Classic Mini Headliners

This installation guide is a recommended guideline only and it is designed as a guide for fitting Optimise Automotive products.

This fitting guide is for fitting a Classic Mini headlining kit using the rod system - the rod system is used on the following Classic Mini's:

• MK3 to MK6 Saloons & Clubmans (1969 to 1995)
• MK7 (Onwards) Saloons (1995 to 2000)

A full headlining kit (for the Classic Mini's listed above) includes the following:

1 x headliner
2 x A pillar trim
2 x B pillar trim
2 x C pillar trim
1 x under rear screen trim
2 x sun visor covers
 

Preparation

Tools needed (recommended):
Ph2 cross-head screwdriver (or Ph2 cross-head drill bit)
Clean lint free cloth
Grease removal cleaning agent
Contact spray adhesive (high temperature resistant)

Before fitting your new headlining you will need to remove the front windscreen, rear windscreen, rear quarter windows, rubber window/door edge trim, rear view mirror, sun visors, interior light and old headlining.

1) Remove the windscreens
We recommend that removing the windows is a job for two people and that you place a protective sheet (ideally some 2” foam) on the bonnet.

Please Note You remove both the front and back windscreens in the same way.

1.1) Remove the chrome (occasionally black) plastic filler strip from the rubber.

1.2) If you are removing the back windscreen remove the heated screen connectors (one on either side).

1.3) Push the windscreen from the inside of the Mini – it should pop out easily with some force.

2) Remove the rear quarter windows
We recommend that removing the back quarter windows is a job for two people.

2.1) Remove the screws that hold the window in position (4 screws per window).

2.2) Remove the windows from the Mini and store safely with the windscreens.

3) Remove the rubber edge trim
Remove the rubber trim from the:

3.1) Front windscreen.

3.2) Back windscreen.

3.3) Rear quarter windows (both sides).

3.4) Front doors (both sides).

4) Remove the interior headlining trim and fixtures

4.1) Remove the rear view mirror (2 screws)

4.2) Remove the sun visors (2 screws in each visor)

4.3) Detach the interior light (2 screws) and let it hang.

5) Remove the fitted headlining
Be careful not to damage the rods.

6) Clean the area you will be spraying with contact adhesive
Using a clean lint free cloth and a grease removal cleaning agent clean a ring around the edge of the roof (interior of the Mini) and on the lips of the windows. Or in other words clean where the headlining will be stuck to the Mini. Allow the cleaning agent to dry and/or evaporate naturally.
 

Installation (headlining)

Install the new Optimise Automotive headlining kit
With everything removed you are now ready to fit your new headlining.

Please Note This is a guide for fitting a headlining kit with two people helping – do not attempt to fit it in this way if you are on your own.

1) Insert the metal rails into the loops
The correct order from front to back is as follows:

Red
White
White
Black
Blue
Yellow

The front of the headlining is the end that has the equal sized sections, the back of the headlining is the end that has the smaller section after the first loop.

2) Spray glue to the roof of the Mini & the headlining
Using a contact spray adhesive:

2.1) Spray a ring of glue around the edge of the roof (interior of the Mini) and on the lips of the windows. Or in other words spray the glue where the headlining will be stuck to the Mini.

2.2) Spray a ring of glue around the edge of the headliner. Or in other words, once again spray the glue where the headlining will be stuck to the Mini.

3) Place the headlining in the Mini.
We recommend that placing the headlining in the Mini is a job for two people.

3.1) Place the headlining in the Mini – making sure it’s the right way round. The Red rail should be at the front and the yellow rail at the back.

3.2) Fix the rail clips into the holes in the roof rail.

3.3) Once the rails are fitted into the correct holes roll the rails so they are facing up – or in other words, following the shape of the roof.

4) Puling and sticking the headlining into place
If it has taken you less than 10 minutes from spraying the glue to this point, please stop and wait for the spray glue to go touch dry (tacky) before continuing.

Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the headlining in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the headlining kit will not stick correctly.

4.1) With one person pulling from the front and one person pulling from the back, pull the headlining tight.

4.2) Then stick the headlining to the Mini in the centre of the front and back windscreens.

4.3) Check that the headlining is tight – if you are happy with how it looks (front to back tension) proceed and stick the rest of the front and back.

4.4) Once the front and back of the headlining is stuck you can start to stick the sides. With one person on either side of the Mini, start at the back windows - pull the headlining tight (side to side) and stick it. Work your way to the front.

5) Cutting the excess material
Using a sharp knife/Stanley knife:

5.1) Trim off the excess material from all the window openings (the front windscreen, back windscreen and back quarter windows) and door openings (both front doors).

5.2) Also cut off any excess material from the A, B and C pillars.

Remember if you are fitting A, B and C pillar trim you don’t worry too much about cutting this excess trim off. However, make sure you cut the excess material off below where the pillar trim will be installed. As, you do not want to see bodywork between the headlining and the pillar trim.

6) Fit the matching A, B pillar and under back windscreen trim
Using a contact spray adhesive:

6.1) Spray glue on the A, B pillars and under the rear windscreen.

6.2) Spray glue on the A, B pillar and under rear windscreen trims.

Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the headlining in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the headlining kit will not stick correctly.

6.3) Attach the A pillar trim to the A pillars.

The A pillar trims are the "L" shaped panels (the "L" shape goes at the bottom and wraps in and around the top dash rail).

6.4) Attach the B pillar trim to the B pillars.

The B pillar trims are the rectangular shaped panels.

6.5) Attach the under rear windscreen trim.

The under screen trim is the long thin rectangular shaped panel.

6.6) Attach the C pillar trims, trimming them around the rear windscreen and rear quarter windows.
 

Installation (headlining trim, windows etc.)

Re-fit everything you initially removed
Now your new headlining is installed you will need to re-fit the front windscreen, back windscreen, C pillar trim, rear quarter windows, rubber window edge trim, rear view mirror, sun visors and the interior light.

1) Install the windscreens
We recommend that installing the windows is a job for two people and that you place a protective sheet (ideally some 2” foam) on the bonnet.

Please Note You install both the front and back windscreens in the same way.

We recommend that you lubricate the rubbers using car shampoo.

1.1) Feed the rubber edge trim onto the metal lip.

1.2) Place the bottom of the windscreen onto the opening lip on the rubber trim and push down, so it is fully in place.

1.3) With the bottom of the windscreen in place, start to feed the outer lip of the rubber over the window, working your way around the edge until the windscreen is fitted into rubber.

1.4) Once the windscreen rubber is correctly fitted you need to install the chrome (occasionally black) plastic filler strip into the gap in the rubber. You will need to use a windscreen filler tool for this stage.

1.5) Place the plastic filler strip into the end of your windscreen filler tool and insert the tool into the groove on the rubber (starting in the middle at the top). Simply push around the screen until the filler strip is installed within the groove.

2) Install the rubber edge trim
Install the rubber trim to the:

2.1) Back quarter windows (both sides).

2.2) Front doors (both sides).

3) Install the rear quarter windows
We recommend that installing the rear quarter windows is a job for two people.

3.1) Place the windows into position on the Mini.

3.2) Secure the windows (4 screws per window).

4) Install the interior headlining trim and fixtures

4.1) Install the rear view mirror (2 screws).

4.2) Install the interior light (2 screws).

4.3) Install the sun visors (2 screws in each visor).
 

Cleaning

We recommend cleaning your headliner after you have fitted it. However, if there are any marks or glue overspray on the headliner when you unroll it (from the packaging) you can clean it before you fit it, if you prefer. The headliner and/or the trim will likely get a little grubby when you fit it though - so we find it best to clean it after it has been installed.

To clean the headliner simply use a clean jay cloth and some white spirit (this will clean any of the headliner materials that we use and does not leave a coloured stain).
 

Final checks

Now that your items are fitted test to ensure that they are securely fastened before you drive your vehicle.