Post purchase installation of roof rails

irishproduce

Hi folks,

I have been searching around online and am beginning to resign myself to the fact that fitting roof rails on a car without them is not possible or not something that is straight forward.

Can anyone advise me? Is it possible to carry this out easily enough? Where?

I have a C3 Picasso and would like to put the long roof rails down the roof in order to rent racks/ bars for a roof box.

Thanks
irish

Chimaera

irishproduce wrote: »

Hi folks,

I have been searching around online and am beginning to resign myself to the fact that fitting roof rails on a car without them is not possible or not something that is straight forward.

Can anyone advise me? Is it possible to carry this out easily enough? Where?

I have a C3 Picasso and would like to put the long roof rails down the roof in order to rent racks/ bars for a roof box.

Thanks
irish

If they were available as an option on the car then Citroën may have a retrofit kit available. Check with a dealer.

irishproduce

I'll do that Chimeara. Try to avoid main dealer as notoriously expensive but i'll see what they say

Thanks
irish

R.O.R

If they were an option on the C3, then it will be main dealer or scrapyard for the roof rails. Had to get roof rails on a 3 series estate swapped from black to chrome a couple of years ago, and it was much cheaper to buy the new bars from BMW, but get a body shop to fit them.

Still cost about €500 + VAT to get the rails swapped. Headcloth has to be dropped to access the screw holes on most cars with roof rails (not all) and that's a big job.

It's going to be much cheaper to buy a set of roof bars for the C3, than it is to get rails fitted so you can hire roof bars.

Checked the Thule fit guide for an 07 C3, and they make a kit for that car.

irishproduce

Thanks ROR, are you referring to the C3 or the C3 Picasso?
They are different cars.
I have the picasso version

poppers

http://www.micksgarage.com/roof-racks-bars-carriers/roof-racks-roof-bars/citroen/c3/c3-picasso-2009-onwards/

would seem to be the cheapest and easiest option

irishproduce

Thanks Poppers but I already looked at these last night.
I need to have the roof rails on the car to buy those. I don't have the roof rails but would like to install them - aftermarket.

poppers

irishproduce wrote: »

Thanks Poppers but I already looked at these last night.
I need to have the roof rails on the car to buy those. I don't have the roof rails but would like to install them - aftermarket.

No you dont scroll down the page,the set for €99 comes with brackets to attach to cars with no roof rails. (item code 200711).

R.O.R

irishproduce wrote: »

Thanks ROR, are you referring to the C3 or the C3 Picasso?
They are different cars.
I have the picasso version

Check on - http://www.thule.com/fitguide/default.aspx?language=en&market=ie

Not working for me at the mo, but was earlier.

Tells you which bits you need. Cheaper for the set of roof bars that fix to raised roof rails than it is to get stuff to fix to the roof, but getting roof rails installed aftermarket is going to be very expensive.

Cant see any pictures of C3 Picasso with roof rails to see if they were an option from factory, whether you can get your hand under them (not always the case with roof rails - Insignia Estate/V60 have rails, but not raised) and whether they are removable from above (like the Volvo V50) or whether you'd need to get in under the roof (like the E91 3 Series).

irishproduce

R.O.R wrote: »

Check on - http://www.thule.com/fitguide/default.aspx?language=en&market=ie

Not working for me at the mo, but was earlier.

Tells you which bits you need. Cheaper for the set of roof bars that fix to raised roof rails than it is to get stuff to fix to the roof, but getting roof rails installed aftermarket is going to be very expensive.

Cant see any pictures of C3 Picasso with roof rails to see if they were an option from factory, whether you can get your hand under them (not always the case with roof rails - Insignia Estate/V60 have rails, but not raised) and whether they are removable from above (like the Volvo V50) or whether you'd need to get in under the roof (like the E91 3 Series).

It comes as standard on the Exclusive model.
See below just one shot of the exclusive model.

irishproduce

poppers wrote: »

No you dont scroll down the page,the set for €99 comes with brackets to attach to cars with no roof rails. (item code 200711).

Kind of setting myself up for the rails though.
I would rather go the whole hog (If it is even possible). Besides, the rails look decent too!
I am at work at the mo but sent an email to Citroen asking them what can I do to get rails on.

I think I am after making a connection!
http://www.caraccessoriesplus.co.uk/product/citroen-c3-picasso-roof-rails.html

That is essentially what I am after isn't it?

dingding

That looks like just one rail, you will need the one for the other side

mgbgt1978

^^^^ what he said, plus it looks like you need to buy the end covers separately also which pushes the cost up to at least €500.....before you even buy the Cross-bars :eek:


Micks garage, €99 for a set of roof Bars (delivered) is very good value in comparison.

irishproduce

Folks,if I went for the ones on Micks garage as suggested earlier, do I run the risk of roof box flying off?
I read this poster here who bought the same/ similar La Prealpina ones and one poster said they wouldn't trust door clamps anymore (Which I imagine the ones I am looking at are)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056686639

Also, maybe a stupid question but once I have these bars, can I just attach any roof box that I find? Or does it have to be a specific one?

It looks like I am scrapping the idea of getting the rails, they are sooo expensive!!

Thanks guys

poppers

irishproduce wrote: »

Folks,if I went for the ones on Micks garage as suggested earlier, do I run the risk of roof box flying off?
I read this poster here who bought the same/ similar La Prealpina ones and one poster said they wouldn't trust door clamps anymore (Which I imagine the ones I am looking at are)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056686639

Also, maybe a stupid question but once I have these bars, can I just attach any roof box that I find? Or does it have to be a specific one?

It looks like I am scrapping the idea of getting the rails, they are sooo expensive!!

Thanks guys

i have them for my car and have had no problem with them so far. i have them for 2 yrs . I take them off when not in use as i find bars noisy with out the roof box attached. They take about 20 mins to fit initially. You can use any roof box.

mgbgt1978

Have a look on adverts.ie . Often see 2nd hand roof boxes on there.
Surely a decent 2nd hand Thule has to be a better box than a basic Halfords one (better locks etc.).
Having said that if you only need it for a 'once a year' job then I would go with the cheapest one I could find.

ps. just had a look on adverts (and halfords) and there seems to be pretty good value on adverts.

irishproduce

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Have a look on adverts.ie . Often see 2nd hand roof boxes on there.
Surely a decent 2nd hand Thule has to be a better box than a basic Halfords one (better locks etc.).
Having said that if you only need it for a 'once a year' job then I would go with the cheapest one I could find.

ps. just had a look on adverts (and halfords) and there seems to be pretty good value on adverts.

Thanks for that!

johnr1

Anybody ever actually fit a set of bars tbough? I'm facing that crappy job in the next month or so on my much hated Rexton. The head cloth has to be taken down, are any special tools
or knowledge required here? Also, - are the holes for the bolts likely to be under that black pvc strip or will they have to be drilled?

johnr1

Duplicate post

irishproduce

Folks, following on from all of your kind advice, just to keep you up to date in case anyone ever searches this thread.
It is possible to buy these rails instead which are for the Citroen Nemo 2008 onwards and then either oneself or someone more skilled can modify them slightly (shortening them) to fit the C3 Picasso. Much cheaper than originals.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400518577281&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

I discussed with my local mechanic/ handyman last night and he can do it no problem.

I will let you know how it goes.