This installation guide is designed as a guide for fitting an Optimise Automotive MK1 or MK2 (1959 to 1970) headlining kit.

Installing a headliner is very different to installing “nut & bolt” items. There is movement in the materials and as a result, a headliner needs to be manipulated, pulled and installed through the fitters touch & feel.

We recommend taking your time, do not rush the process and double check alignment before cutting or glueing anything.

Your Kit - What’s Included:

• 1x front frame headliner

• 1x rear frame headliner

• 1x driver side C pillar trim

• 1x passenger side C pillar trim

• 1x under rear screen trim

• 1x driver side sun visor (optional extra)

• 1x passenger side sun visor (optional extra)

Tools Needed (Recommended):

• Clean lint free cloth

• Grease removal cleaning agent

• Masking Tape

• Pencil

• Office stapler

• Bulldog clips 25mm (x32)

• Contact spray adhesive (high temperature resistant)

• Scissors

• Sharp knife

Preparation:

Before installing your new headlining kit you will need to remove the front seats, rear seat, rear parcel shelf board, the rear windscreen, rear quarter windows, rear view mirror, sun visors, C pillar trims, under rear screen trim, front headlining frame and rear headlining frame.

Although it will not be essential to remove your front seats and rear seat, we would recommend it, as the extra space makes removing the headliner frames and working on your Mini, much easier.

Pre-Installation:

Using a clean lint free cloth and a grease removal cleaning agent clean the area under your rear windscreen, where you will be installing the new under rear screen trim. Allow the cleaning agent to dry and/or evaporate naturally.

Before you begin installing your new headliner to the frames, examine how the old headlining is stapled and glued to the frames. Paying particularly notice to how the headliner material is cut around the framework.

Tip We recommend doing one frame at a time, this way you have the other frame to refer back to if needed.

Installation - Headliner To The frames:

1. Lay the headlining face down flat on a bench and using a pencil mark a faint centre line, front to back.

2. On each of the tabs (for each of the cross-member struts that run side to side) cut two slits either side of the centre line, which will allow the tabs to pass either side of the central strut (that runs front to back).

3. Now lay the frame on top of the headliner and align the central strut (that runs front to back) with the centre line on your headliner.

4. Pull the headliner tabs around each cross-member strut (that run side to side) and staple, just like the original.

5. When you get near the ends (at the sides of the frame) cut away the excess material from the tabs, which will allow the tabs to pass around the edge of the frame. On the inside of the frame cut the material at 45 degrees and leave a tab which will run under the frame. This tab will later be folded back around the frame (around the outside) and be glued in place. Do not cut the stitch lines.

6. It’s now time to start pulling and clipping the headliner into place, start in the middle of the the curved edge, pull it tight, wrap the headliner around the edge of the frame and attach a bulldog clip in the middle. Move to the other end of the frame and do the same.

7. When you are happy with the central front-to-back tension proceed and clip the headliner to the rest of the front and back of the frame. Pulling and wrapping the headliner around the edge of the frame and continually checking that the headlining is tight. At this stage adjust the tension front to back (by resetting the bulldog clips), ensuring that the stitch lines are parallel with each of the cross-member struts. Or in other words, make sure the stitch lines are straight.

8. Once the front and back of the headlining is clipped you can start to clip the sides. As with the front and back, pull the headlining tight (side to side) and clip it around the edge of the frame, work your way from the back to the front.

9. We recommend leaving the headliner to hang overnight and once it has settled make any necessary adjustments to the tension the following day.

10. When you are happy with the tension, one side at a time (we recommend starting at the rear and working your way forward, finishing with the front), remove the bulldog clips and apply spray adhesive to the outside ring of the frame and the edge of the headliner. Or in other words, spray the glue where the headlining will be stuck to the frame.
    Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the headliner in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

11. Once the adhesive has gone touch dry stick the headlining to the frame, pulling it tight and wrapping it around the edge of the frame. Repeat with all four sides (as mentioned above we recommend starting at the rear and working your way forward, finishing with the front), continually check to make sure that the the stitch lines are straight. Use a hair dryer to warm the vinyl, this will soften the material and make it easier to manipulate. Please be careful not to over heat.

12. Finish off by reinstalling the trim-clips, just like the original.

13. Repeat the process with the other frame.

Installation - Headliner to the Mini:

With the headliner now fitted to the frames, you can install the headliner trim and the headliner frames to the Mini.

1. Mask up around the lower half of your rear window (exterior of the Mini), to prevent over-spray from the adhesive.

2. Using a contact spray adhesive spray the lip of the rear window (exterior of the Mini) and also under the rear windscreen (inside the Mini). Or in other words spray the glue where the under screen trim will stick (inside the Mini) and wrap around the window edge (exterior of the Mini).
   Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

3. Stick the under rear windscreen trim under the rear windscreen. For reference, the under screen trim is the long thin rectangular shaped trim. Wrap the trim around the edge of the rear windscreen opening.

4. Using a sharp knife, trim off the excess material from the rear window openings (exterior of the Mini). Ensuring that the under rear screen trim will be hidden under the window rubber trim.

5. Position the C pillar trim panels, they are secured into place by the rear quarter window bracket (which you will install a little later).

6. Remove the masking tape from the rear window opening.

7. Install the headliner frames back into your Mini, they slide into place. Install the rear frame first, followed by the front frame.

Post-Installation:

With your new headliner now installed, you can reinstall the (we recommend in this order) the rear parcel shelf board, rear quarter windows, rear view mirror, sun visors, the rear windscreen, the rear seat and the front seats.