Re: Inner ceiling has collapsed ... any suggestion (archive)

Well, well, well.
If only you had browsed through the E38 forum, you would have seen that I published exactly the same question. Although I own an E38, there isn't any difference. I bought my car 3 weeks ago and about 6 days after I got it, a small depression began at the rear end of the headliner (inner ceiling). As time went by, this depression became larger and larger and now, sitting in the car is like sitting in a big top tent at a circus. The rest of the "droop" pulled down the unnaffected part and it has now all come apart. I got onto the dealer straight away and he ordered a new headliner from a local upholsterer. 15 days later and when the headliner arrived the idiot realised he had ordered the wrong colour. This morning I called him to see his progress and he said it will be here in a few days. In the meantime, this afternoon I went to another local upholsterer to ask his opinion and see how much it would cost. (I dont know the price of the job from the other upholsterer because the dealer is paying for it all) He said to me, in between trying to convince me its a beautiful car and the leather upholstery is superb (As if I didn't already know!) that there are two possibilities. The headliner can be glued back down and it would cost $100 (NZD) or, the sponge behind the headliner has come apart and it needs replacing, as does the headliner. This job would cost $200 (NZD) and he would need the car for a day.
I dont know whether your car is under warranty or not but the best advice I can give you is, either go to your BMW dealer and see who they pay to do their upholstery work, go to any used car dealers and ask who they would goto to fix your headliner, or go to a local upholstery shop and get a quote. Whatever you do, dont try to do it yourself, it is not something you would want an amateur to do. It might sound like a bit but Im sure it is well worth it, and if your headliner is like mine, Im sure you wouldn't be able to wait until its fixed.
Good luck and happy driving
Charles.

P.S I live in New-Zealand so the prices are in New-Zealand dollars (NZD).

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