[daveydavey]

Hi All

I have a 159 SW with roof rails which are looking very tired and letting the side down so was looking to get them re-coated, so need to get them off. I'm sure I saw a post on here ages ago with photos showing how to take them off (I believe they can be removed from the top by clipping off the end caps) but now can't find it. Does anyone know if they can be removed without having to remove the header lining?

Also can't decide to keep them black or get them painted silver to match the door mirrors and alloys, what do you guys think?

Cheers
Dave

 

[swq4]

The front and rear out side cover can be removed easily
The mounts for them and the inner section requires headliner removal
- i know I checked today and balked at the prospect.
Without complete removal of the headliner you cannot access the inner mounting nuts.

 

[Larry92]

The front and rear out side cover can be removed easily
The mounts for them and the inner section requires headliner removal
- i know I checked today and balked at the prospect.
Without complete removal of the headliner you cannot access the inner mounting nuts.

But the actual rails and clopcovers all come off.....would you need to remove the fixing points to refurb the rails?I dont think so....


headliner removal is asking for cabin rattles I think

 

[swq4]

When I checked mine last week, I had the front and rear covers off.
The centre rails cannot come off unless you remove the front or rear mount points.
Even with rear of headliner dropped ( I wanted to access the radio antenna), could not access bolt points
- it is not a captive nut the bolts screw into.

 

[tariqun]

Hi All

I have a 159 SW with roof rails which are looking very tired and letting the side down so was looking to get them re-coated, so need to get them off. I'm sure I saw a post on here ages ago with photos showing how to take them off (I believe they can be removed from the top by clipping off the end caps) but now can't find it. Does anyone know if they can be removed without having to remove the header lining?

Also can't decide to keep them black or get them painted silver to match the door mirrors and alloys, what do you guys think?

Cheers
Dave

Hey Dave...

I know exactly what you mean and have the same issue. The roof rails are silver on mine and whatever the top coat was has in the majority flaked/dissolved off. I had hail damage on my car a few years ago in Prague and they did need to remove the headliner etc to remove the rails to get to the bodywork and the flaking seemed to occur after that.

I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has somehow managed to refurb the rails with them in place i.e. removing the top coat by sanding and perhaps spray painting or even better powder coating in some way.

i hope there's someone out there as this can't be an isolated issue.

 

[daveydavey]

Hi all thanks for your replies and apologies for my late response.

I found the images in an old post I was looking for, which appear to show that the release of the rails can be achieved from above by undoing the hex bolts revealed by clipping off the end and centre covers, or am I wrong in my assumption, not had a chance to look at it myself yet.

I've attached pics, let me know what you think.

 

[swq4]

I am certain those hex bolts do not use a captive thread or nut inside.
One of mine is slightly loose and I can hear a nut rotating under the roof as I turn it.
Yet to figure how to access said nut without removing headliner (and that is a pain I can do without!)
Dropping part of the rear headliner has not given me access to the rear fastener.

 

[daveydavey]

Hi sorry for late update but been away on hols and then catching up on work after getting back. Anyway I can confirm that it is possible to get the rails off without having to remove the headliner, just picked up my 159 from the body shop and it's gone from flaky, peeling black rails to sexy silver! Big shout out the guys at Autoart for the great paint job.

 

[Larry92]

Hi sorry for late update but been away on hols and then catching up on work after getting back. Anyway I can confirm that it is possible to get the rails off without having to remove the headliner, just picked up my 159 from the body shop and it's gone from flaky, peeling black rails to sexy silver! Big shout out the guys at Autoart for the great paint job.

looks great,glad it's worked. where is this body shop you used? I need mine doing really...

 

[daveydavey]

I'm down in Devon mate so might be a bit our of your way!

 

[Larry92]

I'm down in Devon mate so might be a bit our of your way!

ooer. right yes. even from my second base near gloucester its a weebit far - goodto know its doable though so I'll make enquiries round by me

 

[daveydavey]

Gloucester eh that's my old neck of the woods, grew up and still have family in Stroud. Getting the rails off isn't without risk though, the guys at Autoart said it was touch and go on a couple of the bolts were spinning in the mounts but with a bit of pressure they managed it in the end. Also ended up with a slight gap where where a couple of bits wouldn't clip quite back together again but nothing major and easily filled and touched up when I get the chance. Cost £200 but money well spent rather than trying to bodge it myself!! Good luck finding someone to same.