Hello all, I'm doing a major overhaul of the wife's '04 R53, both mechanically and cosmetically. I thought I'd take a break from the mechanical stuff and tackle the drooping headliner. I have everything removed from the headliner except the center dome light. The information I have on this is to push/pull the back of the unit towards the windshield while simultaneously to pull it free of the headliner. Is this correct? It's not working for me. Any help with this would be most appreciated.

 

If your car is not a facelift car (with the strange looking surprised face light, and IIRC, there are a couple of screws screw up through the dome light as well into a backing plastic piece on the back side (upper side) of the headliner. Take the lens off and you should be able to see them. If you have the facelift version with the surprised face light, then no idea.

 

This is what I mean by the surprised face light. No idea if you have this one. Reminds me of the kid from home alone.

 

Take a screwdriver and lightly pry on the plastic lense on the long side. Once off you’ll see the two screws underneath.

 

Hers is not a "face Lift" car. (Apt description.) There were two screws under the lens as you said. I feel rather stupid now. (I obviously had bad info.) It's out now, thank you very much.

 

Yes, thank you very much. I have it out. Now on to the headliner itself.

 

A and C pillar panels are the hardest. I just did 2 headliners for my family. You can get them out without breaking them but it takes patience and I used a cotter pin puller screwdriver to pry out the tethered clips.

 

Thanks for the encouragement and tip. I'm starting at the back (C/D pillar) Have on a bit loose but not quite free, From another forum thread, I read that they do not have to come all of teh way out but I don't see how you can take the headliner out without the pillar trim being quite loose.

 

"Home Alone" comment made me laugh.........

 

My 2001 MINI S headliner is coming up next week. I'll do it. No one around here does headliners. Cherokee easy, Jetta HARD.

Picture is sooooo funny.

 

Old Thread - but for anyone else....
I completely removed my headliner in my '04 pre-facelift R53 without having to remove/loosen any pillars...And without cracking the headliner.
Just be patient and gently flex & pull away at each pillar. You might find it easier to also gently pull and gently bow from the center if you have the sunroof model. Work one side at a time.
Just be gentle,patient and with due care.
I was fortunate - Mine came out and reinstalled easy.