Body/Trim: 850: Roof rails

[RollingThunder]

OK, I'm feeling a bit foolish here

I bought a pair of roof rails for my '96 855 from a forum member a while ago, assuming that fitting them would be straightforward - a case of removing the drain channel cover trim and bolting the rails in their place... however when I came to fit them last weekend, I found that the existing trim extends from the tailgate, all the way forward to the base of the windscreen!

I've looked at VADIS but unusually couldn't find any useful diagrams, so can someone tell me please - do the rails just bolt through/over the existing trim or is there a shorter piece of trim that goes from the base of the windscreen to the front of the rails? If someone could post a close up picture I'd be very grateful!

Thanks!

[strbryan]

you need to cut your existing trim to length.

[RollingThunder]

Aha!

That was going to be plan B Seems a bit crude for a manufacturer's design, but hey-ho. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend...

Thank strbryan

[JimDay]

When I bought mine from a scrap yard I got the trims with them there are $ bits of trim for each side the one down the screen one between each mount & a short piece between the rear mount & the tailgate


This was mine laid out to check all the bit were there when they arrived

[Nicks 850 broke!]

I've just transferred V70 rails from my write-off 850 T5 to a replacement 850 which had no rails. The 850 rail feet are slightly different but the mounting arrangements and the principles should be much the same.

You need to release the channel cover at the tailgate end (careful not to break the little tailgate end trim piece in doing this) then pop it up out of the channel progressively towards the front - prise gently towards the front because you will need to cut it just forward of the front mounting point for the rails. I slipped a towel and strip of timber under it to hold it clear of and protect the roof - a small hacksaw will do the job. Then clip the front section back down.

Once you have the rear long section of cover free then cut sections from it to fit between (and extend under) the rail feet. You'll be best to cut them from the section as they originally fitted so you don't have to move the clips along when you refit them. The rail feet should if they are like the v70 rails have clips on to locate the strip ends before you fit them.

When you offer the rails and trim strips up to the mountings you will need to guide the trim strip underside clips into place but it should all go together securely with the rail feet clamping the trim strips ends and the strips securely in the clips along their length.

You will need to cut and refit the remaining very short piece at the tailgate end - if I recall correctly it has one clip in addition to being clamped under the rear rail foot.

I hope it all goes together neatly.