15 replies to this topic

[soopercooper]

I have my new Mk2 roof lining material from Newton commercial, and I've removed the roof from my mini - anyone got any tips for sucessful fitting of the new material? i.e. what order to do it in, what glue to use to stick it to the edges etc..

Any advice greatfully recieved, as I don't want to bugger it up!

[minimadjonesy]

my best piece of advise is.... get someone else to do it! even professionals hate doing roof linings!

[Guess-Works.com]

Roof linings are a complete pain in the ****..

1 get EVERYTHING out of the car, seats, windows doors, gearknob steering column and sepecially the handbrake..

you are going to have as much room to move as possible...

The last one I did too the best part of a week to get it right ( a couple of hours each evening ), but first, get some small bulldog clips or strong pegs ( you'll need a few)

then, after pushing the poles into the lining at the correct point connect them into the cant(?) rail from back to front, the right way up but leaning towards the back. then the first clip shoud be placed at the middle of the back (rear window) and the lining sdjusted so that the first rod id upright. then all the rest can be pulled up right and one clip placed at the middls in the front, this may take a few attempts but will mean the headlining is straight front to back and the poles are correctly situated...

you will then be able to complete the clipping of the front and back, again adjusting as necessary... You may then start on the sides, stretching the vinyl to form the correct shape, there may be a need to cut the lining around the "B" post.

Once all is clipped, sit in the car and look at it, look for strtch marks, mishapes etc as you will have to live with it when it has been glued...

ONLY when you are satisfied with the fit should you use glue, and a contact adhesive should be used.

[soopercooper]

Thanks guys - something to look forward to then!

Not sure about removing everything from car though - I just slid the two roof frame halves off the cant rail, whithout removing anything - wasn't difficult? Is this perhaps different on a Mk2 to later models?

[Woody]

The best stuf to use on the edges is "refix" tape , basicly glue on a roll , it is repositional (is that a word?) NOT double sided tape or contact glue (this can stain)
it also helps if the headlining has been kept in the airing cupboard , when positioning the head lining it is best to have a small fan heater in the car to keep it all nice and warm .

[Guess-Works.com]

ah does the MK2 still have the frames instead of the stretched lining ???

[soopercooper]

ah does the MK2 still have the frames instead of the stretched lining ???

Yep, has 2 frames - front and rear that just slide in and out of the rails.

[Guess-Works.com]

well in that case it's just a matter of attaching the newton lining to the frame.. which is no where near as difficult as the other lining.

[mini_sam]

i saw roof lining fitting on "a car is born" where they made the three Mini's...it looked rather hard, took about 5 of them to fit it! :nugget: ... and they were proffessionals!

[Purple Tom]

argghh!! I really am not relishing refitting the roof lining to the Clubby! in fact, b*gger it, i'm not going to bother! I'll just get some black carpet and stick that to the inside instead I reckon :tongue: (and it'll add to the headroom not having a headlining)

I hope you get it sorted ok soopercooper!

[binge]

ahh S**t, is it really that hard to fit!

Ive taken mine out already. Gona put a black one in.


Ive got nothing in my car at all though. Its a bare shell!

[kada1980]

I fitted the roof lining in the mini a couple of days ago took me the best part of an hour, no glue no mess used the half moon clips that you can get from minispares.

[mini-mad-dan]

a car is born- isnt' it called dream machines? or am i being dumb?

[Dan]

You're supposed to use glue (or tape) and the clips together. It will start to shrink when it gets warm this summer and if you haven't glued it all the way along the edges it will shrink more between the clips and start to pull inwards. The door and opening rear window seals won't hold it as tight as the front and rear screen seals do.

Don't use a black one Binge, I did and I regret it. Makes the car feel quite imposing.

Mk2 roof lining is easy, wrap it round the frames as the original was and then stick them back in, I think the front one has to go in first. It's in my ancient Mk1/Mk2 manual, I'll look it up and get back to you.

[kada1980]

The clips have a barbed hook on them and i doubt that glue will be any better, but time will tell, its a used roof lining so i'm assuming any play has already been taken out by the previous application.