[shaggy1071]

Guys I have searched for the last couple of days, and there are a couple of threads on how to remove the headliner. I doesn't seem like it is to bad a task to do. My question is how do you remove the B-Pillars off to recover them? Can you safely remove the seatbelt to pull the panel off? If anyone has a link with pics, or ever a step by step, that would be greatly appreciated. I have a 2000 B5.
Thanks,
Alan.

 

[Passat2.8]

Pry the edges of the upper section of Pillar and pull straight off. Do the same to the lower section if necessary. Note that you must take out the lower sill trim to remove the lower section of B-pillar.

 

[shaggy1071]

Pry the edges of the upper section of Pillar and pull straight off. Do the same to the lower section if necessary. Note that you must take out the lower sill trim to remove the lower section of B-pillar.

So I don't have to remove the seat belts to get the panels off?

 

[AndreasPassat]

For starters, are you B5 or B5.5?
They made changes in 2001 to the panels on the inside. The B5's did not have airbags on the pillars and along the roof line.
The B5.5's have airbags and all of the plastic on the pillars and roof line have special tabs that break off BUT ALSO STAY ATTACHED TO THE BODY when the airbags deploy. There are nylon ribbons that stay attached to the body that are on the back side of the plastic panels on B5.5 versions.
If you have a B5 the panels / pieces CAN BE re-used. The B5.5 stuff CANNOT be re-used.
I just removed my headliner the other day on my B5.
I'll post pictures later today for you.

 

[AndreasPassat]

And no you don't have to remove the seat belts to get the panels off.

 

[shaggy1071]

For starters, are you B5 or B5.5?
They made changes in 2001 to the panels on the inside. The B5's did not have airbags on the pillars and along the roof line.
The B5.5's have airbags and all of the plastic on the pillars and roof line have special tabs that break off BUT ALSO STAY ATTACHED TO THE BODY when the airbags deploy. There are nylon ribbons that stay attached to the body that are on the back side of the plastic panels on B5.5 versions.
If you have a B5 the panels / pieces CAN BE re-used. The B5.5 stuff CANNOT be re-used.
I just removed my headliner the other day on my B5.
I'll post pictures later today for you.

AndreasPassat, I though I had the info in my original post. I have a 2000 B5. Please post pics up. That would help me a great deal. Did you take out your sunroof panel too? I am not looking forward to that part of it? What part of the car did you get your headliner out from?

 

[AndreasPassat]

Wow, I gotta learn how to read, I didn't even see that you had that info posted. I should have read the 'whole' post.
Sorry about that man.

I took out the headliner and the whole sunroof assembly.
The headliner is PITA because of it's limited ability to be flexible, it's not like you touch it and it cracks, but you do have to be fairly gentle with it.
Taking out one of the seats (or both even better) helps huge getting the headliner out. It's just slips out then. (Just remove one or both of the seats - trust me)
You can get it out of the car without removing the seats but it sure requires a fair amount of monkeying around and holding your tongue just right. (I will for sure be taking my seats out when I put the headliner back in).
My wife was on the drivers side of the car and I was on the passengers side and the headliner came out the front passenger doorway.

The sunroof is actually pretty easy to get out, it just a little heavy and awkward.

What exactly is it all that you want to achieve here?
I can probably take some video also if that would help?

 

[shaggy1071]

I am wanting to pull everything to recover them. The sunroof liner started falling down a couple of years ago, and the headliner had a cigarette burn on it, and it is starting to fall. I scored a really great deal on some new fabric, and I have the time now to do it. Plus, it gives me a chnce to clean up all the kids/wife mess in the car.

 

[AndreasPassat]

Here is the back side of the B pillar plastic cover removed.
These are the only (2) clips on the plastic, the rest is held in place by the front and rear rubber door moulding.
The edges of the plastic actually fit inside a lip on the door moulding.

 

[Passat2.8]

Some B5's have side curtain airbags FYI, as does my B5.