[S1ngl3t0n]

***DISCLAIMER***THIS IS AN DIY COMMUNITY GUIDE I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL AND WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURY/DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE BY FOLLOWING THIS GUIDE, IF UNSURE SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE/MECHANIC, OTHERWISE PERFORM AT YOUR OWN RISK***DISCLAIMER***


Dear team

First of all: sorry for my bad English if you see some error or you don't understand a sentence, let me know it and I will try to rewrite it.

As some of you know, I have bought my F97 second hand. After I had the car 1 week at home I noticed that the previous owner did deselect the roof rails in the configuration
As I always use a roof box for traveling, the roof rails are a must have for me.
So I began to check the installation guides on the internet and haven't found anything for the g01/f97 except of the official installation guide from BMW.
Because of this, I decided to write up this DIY.
Based on the equipment your car has, the guide may vary. For example: In case you haven't driving assistant, those pictures may vary.
You can also send me am PM and I'll send you the official BMW guide as I don't think that's allowed to upload them here.


Let's see what's needed to do the install:
Tools:

• Slotted screwdriver for battery cover
• 10mm wrench socket to detach the battery
• 13mm wrench socket(75mm long in my case) to screw up the roof rails screw nut
• Plastic disassembly tools for various parts. I used https://bit.ly/2RdED2K
• Torx T15 for roof center
• Torx T20 for airbag covers, and trim load area net
• Torx T50 for seat belt
• A tool with a hook to remove the grab handle covers
• Towel to cover the battery cable
• Spot lights to see what you do

BMW Parts:

• Reserve clips nature (white) - 51437001491
• Reserve clips with sealing ring (blue) - 07149136882
• Reserve Panoramic roof clips - 07147212593
• Reserve mirror cover if you have Driving Assistent - 51166846594
• 6x Hex nuts 07147195759
• Roof rails alu 51137414349, 51137414350
  or
• Roof rails shadow line 51138070691, 51138070692

Other things you need:

• A LOT of patience

After you have all of the requirements to do the install, let's start.

At the beginning of all you have to unplug the battery. Before you do this, make sure you have access to the screws at the bottom of the seat belts by moving the seats forward as we have to loose them later. Move the seats only as forward as you still can sit on the seat because you then have to access other parts by sitting on the driver and passenger seat.
Attachment 2614593


Unplug the battery with a 10mm wrench socket and but the cable on a towel to guarantee that the the power is interrupted.
Attachment 2614597
Attachment 2614598
Attachment 2614599
Attachment 2614600


After unplugging the battery, you can begin with the interior mirror covers. This is probably the tricky part without breaking any plastic parts
Pull down and press the cover to the windshield at the same time with your fingers until you see the longer lugs. Then unlock the lugs with a plastic tool. After unlocking all nuts you can raise the cover to you.
Attachment 2614610
Attachment 2614611


The next two steps (second mirror cover and interior mirror) are probably not needed to remove. It should be enough to only remove the first cover.
Anyway, it's described in the official BMW instructions so I did also this step.
The second mirror cover is really hard to remove without breaking the plastic hooks. In my case I had to replace the mirror cover.
I introduced a plastic wedge into the cap and released it bit by bit.
Attachment 2614616
Attachment 2614617
Attachment 2614618


To remove the interior mirror you first have to remove the plug connection. Then you can remove the mirror by pushing it in the windshield.
Take care to not scratch the windshield as the mirror foot is made of metal.






From now on it's easy to remove the remaining parts.
The next thing to remove are the two hands-free microphones.
Introduce a wedge from the right side and lift it out. Then you can unplug it.




Next you need to remove the roof function center. For this you have first to unclip the plastic cover with a spatula.



Then you have access to the two T-15 screws that can be removed.


After removing the screws you can unclip the roof function center by pressing with a screwdriver in the direction of motion and at the same time pulling it down.



Now you can unlock the cables that are connected to the roof function center and unplug it. The jacks are either color marked or do fit only in one hole. So there is no need to note down where it was plugged in.




Next to remove are the sun visors. First pull out the covers with a plastic wedge. Then detach the sun visor from the counter support and turn it to the door.




Now you can easy disengage the sun visor by the front and then thread it out at the end. Last you can now unplug the wire.




The counter supports for the sun visors have also to be removed. For this you have first to pull out the cover with a plastic wedge.




Then you can pull out the counter supports by pressing the clamps together with an needle-nose pliers.




Next you have to remove the mirror lights. Just slide in with a wedge from the back side and pull out the light. Now you can unplug the wire.




Next we remove the grab handles. First you have to expand the grab handle to have access to the locking insert. To remove those you can either use an angle screw driver or a tool with a hook as seen in my photos.
Here you really have to pull hard to get them out.






After removing both locking insert's, you can use a slotted screwdriver to detach the release tabs.
During this you have to pull the handles slightly to the inside. If they are completely open, its hard to detach the release tabs.



One step that I haven't found in the official guide was the removement of the partition net holder.
To remove them you only have to remove the two T-20 screws and pull them out from bottom up.



Now we have to remove the pillar trim panels. Beginning with the A pillar, you first have to unclip the airbag badge with a plastic wedge.




Under the airbag badge you find a T-20 screw that also has to be removed.


Beginning at the roof side the trim panels can be pulled out from the clips.




Next we can remove the B pillar trim panels. To fully remove them you first have to loose the seat belt screw at the bottom that has a T-50 head.


Now you can pull the trim panel from the bottom and then guide it downwards out of the headliners and remove it from the seat belt.






Next we can remove the C pillar trim panels. First unclip the airbag badge with a plastic wedge. There you find also an T-20 screw that also has to be removed.



Now you can remove the C pillar pulling it to the top.



If you have your roller cover installed, remove it now before you remove the D pillar trim panel.
Now that the roller cover is removed, you can pull the panel from top down out beginning at the trunk side.




As all parts are removed now, we can lower the headlining.
First remove the two clips at the roof function center.



Next you can remove the two clips at the trunk. Try to pull them near the clips to not bend the headlining.



Now you can begin to pull down the headlining over the side doors. Take care to not bend the roof.







Then you can place the headlining on top of the seats.
Remove all clips from the panoramic frame and insert them into the headlining.
This makes it easier to build the headlining together later

Next we can remove the roof trim strips. With a plastic wedge pull the trim strips at the front to release it a little bit. Now you can remove the whole trim strips it by hand.





The clips of the trim strips also have to be removed. Either you break it out or you pull them slowly out because they can break very easy.
But they will not be needed if you retrofit the roof rails.




The holes for the roof rails are already pre-drilled so you don't have to drill holes.
In my case the holes of the passenger side where covered with rubber seals and the driver side not. Thank you BMW.




You can remove them with a wedge and insert the roof rails into the holes. The roof rails are marked with left-hand and righthand.




Now you can screw on the roof rails using the hex nuts 07147195759 and a 13mm nut that is long enough (75mm). BMW recommends to tighten in the following order: center, rear, front.
Do not tighten the screws to much because of the rubber seals may brake. BMW recommends to use 20NM.



To access the screws of the roof rails at the center and front you will find some holes in the frame behind the airbags. Move the airbags to the side but take care to not damage the airbag.





From the rear screw I haven't done any picture but this is the easiest one to find as it's not hidden in a hole.

Now that the roof rails are installed, you can do the whole process backward

Have fun with your new roof rails.

This is my result

[S1ngl3t0n]

oops. Looks like certain images are rotated incorrectly and certain are not displayed correctly. I'll fix it when I get the chance, but that'll have to be enough for now

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

This sure is a lot of work. But I'm sure the X3 / X4 M guys who want to delete the roof rails will really enjoy & benefit from this detailed write up!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by S1ngl3t0n

oops. Looks like certain images are rotated incorrectly and certain are not displayed correctly. I'll fix it when I get the chance, but that'll have to be enough for now

Remarkable work and an especially detailed and illustrative documentation of the process - well done! And add on top of that, English isn't even your primary language. For those that have tried to master another one, your skills on both fronts are much appreciated!

[URBAN LEGEND]

Great work. Thanks. For sure I’m not doing this.

[Bestle]

Thanks for the write up, I already have the roof rails but the pictures will definitely come in handy when I start tracking down some of these rattles

[StefanJ]

Thanks for your detailed instructions! 👏👏
I'm going to do the same retrofit for a X3 G01.
Could you check what happened with the first attachments from your post? I cannot see them.
Also, could you be so kind to send me the original BMW guide?
Regards!

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

S1ngl3t0n Thank you again for taking the time to document this. I'm going to attempt swapping roof rails this weekend.

Noticed I may not need to pull the rear view mirror off. So that was a bit of a relief.

[2kaccordocoupe]

Great diy doc, thanks for creating it.

I'm sooo glad I deleted the roof rails when placing the factory build order LOL

[serpentine]

I’m not following. What does this get you that the OEM rails didn’t offer?

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by serpentine

I’m not following. What does this get you that the OEM rails didn’t offer?

Nothing. This is simply a DIY for those in other countries that wanted the roof rails but didn't get them option at the time of build.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

Nothing. This is simply a DIY for those in other countries that wanted the roof rails but didn't get them option at the time of build.

Interesting - I know Max Well had a huge thread on the removal of his. Did not know it was an option outside the US.

[serpentine]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

Nothing. This is simply a DIY for those in other countries that wanted the roof rails but didn't get them option at the time of build.

Aha, thanks.

Originally Posted by spta97

Interesting - I know Max Well had a huge thread on the removal of his. Did not know it was an option outside the US.

Me neither.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by serpentine

Aha, thanks.



Me neither.

It's ironic that one owner would go to such lengths to add them, and another to remove them

[maykov1587]

Originally Posted by StefanJ

Thanks for your detailed instructions! 👏👏
I'm going to do the same retrofit for a X3 G01.
Could you check what happened with the first attachments from your post? I cannot see them.
Also, could you be so kind to send me the original BMW guide?
Regards!

Please send me the original BMW guide as well if you still have it, thank you so much for such detailed guide!