Saging roof lining repair

[greggles]

Has anyone used these repair 'buttons' (see link below) to fix a saging roof lining. I just need to know if it works on an Audi of any description.

https://www.fruugo.qa/headliner-repair-button-universal-car-roof-fabrics-nylon-fit-compatible-for-all-carscheck-clothbeige/p-255109155-554160885?language=en

[spartacus 68]

No idea about those roof lining buttons, but I’ll bet it will look horrendous by the time you’re finished.

The only way to fix properly is to remove, strip off the old headlining, and use new OE VAG roof lining with a suitable contact adhesive. Tools wise, long handled torx screwdrivers, and this special tool for interior grab handles. https://vw.snapon.com/SpecialToolsDetail.aspx?itemId=38730184

There’s curtain airbags in there, so disconnect battery and leave for 30 mins. If this is a B6 Avant, headlining can come out via the tailgate.

Usual electric connections as sun-visors, central convenience lighting, etc. If there’s a sunroof, then the panel detaches around it with metal clips.

[daveyboy1967]

2 hours ago, spartacus 68 said:

No idea about those roof lining buttons, but I’ll bet it will look horrendous by the time you’re finished.

Like a '70s hot rod mate!

[greggles]

On 6/5/2025 at 5:48 PM, spartacus 68 said:

No idea about those roof lining buttons, but I’ll bet it will look horrendous by the time you’re finished.

The only way to fix properly is to remove, strip off the old headlining, and use new OE VAG roof lining with a suitable contact adhesive. Tools wise, long handled torx screwdrivers, and this special tool for interior grab handles. https://vw.snapon.com/SpecialToolsDetail.aspx?itemId=38730184

There’s curtain airbags in there, so disconnect battery and leave for 30 mins. If this is a B6 Avant, headlining can come out via the tailgate.

Usual electric connections as sun-visors, central convenience lighting, etc. If there’s a sunroof, then the panel detaches around it with metal clips.

I don't want the expense of removing the rear window to get to the roof lining. Nor did I want your opinion on what it might look like. I just needed to know if anyone had done this type of fix previously.

[spartacus 68]

33 minutes ago, greggles said:

I don't want the expense of removing the rear window to get to the roof lining. Nor did I want your opinion on what it might look like. I just needed to know if anyone had done this type of fix previously.

That's fair enough. This is a forum, so you're going to get different opinions and using roof lining buttons in my opinion is a bodge, but each to their own.

Here's the process on a B6 saloon. Good news is rear window doesn't need to come out. Removing front seats would probably help. You also don't need that interior grab handle too, looks like B6 are screwed/bolted in. 

 

[greggles]

Thank for the video, however, I am disabled and can't remove this myself. I had it costed at well over £500. So the buttons on a 22 year old car at less than £10 v £500 is a no brainer for me. I have seen pictures of vehicles other than Audi's with this fix, but can't seen to find out if it's possible to fit the screws into the roof shell e.g. if it's a cardboard composite or is it fiberglass.

[Magnet]

I don’t know Greg, but I would be surprised if it’s fibreglass and not a composite. 
Are you going to DIY this button arrangement? If so, I see a potential for the headlining to wrap around the drill, so worth giving some thought to avoiding that. Also recommend a stop on the drill to prevent drilling into the roof! 
If you are not carefully DIYing it then I would be even more wary of the consequences of the above via. a 3rd party. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

[greggles]

4 minutes ago, Magnet said:

I don’t know Greg, but I would be surprised if it’s fibreglass and not a composite. 
Are you going to DIY this button arrangement? If so, I see a potential for the headlining to wrap around the drill, so worth giving some thought to avoiding that. Also recommend a stop on the drill to prevent drilling into the roof! 
If you are not carefully DIYing it then I would be even more wary of the consequences of the above via. a 3rd party. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

Hi Gareth, the video's I have seen show a self tapping screw being fitted first, this has a base plate which stops the material from twisting around the screw. The material button then fits to the plate.

[spartacus 68]

Pretty sure its a cardboard composite. No need to use a drill. The buttons I've seen use self-tappers and the cloth button clips over.

[cliffcoggin]

If the headlinings are normally glued in place as Richard says, I wonder if it is possible to inject glue through the lining at selected spots using a syringe with a wide bore needle. It would need a non staining low viscosity glue and one would have to find the right points at which to inject, but if it works it would save the effort of removing the lining.

I have no idea if it would work as I have only just dreamed up the idea. Any opinions Richard?

[greggles]

https://youtu.be/R9zGH9KOUYA?si=k0Fqd_SzBwwTkyPB

Hi Cliff

This chap appears to be an 'expert' and mentions the glue idea, but warns against the stains it causes.

[cliffcoggin]

Fair enough. I wondered at the possibilty of staining. Can't say I like the the use of staples either. They look !Removed! awful.

[Magnet]

So are you DIYing it or not? 

[spartacus 68]

2 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

If the headlinings are normally glued in place as Richard says, I wonder if it is possible to inject glue through the lining at selected spots using a syringe with a wide bore needle. It would need a non staining low viscosity glue and one would have to find the right points at which to inject, but if it works it would save the effort of removing the lining.

I have no idea if it would work as I have only just dreamed up the idea. Any opinions Richard?

That's more complicated than physically removing it. I suspect you'd see glue stains and no guarantee of success. The foam is attached with a contact adhesive, but its the headlining material that's detached from the foam i suspect.

The correct way is to remove the headlining. It's basically a card composite with foam backed headlining glued on. As the glue dries or the card is subject to damp, the headlining material separates. On a 20 year old car, I understand that using these self tapper buttons is a fix, temporary or otherwise. 

Edited Monday at 04:09 PM by spartacus 68

[cliffcoggin]

Having just watched a few videos on the matter I now appreciate the problem of the foam detaching from the lining. The orange foam looks very like the stuff used in upholstery that crumbles and degrades as it ages.

[greggles]

21 hours ago, Magnet said:

So are you DIYing it or not? 

I was hoping to find an amiable car upholstery firm that might do the fitting, but so far it's a no! Mainly because they have never done this type of repair.