Get headliner down cleanly, safely, and without broken clips

A deployed (or faulted) roof/curtain airbag on a BMW 3-Series (G80 M3 shown) is more than a trim job—it’s an SRS job. That means battery disconnected, careful sequencing, and respect for every clip and connector hiding behind the headliner. The good news: if you slow down and follow a predictable order, you can expose and remove the curtain airbag cleanly for replacement, and—while you’re in there—bundle the rest of the crash repairs (seat-belt pretensioners and airbag control module reset) in a single pass through MyAirbags.

Two important truths up front:

1. Curtain airbags are not repaired—they’re replaced with new OEM units.

2. MyAirbags does repair/reset the supporting SRS components (seat belts & the airbag control module), which is why this removal is often done alongside an SRS module reset and belt rebuild.

Need crash-data cleared or locked belts rebuilt? Start an Airbag Module Reset

Safety first (non-negotiable)

• Disconnect the battery and wait several minutes before touching any SRS connector.

• Never probe SRS connectors with power connected.

• Do not ship live airbags. Replace curtain airbags locally with OEM parts; ship only belts/modules for service.

Tools you’ll actually use (from the video walkthrough)

• Torx: T15, T25, T30

• Drill/driver with Torx bits (optional, speeds things up)

• Clip remover / plastic trim tools

• Needle-nose pliers (two help)

• Pick tool

• Flathead screwdriver

• Painter’s tape & labeled bags for hardware

Step-by-step: remove headliner & curtain airbag (G80 M3 shown)

1) Drop the center overhead light

• Pry down the center light’s outer panel with a clip tool; it’s held by small clips.

• Remove two T15 screws under the cover.

• At each corner of the light are horizontal retaining clips—push in and pull the assembly down.

• Unplug the four wiring connectors (press each lock tab, pull straight out).

2) Remove both sun visors & related pieces

• Unclip the cosmetic covers to expose the inner fasteners.

• Use a flathead/clip tool in the inner slot; pull the visor down slightly.

• Release the metal clip set: with a flathead/pick, squeeze both sides toward the middle, wiggle the visor arm free.

• For the other anchor, push the hidden retaining clip down and remove.

• Unplug the visor electrical connector and set the visor aside.

• Pop out nearby overhead light/microphone modules the same way (clip tool, then unplug).

3) Remove the grab handles (front & rear)

• Pop the decor caps: insert an angled tool into the slot, twist gently, pry the cover off.

• Inside, use a thin flathead + needle-nose to compress the silver spring clips from both sides toward center; wiggle one end of the handle free, then the other. Repeat for rear handles.

4) Free the front and rear pillar trims

• Front: pop the “AIRBAG” emblem with a clip tool; remove the hidden T25 bolt.

• Ease the door weatherstrip back to release the trim claws; rock/wiggle the A-pillar cover rearward until it unhooks.

• Rear: similar move—peel the weatherstrip slightly, insert hands/clip tool from the top, tug the C-pillar trim free. Set both aside.

5) Drop the headliner carefully

• At the rear, release two headliner clips with a firm downward tug.

• At the front, release the remaining clips.

• Around the sunroof opening, work evenly—there are clips along all four sides.

• Support the headliner as it lowers so it doesn’t crease; rest it on protected seats.

6) Expose & release the curtain airbag

• Unplug the airbag connector (lift lock, then pull straight out).

• Along the roof edge are ~six retaining clips securing the curtain’s fabric tabs.

  • Best technique: two needle-nose pliers or a pliers + pick—compress the inner walls of the clip and wiggle out the tab without tearing the fabric.

• Remove the four T30 bolts holding the inflator/module to the body.

• Lift away the curtain airbag—it’s now free.

Notes:

• Keep every bolt/clip bagged by step (e.g., “Step 6—T30 inflator bolts”).

• If the curtain has deployed, expect talc/residue—cover the interior and vacuum gently after removal.

• Replacement is the reverse with a new OEM curtain; torque to BMW spec (check your TIS).

Clean curtain removal, bundled SRS services

A 2021 M3 arrived with a driver-side curtain deployment after a side swipe. The tech followed the sequence above to drop the liner without creases, removed the curtain, and—while open—pulled two locked pretensioners and the SRS control module. The curtain was replaced new (dealer part); belts and module went to MyAirbags. The belts were rebuilt with OEM-grade components, the module crash-data reset came back next day, and the car reassembled with no warning lights. One interior tear-down, all SRS faults resolved.

Seat belt locked or SRS light on? Start MyAirbags Seat Belt Repair 

Pro tips (to save time and trim)

• Photograph every layer. Your reassembly becomes a slideshow.

• Tape sharp trim edges before prying—especially near the sunroof opening.

• Label left/right for visor, handles, and pillar trim; some clips are handed.

• Support the headliner on clean towels across the seatbacks—no creases.

• Never force a connector. If it resists, the lock tab isn’t fully depressed.

Why the curtain airbag is a replace-only part (and where MyAirbags fits)

Curtain airbags contain pyrotechnic inflators and are not serviceable. Any deployed or faulted curtain must be replaced with an OEM unit and installed to factory torque/position. What is serviceable are the components that commonly trigger the SRS light after a crash:

• Seat-belt pretensioners/webbing — MyAirbags rebuilds pretensioners and can reweb belts with OEM-grade materials.

• Airbag control module — MyAirbags resets crash data so you keep your original coding and configuration.

Bundling these services during the same headliner drop saves time, shipping, and a second teardown.

Reinstall checklist (reverse order, but smarter)

• Mock-fit the new curtain: clip tabs loosely first, then install T30 bolts and torque to spec; finish clipping the tabs evenly.

• Harness routing: follow the original path and retainers; confirm no wire is pinched behind the headliner edge.

• Headliner up: seat sunroof-edge clips evenly, then front, then rear.

• Pillar trims: hook the feet, align, then push until the claws snap; reinstall weatherstrip lip.

• Grab handles & visors: compress spring clips fully—listen for a solid “click”; don’t forget visor plugs.

• Overhead light: plug all four connectors, seat the horizontal clips, reinstall T15 screws and cover.

• Battery reconnect & scan: after belts/module are back in, reconnect the battery, scan the SRS for codes, road-test for rattles.

DIY owner, pro finish 

A DIY M3 owner removed both curtains after a garage mishap triggered one side. He followed the photo-every-step approach, labeled all hardware, and avoided a cracked headliner by supporting it on towels. A dealer supplied both new curtains; MyAirbags handled two pretensioners and the module reset. Reassembly passed the SRS check on the first scan. The owner later said the biggest wins were “two teardowns avoided” and “no broken clips.”

FAQs

Can MyAirbags repair my curtain airbag?
No. Curtain airbags are replaced, not repaired. MyAirbags repairs seat belts and resets airbag modules (crash-data), which are typically needed after a deployment.

Is battery disconnect really necessary?
Yes. Always disconnect and wait before touching SRS connectors/components.

What about shipping airbags?
Do not ship live airbags. Replace locally with OEM parts. You can ship seat belts and modules to MyAirbags (follow their packing/ground-shipping guidance).

How long are belt/module services?
Turnaround is typically fast once received; check MyAirbags’ service pages for current timelines.

Do I need coding after an airbag module reset?
In most cases, no—resetting and reinstalling your original module preserves vehicle coding.

Do it once safely, cleanly, and with the right division of labor

A curtain airbag job lives or dies on sequence: battery off, lights/visors/handles/pillars, then headliner, then the airbag. Replace the curtain with a new OEM part; that’s the only safe path. But don’t miss the chance to close the loop on the rest of the SRS story while you’re in there: rebuild locked pretensioners and reset the module so the light stays off for the right reasons. That’s where MyAirbags shines—repair-and-return on belts and modules, OEM-grade results, and a workflow that lets you button up the interior once and get back to enjoying the car.

Ready to wrap this up? Start your MyAirbags Module Reset.