Adding headliner to 1999 Boxster

[Stefan]

One of the nice improvements of the later models years is a liner on the convertible top that absorbes a lot of sound. Has anyone tried to put one of these in an earlier model?

I noticed that one company that sells the glass-rear-window convertible top for earlier models also sells a "headliner assembly".

http://www.gahh.com/boxster-roadster-1999-...7_341_3004.html

[CA_Boxster]

It is possible, but I believe there are some hardware components required, too. I asked about it at a shop and they said it woulf be $400+ (I forget the exact price they gave me, but I'm sure it included some markup). I don't know if there's any difference in OEM vs. aftermarket tops that would affect the installation or the headliner - you should make sure whatever you consider will work with the top you have.

In my case it might be worth up to $200 total to get a little heat insulation on the roof in the summer, noise insulation in general, and a finished look on the roof (though the unfinished roof has never bothered me at all). Anything over $200 just isn't worth it for me, though. It doesn't provide all that much function.

[Tool Pants]

I watched the mechanic at my local dealer for a while as he replaced the top on a 1999. I asked if the type of liner that started in 2000 with the S could be retrofitted and he said yes, and showed me the additional part that would be needed. It looked like something that would attach to the frame. We were talking about the oem liner.

I have not seen the GAHH liner.

This company also has a liner and I have not seen this one either. http://www.mgracing.an/inner_covers.htm

[porscheguy05]

I watched the mechanic at my local dealer for a while as he replaced the top on a 1999.  I asked if the type of liner that started in 2000 with the S could be retrofitted and he said yes, and showed me the additional part that would be needed.  It looked like something that would attach to the frame.  We were talking about the oem liner.

I have not seen the GAHH liner.

This company also has a liner and I have not seen this one either.  http://www.mgracing.an/inner_covers.htm

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I ordered a new GAHH top with glass window, and I was going to add a headliner but they said that their headliner could not be used to add to a year that did not come with one from the factory. It was worth a try though.

[jonathan]

I was just looking at that idea (the headliner). The install manuals at www.alldatadiy.com show both the with and without procedures. I haven't done a side-by-side comparison yet. One obvious difference is that there is a different middle bow piece for the with-headliner version. This piece has a channel in it that accepts some part of the headliner, not clear which.

If, as Tool Pant's contact mentioned, that piece is the only difference, then it should be pretty easy to do.

I have to take care of the top itself first but maybe I'll do the headliner later.

[jonathan]

BTW: there is a less expensive source for the glass-window top that fits earlier model Boxsters. I just bought one from CabrioWorld for ~700 shipped. I won't receive it until next week but I'll post then re: perceived quality etc.

[jonathan]

Installed the top a few months back; very happy with it so far. The top is made by GAHH. R&R took six hours, evenly split, but I'm pretty slow and careful.