Headliner materials?

[m3f_madsedan]

Going to use a place local to me, $450 and they R&R it, knock it out in 3 hours, 1 year warranty. Price is for a stock looking black weave material but he offered suede for an up charge. Any advice on using black suede for a headliner? Rest of interior is black and in perfect condition.

[m3f_spaghettiM3]

I just did a black suede headliner. It wasn't very stretchy, so it was a bit harder to work with than normal headliner material but it turned out awesome.


Personally, if you are going to redo the headliner, i'd go with suede.


It took me about 4 hours from start to finish and about $50 in materials.

[m3f_Braymond141]

Suede is the backside of leather; ie real leather. $20+/yd


Microsuede is the common cheapo stuff that typically does not last. ~$10/yd


Alcantara is a branded synthetic suede (microsuede) with excellent automotive durability and construction. There is only ONE real alcantara. $100+/yd

Amarretta is similar high quality automotive grade synthetic suede.


It's unlikely you are getting real suede and you don't want it as it will shrink significantly over time and exposure to elements. Microsuede is not worth your time, stay away from it. This is not a $50 project (sorry Spaghettic, been there, done that... not worth it). Alcantara is the only product you should consider for a "suede" synthetic fabric. Make damn sure it is the real thing. Only a few importers sell it here in the US and many sell the fake kind. Regardless of your choice you want automotive grade fabrics with long lasting UV durability.

[m3f_spaghettiM3]

Suede is the backside of leather; ie real leather. $20+/yd



Microsuede is the common cheapo stuff that typically does not last. ~$10/yd



Alcantara is a branded synthetic suede (microsuede) with excellent automotive durability and construction. There is only ONE real alcantara. $100+/yd

Amarretta is similar high quality automotive grade synthetic suede.



It's unlikely you are getting real suede and you don't want it as it will shrink significantly over time and exposure to elements. Microsuede is not worth your time, stay away from it. This is not a $50 project (sorry Spaghettic, been there, done that... not worth it). Alcantara is the only product you should consider for a "suede" synthetic fabric. Make damn sure it is the real thing. Only a few importers sell it here in the US and many sell the fake kind. Regardless of your choice you want automotive grade fabrics with long lasting UV durability.

I bought furniture/apparel suede, not microsuede, from JoAnn Fabrics. Retail price was $22/yard. Bought 3.5 yards= $77. Had a 50% off coupon, so I spent $38.50 on the suede. For glue, I used contact cement, that I had spent about $30 on for a previous project, used maybe half of the can. So all in, I spent slightly over $50. It was indeed a $50 project for me.



I've used microsuede on a headliner in the past and it did indeed shrink and looked like garbage after a couple years. Also, from my past experience, spray adhesive didn't hold up as well as contact cement. That is why I went with contact cement.

[m3f_Braymond141]

I bought furniture/apparel suede, not microsuede, from JoAnn Fabrics. Retail price was $22/yard. Bought 3.5 yards= $77. Had a 50% off coupon, so I spent $38.50 on the suede. For glue, I used contact cement, that I had spent about $30 on for a previous project, used maybe half of the can. So all in, I spent slightly over $50. It was indeed a $50 project for me.


I've used microsuede on a headliner in the past and it did indeed shrink and looked like garbage after a couple years. Also, from my past experience, spray adhesive didn't hold up as well as contact cement. That is why I went with contact cement.

I'm not sure you understand.


Joanne fabrics ultra/micro suede is exactly the junk I am watning about.


Man made suede (micro, ultra, alcantara) does not shrink. Leather shrinks. Real suede is the backside of leather. Real suede shrinks.

[m3f_spaghettiM3]

I'm not sure you understand.



Joanne fabrics ultra/micro suede is exactly the junk I am watning about.



Man made suede (micro, ultra, alcantara) does not shrink. Leather shrinks. Real suede is the backside of leather. Real suede ahrinks.

I get what you are saying. What I purchased this time was different than the microsuede I had bought in the past. It's not stretchy or thin like the last stuff was. If it ends up shrinking a few years down the road, then it shrinks. I'll pull it and recover it. It's not the most difficult process and looks much better than the saggy and stapled headliner that was in the car when I bought it.

[m3f_crqflier]

Just get the real OE stuff from veteran co in LA.


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[m3f_wgknestrick]

Cheapo black suede turns purple after some UV exposure. I just put a black "Honda" headliner in because it was thin and matched BMW's odd thickness of foam. Turned out great.



Also make sure you redo the back deck as they are almost all purple by now.



Every shop I went to tried to talk me out of the suede stuff, so I had to respect their word.

[m3f_madsedan]

Good input, thanks guys!

[m3f_wgknestrick]

Also note that their input on the suede stuff was that it doesn't stretch near enough and tends to separate from the surface over time as that surface tension eventually wins over the glue's hold. They were also afraid of the glue permeating the material.



Headliner material exists for a reason, and seriously any new headliner material is going to look 100x better than the 20yo stuff. Black or black/grey material matches the car perfectly (assuming you have black interior)



I redid everything



Headliner

A-Pillars

B-Pillars

Moon roof panel

Rear deck



...And the entire interior of the car almost looks like new. Not a bad idea to rebuild your moon roof cassette to get it back to new working order while you have things apart. It slides so smooth and silently now there aren't 1lb of pine needles and dirt in the tracks.

[m3f_Radmobile]

I'm personally not a fan of alcantara or suede headliners/pillars on an e36. The felt weather seals on the moonroof, windows, and door jams never blends well with them IMO. I'm a proponent of sticking with OEM fabric material or the closest match possible.

[m3f_egebhardt]

For my Byzanz, I went to JoAnn fabrics for $30 of headliner in black (54" x 72") will easily do it. Then 2 cans of 3M headliner adhesive at $20 each. It can take all day start to finish but $70 is more reasonable. You'll prefer to spend $450 in a dozen other places than the headliner since this car has been owned by you for less than a year. A year from now, your vision may be different.

[m3f_deboM3]

I'm personally not a fan of alcantara or suede headliners/pillars on an e36. The felt weather seals on the moonroof, windows, and door jams never blends well with them IMO. I'm a proponent of sticking with OEM fabric material or the closest match possible.

I agree 100%.



I took my removed headliner + Sunroof panel to an upholstery shop and had it covered professionally for less than $200. I think the majority of the labor is removing the headliner itself.



The dude at the upholstery shop said the most common mistake is to use the wrong glue. The car gets hot, and gravity is going against you, which leads to sagging for a lot of DIYers.

[m3f_Vitaliy93]

Without creating a new thread, does anyone have any links to material that is similar in appearance to the stock headliner? I've used the ebay "Suede look" material before on a non M but I think I want the factory look this time around.


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[m3f_Braymond141]

I agree 100%.


I took my removed headliner + Sunroof panel to an upholstery shop and had it covered professionally for less than $200. I think the majority of the labor is removing the headliner itself.


The dude at the upholstery shop said the most common mistake is to use the wrong glue. The car gets hot, and gravity is going against you, which leads to sagging for a lot of DIYers.

BMW has sucessfully pulled off felt door seals and Alcantara headlining for quite sometime. The sunroof seal I'll give you (I have a slicktop panel so not an issue). I disagree completely if it is done right. Get yourself an E39 M5 and you'll want nothing less from an interior.