Body/Trim: Roof rail removal?

[DaveNP]

Tidying the shed just found the bag with the leftover bits from changing the roofrails, so the original bolts were, M5, 45mm long, Torx T25 head, with a built in flange/washer 12mm diameter.

Bored?? Nah this is fascinating stuff

[minesa240x3]

Attention to detail is hugely important.
Your information may save me and countless many others when it comes to the simple task of removing and refitting the roof rails.
I spent quite some time searching this section, and although the removal was often mentioned it never once talked through the procedure or what you might find, let alone the thread size torq drive or length of bolt, oh and washer Lol.
So a mahoosive thank you from me.

[amazondean]

Ok, I have removed a few of these rails. To avoid breaking the small covers, do as follows:-

get yourself a small flat screwdriver and long nose pliers. Put the small screwdriver in the top of the cover.(from the top down). Gently prising the screwdriver down behind the top of the cover without moving the cover too far towards the centre of the car, then with the long nose pliers grab the top of the plastic cover and pull upwards. You will almost definitely remove the covers without breaking the tabs. If you try to prise the clips out towards the centre of the car which your instinct would be, you will definitely break the tabs.

[minesa240x3]

wow
absolutely awesome amazondean,
Thank you, makes sense now you have given such detailed information, so one tab at the top and two at the bottom.

[amazondean]

I don't think there is a tab at the top as such, you just need to prise the top of the plastic cover away from where it is seated to get hold of the top of the cover. The cover is a tight fit against the rail, so you need something thin to ease down the cover so that you can grab the cover with the pliers. The pliers need to be long nose otherwise you can't nip the top of it. Then pull upwards. Do not pull sideways, you will break the hidden tabs.