Roof Rail Retrofit

nealf · 10-10-2023, 09:14 AM

Hi I bought a 2012 with no roof rails. it just has black strips down each side of the roof. I wanted to retrofit with a set of roof rails. Do those black strips come off? Are they just covers? I saw a set of used rails on ebay that have long posts/studs. Would I see those holes if black strips were removed? anybody have experience with these things? thanks

pungo · 10-10-2023, 10:29 AM

Need to remove a lot of trim, drop the headliner, remove black strips, install roof rails, there are seals that may need to be replaced. Give yourself the better part of an afternoon.

deyrag · 10-10-2023, 01:23 PM

rail install instructions but as @pungo says the biggest part is the pre-requisite of dropping the headliner
https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...20Retrofit.pdf

nealf · 10-12-2023, 09:07 AM

ugh, i saw an old post with youtube video...
seems like a HUGE undertaking
i may be a hard pass...

10-10-2023, 09:14 AM	#1
nealf New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Philadelphia PA iTrader: (0)	Roof Rail Retrofit Hi I bought a 2012 with no roof rails. it just has black strips down each side of the roof. I wanted to retrofit with a set of roof rails. Do those black strips come off? Are they just covers? I saw a set of used rails on ebay that have long posts/studs. Would I see those holes if black strips were removed? anybody have experience with these things? thanks Attached Images
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10-10-2023, 10:29 AM	#2
pungo Colonel 880 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 x35i [0.00] 2001 BMW 525i [0.00] 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [8.76]	Need to remove a lot of trim, drop the headliner, remove black strips, install roof rails, there are seals that may need to be replaced. Give yourself the better part of an afternoon.
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10-10-2023, 01:23 PM	#3
deyrag Private 15 Rep 79 Posts Drives: x3 2.8i Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: ma iTrader: (0)	rail install instructions but as @pungo says the biggest part is the pre-requisite of dropping the headliner https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...20Retrofit.pdf
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10-12-2023, 09:07 AM	#4
nealf New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Philadelphia PA iTrader: (0)	ugh, i saw an old post with youtube video... seems like a HUGE undertaking i may be a hard pass...
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