[W126 Coupe] Headliner Heartache

[Frank Alderete]

I recently had my headliner replaced at a local upholstery shop who
represented itself as being familiar with Mercedes.

In the process of installing the sliding roof panel they absolutely
destroyed the transport rails and roof lift mechanism for the sunroof. They
used a ten inch flat-head screwdriver to lift the sliding panel from the
sunroof drive mechanism---over and over-- as I watched for more than two
hours. I finally had to call an end to it, as I was ostensibly there to pick
up the car and I had to be somewhere else. They suggested I take it to my
mechanic and they would pay for him to install it properly.

When I got to the mechanics shop, he took one look at the skewed slider and
said the sunroof transport had to be replaced and that the parts would cost
$250. It was then I noticed dents on the roof, between the sunroof and the
windshield edge, that I believe happened when the guy installing the
headliner was going at it with the screwdriver..there were forearm prints
all over the edge of the sunroof.

When I called the upholstery shop and told him about the dents, he adamantly
denied doing it and demanded I bring the car back so he could see it.
Oh...and one other thing, my right rear taillight had a hole in it and a
scratch on the right rear flank of the SEC..So I take the car back, get a
long story about  how he owns up to any damage that he and his employees
inflict on a car and pretty much infers that I am trying to take advantage
of the situation. He also says that since he is paying $2400 for all new
headliner and a new sunroof panel from Mercedes (the only way he can get the
original fabric) why would he not pay $100 for a tail light?

"Take me to court," he says, as he storms off.

I said I'm only pointing out  that his technique for removing the
sunroof--that being the Big Screwdriver method--does not seem, given the
results,  how it should be done..which brings this question: how does the MB
manual say how to remove the transport mechanism from the sunroof?

Chet Hwilka, in a post about removing and reinstalling the headliner,
suggested a 1-1/2 in putty knife, a flexible tool, not rigid. My mechanic
used a soft, wedge shaped tool.

Frank.







-- 
Frank Alderete