51 44 011 Removing And Installing / Replacing Headliner (With Slide/Tilt Sunroof)

Special tools required: 

• 00 9 323 
• 54 1 230 

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

• Remove both sun visors and counter supports  . See 51 16 080 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING SUN VISOR AND LEFT OR RIGHT COUNTER SUPPORT .
• Remove all handles  . See 51 16 480 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING FRONT GRAB HANDLE .
• Remove both trim panels for roof pillar at front (A-pillar)  . See 51 43 201 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING PANEL FOR ROOF PILLAR AT FRONT (A-PILLAR), LEFT OR RIGHT .
• Remove both trim panels for door pillar (B-pillar, top)  . See 51 43 201 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING PANEL FOR ROOF PILLAR AT FRONT (A-PILLAR), LEFT OR RIGHT .
• Remove both trim panels for roof pillar at rear (C-pillar)  . See 51 43 255 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING TRIM FOR REAR LEFT OR RIGHT ROOF PILLAR (FRONT) .
• Remove rear console insert/make-up mirror in rear compartment  . See 51 44 011 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING HEADLINER (WITH SLIDE/TILT SUNROOF) .
• Remove switch for slide/tilt sunroof  . See 51 44 180 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING REAR CONSOLE INSERT / MAKE-UP MIRROR IN REAR COMPARTMENT .
• Remove hands-free microphone  . See 61 31 175 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING SWITCH FOR SLIDE/TILT SUNROOF .
• Remove both mirror lights  . See 84 11 550 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING HANDS - FREE MICROPHONE .
• Remove insert on front console  . See 51 44 ... REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING FRONT CONSOLE INSERT .

E65 only: 

• Remove left front seat  . See 52 14 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SEAT (NORMAL/ELECTRIC) .

Lever out left expander rivet (1).

Fig 1: Identifying Expander Rivet

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Completely open slide/tilt sunroof.

Release screws (2) on mounting frame (3).

Replacement: 

If necessary, replace nuts in headlining.

Fig 2: Identifying Mounting Frame And Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version 1: 

Slide floating roofliner (1) behind headliner (3).

Release remaining screws between mounting frame and glass sunroof cover with special tool 54 1 230. 

Release screws on mounting for bracket at rear.

Version 2: 

Fig 3: Identifying Special Tool (54 1 230)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Connect BMW diagnosis system and Service function:

• Body
• Locking and security functions
• Slide/tilt sunroof
• Select delivery position.

Remaining screws on mounting frame are now accessible and can be released.

Installation: 

Insert 2 special tools 00 9 323  between roof outer skin and water gutter. This prevents the water gutter on the roof outer skin from being twisted when the glass slide/tilt sunroof is closed.

Fig 4: Identifying Special Tool (00 9 323)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

E65 only: 

Move seat back of front seat to max. rear position.

E66 only: 

Move left front seat and seat back to max. rearward/downward position.

Move right front seat and seat back to max. forward/upward position and cover seat back.

Press roofliner (1) towards rear out of metal lugs (2) and remove to left (E65) or right (E66) rear door.

Fig 5: Pressing Roofliner

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation: 

Following parts of roofliner (5) must not be damaged or missing:

1. Mounting for console, front
2. Metal nuts for cover frame
3. Mounting for console, rear
4. Mounting to roof, rear
   Fig 6: Identifying Roofliner Components

   Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

If replacing version with cable to inside rearview mirror: 

Mark cutout (1) on roofliner.

A = Centre of roofliner

Up to 08/2005: 

B = 16 mm

C= 20 mm

From 09/2005: 

B = 16 mm

C= 22 mm

Fig 7: Identifying Mark Cutout On Roofliner

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Cut out cutout (1) with scalpel.

Installation: 

If necessary, use special tool 51 4 000 from E38/E39.

Installation sequence:

1. Carefully attach headliner at rear.
2. Secure roofliner at front with expansion rivet (in left counter support of sun visor)
3. Screw down grab handles at rear on left/right
4. Screw down grab handles at front on left/right
5. Screw down sun visors and counter supports
6. Screw down headliner at light aperture at front