Can anyone recommend an experienced shop in the San Francisco Bay Area for headliner replacement?
Thanks,
Bill Walsh
Thanks,
Bill Walsh
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Headliner Replacement - SF Bay Area
- Thread starter Bill Walsh
- Start date
Bill, I know of a reputable shop in San Jose, but have not gotten a quote from them. May be too far from you? I need the headliner on my 94 replaced badly!!! Could use the sunroof lubricated at same time if they can do that, mine is very sticky..
I think the key is to find suitable material, as I don't think the OE materials are available any longer.
Tomer
I think the key is to find suitable material, as I don't think the OE materials are available any longer.
Tomer
I have the same issue and in the same location? What is the reputable shop in San Jose? I am looking for same OEM look. (my 560SEC also needs this and I got a swatch of potential replacement material from www.globalupholstery.com that I need to compare against what a shop could offer)
I'd be interested to know if this shop has done any 500E's. Taking the interior trim pieces off is tricky and the clips are easy to break. I got a verbal quote in the $3K range from a good shop n Marin using non OEM material.
Use Val’s Upholstery in the Mission (SF). Mike Jay, who is Val’s son ( Val has long since retired ) handled reupholstering my two front seats w excellent results. He also does headliners and had some comments about my own ( which was done on the prev owner’s nickel at a shop in CT)
Thanks Jlaa, worth checking out both Val's and Bascom.
Maybe we should draw straws. The winner goes last.
Thanks Tomer, interesting in your impression of their experience on these cars.
Let us know if you ever got a quote from Bascom.
I was not able to make it Friday :-( but spoke to them and got a verbal ball park number of ~ $750, depending upon the fabric I choose and that does not include the fabric on the sunroof.
I still expect to make it in to the shop Friday at the latest, and will post the results.
Tomer..
Thanks. I've been told that since OEM material is probably not available you would not be able to match the sunroof panel with aftermarket material. I'd be surprised if they could do a labor intensive job like this for $750.
For what it’s worth, this vendor seems to be a have the original vinyl and sells it with foam backing.
https://www.headlinerexpress.com/im...7.html?zenid=c10b3353fbedbc23afef0939d9b932e8
Looking into going this route when I recover my 124s roof.
https://www.headlinerexpress.com/im...7.html?zenid=c10b3353fbedbc23afef0939d9b932e8
Looking into going this route when I recover my 124s roof.
I bought the headliner from Headliner Express. It is not the exact factory color or texture, but it would be hard pressed to determine that is is not. I had Barkley Wong of Premier Upholstery of Santa Clara install it. They did a great job. Be sure to have the sunroof done at the same time.
What headline did you order from headliner express. I need the gray kit.
Yes, I will attend Legends this year. Need to get my 560SEC headliner installed before then and a rear seat repair or I will be shamed by Gerry at Legends. I did order via Headliner Express but just inquired about cancelling. Thanks for the tip. I should try and arrange a NorCal meet one of these weekends, maybe in 2022 when both my kids are in college. 
Howard, this is great news!!!
Did they have to remove the windshield to get the headliner out? I was told by Bascom that the windshield needs to come out.
Also, what was the overall cost if you don't mind?
When I finally got a quote from Bascom, it was something like minimum of $1500, but they would not know the final cost until they had done some of the work. THis scared me a little so i did not proceed.
An informal get together would be great!!!
Tom
Did they have to remove the windshield to get the headliner out? I was told by Bascom that the windshield needs to come out.
Also, what was the overall cost if you don't mind?
When I finally got a quote from Bascom, it was something like minimum of $1500, but they would not know the final cost until they had done some of the work. THis scared me a little so i did not proceed.
An informal get together would be great!!!
Tom
I had headliners done in my E500 and my 560SEC by a great shop in Houston. Both headliners were around $600 each. Sunroofs included. They did not need to remove any glass or do anything special, and they jobs turned out stunningly, and I've been very happy. I'd say this was done in about 2013 -- I had mentioned it on the forum in the past, perhaps in my PWNER thread.
Anyway, the most important thing is finding a competent shop who knows how to work on Benz interiors. And selecting the material that you want.
Cheers,
Gerry
Anyway, the most important thing is finding a competent shop who knows how to work on Benz interiors. And selecting the material that you want.
Cheers,
Gerry
Thank you, I did not know this...
What a difference, as Bascom was going to charge a minimum of $1500, and they warned me the glass *may* crack and then of course thats another few hundred...
I will contact these folks today!
Tom
Side note about the windshield decals, the technically-period-correct decals for 1992-1995 vintage (all E500E) are not available from the Classic Center. They sell different ones... details in this thread.
The correct decal should say "MERCEDES-BENZ product" in all caps at the top, not "Mercedes-Benz product" in lower-case at the bottom. The latter ones, which I believe is what MBCC is selling, are period-correct for early-2000's models.
The correct decal should say "MERCEDES-BENZ product" in all caps at the top, not "Mercedes-Benz product" in lower-case at the bottom. The latter ones, which I believe is what MBCC is selling, are period-correct for early-2000's models.
I visited Barkley at Premier Auto Upholstery today and got great service. Thank you so much HowardK. We are starting with my 560SEC as that is what I drove to visit his shop. His shop guy Tony was also super helpful and pointed out some prior work had been done to try and save the current headliner. Barkley and Tony helped me pick out a suitable fabric and I will drop off my car on Friday. Then he will proceed to my E500. I got good quotes for both projects today that seems in line with other pricing. Both headliner and sunroof fabric will be replaced. I will have some small back seat repair as well on the 560SEC where the leather meets the bottom cloth stitching area. I will try and take some before and after pictures.
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That's crazy expensive from Headliner Express. You can get the same material for $20/yard. Foam is cheap and use a high quality adhesive. The aircraft industry uses 3M 1357 or 1357LE. They can be purchased by the quart and sprayed with paint gun- which yields better results than the spray can.
I little bit of that unseen surface on the bottom of my seat cushion pokes through and at first I though it was a tear in the leather. Its not. So by fixing the bottom surface cloth the car interior will show better.
Material that I selected for my 560SEC is ~ $35/yard. That was only the estimate (it has foam backing) I only need 3 yards.
Material that I selected for my 560SEC is ~ $35/yard. That was only the estimate (it has foam backing) I only need 3 yards.
My cost locally for 560 headliner and sunroof was $350 in 2013. Those aluminum edges on the back frame are sharp as razors.
Yes, I will attend Legends this year. Need to get my 560SEC headliner installed before then and a rear seat repair or I will be shamed by Gerry at Legends. I did order via Headliner Express but just inquired about cancelling. Thanks for the tip. I should try and arrange a NorCal meet one of these weekends, maybe in 2022 when both my kids are in college.
He will also shame you for the ABS pump bushings.....
I mentioned this in a post on labels by gerryvz. Anyway, to repeat, I scored an original windshield decal for my '94 E500. I was visiting a friend of mine in Marin and explained I was looking for an NLA windshield sticker. He took out a folder with a lot of Mercedes decals/stickders/lables. He found an original windshield sticker in the lot and gave one to me. He has a few more left.
