Let's hope it doesn't shrink.

[I M SMRT]

do you think spraying some sort of protectant may help keep it cleaner?

S

[Mike T]

No it diidn't shrink. I dried it in our shower stall this afternoon and just re-installed it in the car an hour ago. Perfect fit, and perfectly clean!

Re-installation is a lot easier than removal because everything just snaps easily into place. If the U-channels are not centred properly on the roof struts, it's not a problem, because they can be slid from side to side easily once installed. Re-installation took me about three minutes.

There would be no point in Scotchgarding it because it'll still get dirty, and the only way to clean it thoroughly is to remove it! Right Muriel?

[Duck]

Great resource and an interesting read! Pretty amazing how complex the whole folding roof system is on the cab's.

-Iain

[ianjay]

Greetings:
Thanks for doing such an excellent job describing the process!
Cheers,
Ian Jay

[smartzuuk]

Gee, I need a new car so I can practice that routine.

[Mike T]

Be careful when re-installing to tuck any excess fabric (that is slightly loose from the plastic tongue of the leading edge of the headliner) into the black plastic groove.

A thin plastic card, thinner than a credit card, would be especially suitable to help with this "tucking in" procedure. Failing that, a business card.....

If you don't take care at this stage, the leading edge of the headliner may look ragged after re-installation.

[For2]

Yesterday I finally remembered and had time to remove our headliner, following Mike's instructions.
The instructions were easy to follow and removed without problems.
We successfully scrubbed it in the bathtub with ivory dish soap, some color safe powdered bleach and a soft brush.
Then hung it to dry overnight.
I put in back in this afternoon and it really looks great.

This procedure works wonders and we will be doing this every fall after having the cabrio top down all summer.

[leejor]

Sounds like someone need to design, make,and perhaps market, a cover to protect the top from dirt when folded down.

[Mike T]

And two years on I have washed it again. It's still coming out clean, so that's good. Removing it can be done without the steps described at the beginning of this thread, if you have strong fingers and a high pain threshold

[SameGuy]

Thanks again! My first cleaning will be later this week, when I do a between-services service (winterizing and adjusting). Hopefully the cruise wiper stalks will be in shortly, too.