Headliner repair/replacement

[Tdimrtwo]

I’m building a pretty good collection of tdi wagons now. I have a 2003 ALH, a 2010 CJAA, a 2011 CJAA, and a 2015 CRUA. The 2003 and 2010 both have sagging headliners, and the PO of the 2011 told me she had the headliner replaced at a trim shop when it started to sag. So I’m thinking this is a pretty common problem, at least in Texas where I live. I bought the 2010 JSW for my wife, and just completed an engine swap to get it running. She really likes the car, but says she can’t drive it with the headliner sagging and blocking her view out the back of the car. I can’t argue with that logic, so is there a good, fairly economical way that I can replace or repair my sagging headliners, or do I just need to take it to an auto upholstery shop to have it done? I’ve seen a few videos on YouTube about it, but I’m not sure if their methods will work on my old VW’s. Will I need to get new material, or can I clean and Re-glue the old headliner back into place? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Bob S.]

You have much company with the issue. The headliner in my well worn '12 is much better than in my garage queen '14. I occasionally wonder it I should, when I pull it out, simply take to a shop to have it sprayed with a color coordinated Berliner material.... Go back go "Old School" functional.

 

[P2B]

My son put his back up with a staple gun, doesn't look too bad but I bought these for my better half's wagon.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DCGQQFG2/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

Have not installed them yet, expecting it will be a bit fiddly to get them evenly spaced.

 

[sinfony78]

i got mine replaced and all the side door panels re-glued - all for $550 here in houston. such a good deal
also, i got a wolfbox rear view camera so on trips, i can pack up the cargo area to the top without any worry - that would also "fix" the headliner issue

you're probably going to spend about the same either way you go, so if i had to choose, i'd go with the wolfbox and just staple it back up

 

[ksing44]

Here is an example of a simple fix on a GTI using plastic "Christmas tree" fasteners. It looks pretty good in the picture.

Fixing a Droopy Headliner for $1​

For my 2010 Golf TDI I got a quote for $800 from a good automotive upholstery shop to remove and reapply the headliner fabric. I didn't have it done yet, but I will sometime this summer. I had some other things done, e.g., new wheels, replaced very rusty lower control arms, new rear brakes and rotors, and just replaced front wheel bearings. Oh, also the delete and tune thing.

 

[lemoncurd]

Here is an example of a simple fix on a GTI using plastic "Christmas tree" fasteners. It looks pretty good in the picture.

Fixing a Droopy Headliner for $1​

For my 2010 Golf TDI I got a quote for $800 from a good automotive upholstery shop to remove and reapply the headliner fabric. I didn't have it done yet, but I will sometime this summer. I had some other things done, e.g., new wheels, replaced very rusty lower control arms, new rear brakes and rotors, and just replaced front wheel bearings. Oh, also the delete and tune thing.

if theyre going to remove the fabric then reapply it, see how much it is for them to swap it to black!

when mine starts to sag that's what im going to do lol

 

[ksing44]

I thought about switching the headliner to black, but the quote doesn't include other parts, e.g., the sunroof cover or the A-pillars. It would get much more expensive if those items were inluded. In particular, the upholstery shop owner told me the sunroof cover is not easy to replace. I could tell he didn't want any part of that.

 

[atsffan]

Had mine done a few years ago along with B-pillars. Less than $1k for everything.
B pillars were a couple hundred by themselves. That fabric had almost shrunk from the backing and was showing the edges

 

[AverageAndy]

My son's '13 Golf is sagging and I got a quote of $650 from an upholstery shop here in Phoenix. They did have an alternate option for $350, if I brought them the headliner removed from the car and then reinstalled it myself.