Tiguan roof rails - removal

[krracing]

I'm kind of keen to try the "no rail" look like some tigs come as standard in the USA - does anyone know how to remove these standard items?

I have absolutely no use for them, and figure it might give the tig an even more compact look..

Thanks.

[Pullstarter]

I'm not sure how you remove them but I think it would leave holes in the roof which you'd have to plug, maybe look a bit dodgy?

[Transporter]

Remove: -nuts -3- from studs -2- of roof railing.
-Guide roof railing -1- with studs upwards out of retaining bracket -3- and remove roof railing evenly -arrows- from roof.
During removal of roof railing, retaining brackets -4- remain in vehicle.

Hope that helps.

[krracing]

legend transporter! thanks for that very comprehensive diagram - see how it goes now...

[krracing]

SO, as it turns out, it's an absolute pain in the ass removing these things!

I managed to do it, but it requires removing some of the roof lining, which entails removing some other bits, and so on and so forth - eventually you end up with a semi-stripped interior just to get to the nuts to remove them...

Next "hurdle" - figuring out what to do with 4 little holes on each side of the roof...

[Tigger]

Mate...you must have been reading my mind! I also want to have mine removed, but figured it would be a huge pain. I have the sunroof...do you think this would complicate the removal process?

[krracing]

Mate...you must have been reading my mind! I also want to have mine removed, but figured it would be a huge pain. I have the sunroof...do you think this would complicate the removal process?

lol, it was difficult, mainly removing the roof lining in certain parts - there's a certain "knack" to it - a bit of trial and error.

I liked the look of it without the rails, but didn't know what to do with the 4 holes on each side of the roof - I found something that slotted through the hole and screwed in on the inner side, it fitted pretty flush on the roof, but I ended up putting the rails back on....

As far as the sunroof goes, i wouldn't have thought it would be any more or less difficult than my non-sunroof version. You don't remove the lining entirely, just enough to get a 10mm spanner in there!

KR

[Tigger]

Thanks KR,

so you have put them back on again? That is a shame.
Couldnt you have had it "bogged" up by a good repairer and painted in those spots?

[Pullstarter]

Thanks KR,

so you have put them back on again? That is a shame.
Couldnt you have had it "bogged" up by a good repairer and painted in those spots?

They'd have to paint the whloe roof or it would look pretty ordinary I think. Big $$ I reckon.

[krracing]

They'd have to paint the whloe roof or it would look pretty ordinary I think. Big $$ I reckon.

true, it could very well be bogged/filled in - as far as paint goes, it just depends how "properly" you want to do the job, as Pullstarter mentioned. No one really sees the roof though right!?

It really did look great without the rails - I just didn't want it to be completely irreversible, it all proved to be too difficult

[Pullstarter]

You can these little plastic plugs that i've seen people use on their boot lids after they remove spoilers etc, just not sure how waterproof they are?

[jimbomort]

Roof rails - anyone changed or damage?

its funny how when you drive into a garage with a kayak on the roof it doesn't quite work - crunch.....oh *sh*t....

thankfully I was going slowly. Initially I thought the damage wasn't too bad (ie dented garage door which I soon fixed) and kayak had slid back off the roof bars without obvious damage, therefore removing some of the impact

So started out quite philosophical (and still am) but I did notice that the roof BARS had also been pushed back along the rails. Thats where the problem starts. The roof rails get narrower towards the back of the car, so front (and rear) roof BAR being pushed back = wedge effect.

The roofs rails feel solid, BUT no longer sit flush at their contact points with the roof, most notably on the inside - result of the wedge effect. I could live with, but not sure whats happening underneath where they contact the roof or whether rust/leakage my now be an issue...........sighhhhhh

So better get it checked out.

Has anyone else had to get theirs checked out/removed? Also thinking if I have to go that far, I may replace with the chrome rails from the 147 if I can get them at a reasonable price

Comments/ideas welcome. The gap now b/w at the inside of the roof rail/roof contact point is about 1mm now instead of flush.

[team_v]

I believe someone had a go at it and you have to remove the headliner to undo the locking screws in teh roof.

Will have a look.
I think it was under roof rail removal.

Edit: here you go

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f97/roof-rails-how-do-you-remove-them-rails-not-racks-47359.html

[jimbomort]

Team V thanks, that helps

Transporter per PM can you repost the diagram here, the diagram in post #3 of that thread is no longer visible

My main concern is leakage. Anyone know whether you can remove some of the inserts in the roof rails to see enough of where they attach to get an idea of any damage there. Dont really want to muck around with the head lining if I can avoid it

[Transporter]

Here you go.