David, can I ask how you get the actual roof lining panel out of the vehicle ?

I have taken out all the fittings, lights, sunvisors, etc. etc. I have removed the rear seat belt caps but I am not sure how to take off the trim sections if I need to.

The main thing is getting the headlining panel out.

Pierre3.

Hi Karlos, unfortunately there is nowhere in Ireland where you would get the job done for £250. Or if you can then it will be a completely sh**e job.

David, do the springy things just pressure fit under the sunshade ?

Pierre3.

Hi David, thanks for all your information, and many thanks for asking about the adhesive. I now, at least, know what to look for, and I think that the Tensorgrip T44, that is available locally, will suit the job.

I spoke to a friend of mine today, who restores old cars generally, and, would you believe it, he has a full roll of the Oatmeal lining in his stockroom, which he bought from Martrim. He was going to redo some caravan or something but the customer changed his mind, so my pal said that he just put in his stores and it has been there for the last two years. Apparently, it is still fully wrapped up. He is willing to sell it to me for around €40 if I want to go and collect at the weekend. Which I think that I will do as it is a pretty good offer. I might just ask him if he will give me a hand doing the retrim !!

When you say that the sunshade runs better without the springy things how is that ? Does it just slide easier ? Is there any downside to leaving them out ?

Pierre3.

If you think he's bad, well, my grandson goes to school in Scotland and they have to do all their spellings in phonics - that is pronouncing the letters as they sound.

When I asked him to spell some words it sounded like he was speaking a foreign language !!! In a couple of years I won't be able to understand him so he should then be able to do a "Go Compare " ad for TV.

Pierre3.

I think that it could be "twat" 😂 !!!

Pierre3.

Excellent stuff, guys. Those springy clip things are actually quite expensive when you find them for sale. I see that they are around $40 or more each, to which you would have to add postage from the States, and then probably import tax. So it would make sense to make as much care as possible to try to keep them from disappearing down the drain !!

What holds the material to the sunshade ? Is it just the adhesive ?

It's milling down with rain at the moment so I can't do much about the headlining, or sunroof, until better weather appears.

Pierre3.

Thank heavens for your posts, I was beginning to think that I was the only one one who hates him 😆.

Pierre3.

OK, so it looks like I am going to have to do this myself.

Is the any benefit in trying to find an adhesive that doesn't stick tight first time, or would any adhesive like that seep through the material ?

I am supposing that the whole point of quick drying adhesive is so that it only sticks to the foam back of the headlining.

I am hoping that the following will be suitable. The blurb says that it is intended for use on headlining material but anyone who has re-upholstered their headlining maybe able to comment on whether it is suitable.

"Tensorgrip T44 – Automotive Re-Trim Spray Adhesive. Tensorgrip T44 is a high temperature re-trim adhesive
Tensorgrip T44 is a high temperature automotive re-trim adhesive. This is suitable for bonding carpets, head linings and panel fabrics to wood, metal and composite substrates. It bonds foams, fabrics and headlining materials to wood and GRP. It has a high temperature resistance."

Karlos, to be honest I would have jumped at £250 to do the job, but I would have to see some examples of the persons work. I think that if it is done not very well then I may as well do it myself. I sincerely object to paying someone to do a c*ap job !!

Pierre3.

Can you tell what the clips that referred to look like ? What is the chance of buying new ones ?

I saw a a clip advertised but is this the item mentioned above that might fly off ?

Pierre3.

Hi, thanks for all the information.

Unfortunately the weather is due to be bad for the next couple of days but I will take a closer look at it when the weather improves. As it is the material is hanging down on the passenger side of the sunroof panel so I will be able to see what is there.

If the lining is hanging down does that mean that someone has had the sunroof out previously ? It used to annoy me that the little clip that joins the headlining edge trim was missing when I bought the vehicle, and I managed to buy a new one last year although I haven't fitted it yet.

Pierre3.

Seeing as how it is Tuesday I thought that I would post a few jokes, just to make everyone miserable !!

Condoms don't guarantee safe sex! A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot dead by the woman's husband!

A government survey has shown that 91% of illegal immigrants come to Britain so that they can see their own doctor.

Due to the current economic crisis, Greece is cancelling all production of humus and Taramasalata. It's a double dip recession.

A dwarf goes to a very good but very busy doctor and asks, "I know you are busy but do you treat dwarves?"

The doctor replies "Yes, but you will have to be a little patient".

In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as:
"I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".

The police still haven't seen the funny side, my laptop's been confiscated, and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

63 immigrants seriously hurt in Bradford this morning.
It was not a terrorist attack, a bunk bed collapsed.
The police are blaming AL IKEA.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jonathan Ross has been accused of shoplifting a kitchen utensil from Tesco.
Ross says it was a whisk he was prepared to take.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Police stop an immigrant in his transit on the motorway. Policeman says, "Do you know the limit is 70?"
The driver leans into the back and says: "Hear that - 3 of you have got to get out!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A very nice, innocent Australian woman wants to get married, but she is only willing to marry a man if he has never had sex with another woman.
After several unsuccessful years of searching, she decides to take out a personal ad.
She ends up corresponding with Scotty Greer, who is an average golfer and who has lived his entire life in the Australian Outback and he has had no experience with women. They meet and she is very happy with him; she feels that they are perfect for each other.
Eventually they end up getting married.
On their wedding night, she goes into the bathroom to prepare for the evening.
When she returns to the bedroom, she finds her new husband standing in the middle of the room. Naked. All the furniture from the room is piled in one corner.
"What happened?" she asks.
"I've never been with a woman," he says, “but if it's anything like a kangaroo, I'm gonna need all the f***kin' room I can get!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Paddy took 2 stuffed dogs to Antiques Roadshow
”Ooh!” said the presenter. “This is a very rare set produced by the celebrated Johns Brothers taxidermists who operated in London at the turn of last century. Do you have any idea what they would fetch if they were in good condition?”
“Sticks,” said Paddy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just got barred from B & Q.
Some guy in an orange apron came up to me and asked if I wanted decking.
Lucky for me, I got the first punch in.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Man walks into a shop in Australia.
Man: "I bought this second-hand boomerang yesterday, and it does not work. You clearly said 'It always returns' ".
Shopkeeper pauses, looks at the boomerang, then at the man, and says: "......well?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I know this is controversial but I just have to stand up and be counted.
Been on the fence about this but there’s been a lot of debate about anti-Vaxxers in the news lately.
I am now coming forward to stand up and say I’m firmly in the anti-Vax camp. And I know most will be rolling their eyes at this now.
I have my reasons, like many anti-Vaxxers, but it’s important that everyone approaches this sensitive topic armed with the information THEY know to be true.
I know my truth and I have first-hand experience that backs up my stance.
I had a Vax once and it was the noisiest, worst vacuum cleaner ever. I will never buy one again. All these armchair experts have clearly never experienced the disappointment of having to go over the same piece of carpet again and again to pick up the same piece of fluff
I am firmly in the Dyson camp, and I will not be told otherwise…

I just don't like that numpty Riland either, I wish that they would take him off the TV.

Pierre3.

As I said earlier, I do believe that all the members here are rather more adult, practical, and worldly-wise than a lot of the rather snobby bunch on the Mercedes Benz forum, rather than the MB-UK forum.

My main gripe with the administrators of the Mercedes Benz forum is that they seem to consider that a motoring forum should be regarded as a site aimed at children as well as adults, and therefore any content has to be suitable for 8 year olds as well as 58 year olds. And that is where I feel that the administration goes off the rails because, to me, it should be like a pub - you don't go to the pub, because it's for over 18's generally, and expect to be told that you can tell adult jokes, or have adult type conversations by the landlord because it might offend a 10 year old child. I would want to know why that child is still in the pub !!!

I agree with Gordon about young drivers being good as I, myself, used to drive tractors and cars from the age of about 12 on a relations' farm. I would drive an uncle's car down the fields to help him when he would be doing the fencing, and driving tractors was an every day event.

But would I mind my son or daughter reading adult jokes or comments on a motoring forum, allowing for the fact that they could drive and were interested in some of the threads ? No, I probably wouldn't mind too much as the likelyhood is that they would have the same or worse at school. One has to be realistic about these things, I believe.

Hey-hoo, I think that it's time to put this to bed though. Although I probably won't be too bothered about going back on the Mercedes forum.

Pierre3.

I appreciate all the information given here, and [damn you all, I'm kind of thinking of doing it myself now 😅 😅 😅] the one thing that I can't quite figure out is how to do the sunroof panel.

I have read pretty well all of previous posts on the forum on how to do the actual roof panel, but I have noticed that when reffering to the sunroof a few people have suggested removing the glass and everything. Do you really have to do this ? After reading about all the breakable bits in the sunroof track I am not sure that I want to try taking the glass out and breaking NLA plastic clips and stuff.

The only thing, I suppose is that, if the sunroof is taken out, a good service and grease can be carried out. But - I am still concerned that I would make a dogs' doo-dah of getting it out. And, currently, I don't have any leaks from the sunroof, although it is a bit slow opening.

I'm very disappointed that no date and invitation has been received for the free beer event at David's relining job. I have just rung social security to see if doing "foreigners" will affect my old age pension and they have said it is OK to be paid in beer provided I drink it all before I arrive back in Ireland. Now all my arrangements are goosed. Damn, damn, damn. I now know how Homer Simpson feels when Moe's Tavern is closed.

I think that I can buy a roll of Cashmere lining from a guy who I believe has a roll, but could someone - anyone - recommend some different adhesives that I could look for here, and that I wouldn't need to import from the UK, which I probably can't do due to the flammible rating. I would have to buy the adhesive here.

I know that it's a cheek but if someone has the time to do a blow by blow account of how to get the sunroof out would be really gratefully received.

And again, thanks for all the advice, support and information.

Pierre3.

Wow, George, that certainly went the long way around !!

Pierre3.

Ah-ha, Gilbert is flaunting the rules 😃, honestly, encouraging people to break the rules by offering them beer.

What time do you want me round ???

I did some reading up, this afternoon, on the heat and sound-deadening material that glues to the roof. I did notice that one product was listed as a bitumin backed roll that is extremely adhesive. I hadn't realised that there are so many super-sticky products about, but, my-my, some of them are expensive.

As you say, Dave3d, it is turning into quite a big job. I do know that I would have to add an extra €300 or thereabouts to the guy who quoted me to reline the headlining. As I mentioned earlier I was quoted around €700 to remove the old lining and re-upholster the roof panel, so you can imagine if I ask him to include sound deadening as well it will cost me an arm and a leg. Easy enough if I had leprosy but he wants real money apparently 😅

Pierre3.

From my point of view any of these forums that involve owning, driving and maintaining any older or classic cars is aimed at adults. Maybe I am being naive but I don't quite know why a motoring forum would be including under-age children. They don't drive, they don't own motor cars so why would the forum state that a mildly adult joke is "unacceptable comment" ?

I don't know who owns the forum but I think that it is "approved" by MB UK. Whoever the moderators are they are obviously a pretty childish bunch of tossers. I have seen the occasional remark from some posters [I would like to say contributors but I don't really see what they contribute] asking whether an earlier poster "if he would allow his children or grand-children to read such and such a post", but I have asked previously who the forum is supposed to be aimed at - children or adults.

You never get a straight answer because I have found, in the past, that most of the posters, or members of the forum are a somewhat ponsy bunch. A lot of them know each other and you see jolly old meetings mentioned, where Tom Snotdick brought his newly rebuilt Mercedes W118 Landaulet [costing £65,000] to Warwick Castle to have tea with Mr and Mrs Ed Wobbleknob, Mr and Mrs Jules Stockbottom and Horatio Knobwobbler.

They tend to be very pretentious, and a lot of them own stuff like MB softops which are around 10 years old or so, and they like to call them "classic cars". Again, a lot of them have two or three models from 10 years old to 30 years old but these are all big money motors. So it gets a bit painful reading their buddy-buddy posts.

Anyway, that's my rant over - for now !!!!! Now at the risk of over-egging the cake;

Pierre3.

I am pleased that this forum is the preserve of adults and not children who shouldn't really be reading about driving and mechanical stuff - unless they are proper grown-up for their age kids !!!

I have the honour of being suspended by the Mercedes Benz Club forum yesterday because - My God - I posted an offensive cartoon that apparently could offend a 10 year old child reading the forum. What always fascinates me about car forums is who they are designed for, and I was unaware that the MB club forum promotes buying, selling, and driving Mercedes cars by 10 years olds. So there, you see. It seems that the Mrrcedes Club is not really intended only for owners buying and maintaining their 5 litre motors [or whatever] but is also for children under the legal driving age, as well.

I am now waiting to see a 14 year old legally owning and driving a 500SL which he has just spent his pocket money of £25,000 on !!! I don't, of course, include the 14 year old criminals who have just stolen that 500SL !

So, if and when, I bother going back to the MB club forum I must remember to stick to the rules as designed by the namby-pamby snowflakes who are the moderators and who don't like to see slightly risque jokes or cartoons. I think that these PC numpties are the same nuggets that have decided that the name of the childs toy, Mr Potatohead, is no longer acceptable. It seems that it is to be changed to a nice, grey, PC name, probably like Tuber Body Part !!

Here is my cartoon anyway, for better or for worse:

I think that we should have a jokes thread as well, by the way. Anything funny, sarcastic, amusing would do.

Pierre3.

I looked at the Martrim linings but I think that Woolies has better colours, - but- as you note, you are very close to Martrim so it would make sense to buy from them.

I bought a roll of Oatmeal lining material based on Martrims recommendation but, having received it, I think that is too grey for the Lightstone leather interior. A guy that I know, from whom I got a quote to do the lining, showed me the Cashmere lining and I think that it is a much warmer look, and is a bit better of a match for the Lightstone.

Oatmeal may be closer, but I think that Casmere looks a bit "richer".

Adding soundproofing between the headling panel and the roof may be a very good idea and I might consider it myself. The only issue that I can see, and it has been brought up by guys in the States, is making absolutely sure that any adhesive is really high temperature stuff. Quite a number of guys have said that they have had issues later due to the very high temperatures in the American west, because the adhesive loses stickiness because the roof steel gets so hot.

It would be rare for us to see those temperatures but even if we have a good sunny, summers day the roof of the vehicle could easily be 40 degrees, if not more. I would be worried that the glue would come unstuck above the headling panel, and the insulation material would flop down inbetween the two panel, the roof and the headlining. It would be a real pain to have to take everything out again to sort it out.

Maybe the air gap is there for a reason ?

I wouldn't fancy making a big change to the roof lining colour because of the difference in colours, clashing with the existing upholstery. If it was a couple of shades different then it would probably work OK, like using either Oatmeal or Casmere in my vehicle. But I don't think that I would use silver or white, for instance, as the colour difference would be too great. But Grey or Oatmeal [which is almost Grey in the daylight] would probably work and make the interior a bit lighter.

I guess the only way is to go to Martrims place a get a look at the material in the daylight, and see what you think, but I wouldn't personally use black as I think black just makes everything dark and gloomy and makes the interior look smaller.

I looked at buying an E-class Merc or a 5 series BMW two years ago and everything was black interiors. I went to a number of main dealers looking at 2 year old [or thereabouts] models and I remember that I saw one Merc that wasn't black interir - and it was red !!

I bought a Lexus IS300h with cream leather instead.

Pierre3

Hi, I was going to order from Martrim but the issue of trying to do it on my own I feel is too big. If I had someone to help then it might be different.

As mentioned above, the problems now associated with trying to bring in the materials are another issue, along with the fact that I can't import the adhesive. Trying to get the correct product is quite tricky, any of the products listed in the UK are not really easily available in Ireland.

I got a roll of Oatmeal from Martrim last year, but having looked at it and compared it to the roof lining in the vehicle I think the colour is much to light to suit the Lightstone leather. I found that Cashmere from Woolies is a better match.

I expect to be in Edinburgh some time during the summer, if we are allowed to travel, and I would take the opportunity to get the headlining replaced at that time. I know of only one guy in Dublin so the price is determined by supply, and he is looking for around €700 to do the job.

Pierre3.

Hi, can anyone suggest an upholstery company in Edinburgh, to retrim the roof lining in my P38 ?

I have emailed:
Tom Kelly in West Gorgie Park and
Samco

but any other contacts would be appreciated. But in Edinburgh or surrounding districts. Please don't suggest guys in Newcastle on Tyne, or Manchester or somewhere else miles away 😀.

I want to get the roof lining redone in the summer - provided that we can finally travel !!! 😂

I know a lot of guys have done this themselves but, to be really honest, I would find this a bit too big to do myself, especially outside on the drive, on my own.

Pierre3.