DIY on removing roof rails

[vedub84]

I am thinking about having my rails removed when i drop my car off at the body shop in a couple weeks. I was wondering if anyone has a DIY with pics on it I would thik it has to be done with the headliner out but am not sure. TIA

[QWKDTSN]

Headliner has to come down. Don't shave the rails! Unless you want your car to look like a big 10-year old A3. The roof rails make the Avant's look and an Avant just looks wrong with no rails IMO.

[Zstudd]

removing you roof rails gives freddie kreuger nightmares... HAWRIBLE! you have a station wagon! if you want a wagon with no rails, i suggest a 91 honda accord station wagon


is that what you want??? sssseriously? :) now look what you did. the babies are crying...

[vedub84]

completely disagree its pretty similar to the whole a3 idea, it would be different than 90 percent of people on here that are still deciding if they should rip off an s4 or usp

[gregoriousd]

you do you, but pls don't be different for the sake of being different
we of the avant genus are different as it is
ok that's probably the most times anyone has ever said different in a post
there, i did it again

[B5AudiVW]

I say go for it. It's an option on the Euros and I've seen plenty of pics of those all the way back to the first RS Avants that look great. But it does look weird to our eyes sometimes since we're so used to the rails. I do agree with gregoriousd though, don't do it JUST to be different.

Don't have a DIY, but my understanding is that it's just some screws after you get the headliner out. That's always been my worry, headliners can be a PITA and could start rattling afterward.

If you gonna mess with it, I say go flushmount like the B8s and C6s. THAT would be a mod worth doing.

[vedub84]

[IMG][/IMG]

Zstudd clearly has no idea what the definition of a wagon is and as a hint it doesnt include having rails. i just bought a euro tdi rear valence that has the exhaust cut outs filled and i have turndowns being welded for new tips. I am thinking about shaving the liscence plate on the hatch relocating to the bumper vw mk2 style. As a former vw owner vwvortex member i think poeple on here should step it up a notch and try something diff. Vwvortex has more build threads on custom boser tailights,plastic welding and shaving stock parts, and integrating more parts from other vehicles of differnet years and models. It would be great to see something diff then a usp or s4 fron with the same rs4 wheels mabey we should all get the same haircut next. Just my opnion anywas any help with photo shopping s shaved hatch with liscence plate recess would be a huge help.

[IMG][/IMG]

[michgo]

This looks a little like something in my department

[vedub84]

ya that looks sick, did u have to take the headliner out and weld in the holes ? did u paint the middle of the 3 bar grill i have the same one and could not find it in anything but chrome

[michgo]

3 bar was originally chrome yes. Just painted centers

Ok, here is a quick rundown on the roof rails.

1. Remove ALL interior panels in the trunk (floor, sides, D pillars)
2. Remove the A pillars in the front.
3. Work your way from the front to the back (remember all the handles as well)
4. Each rail has three bolts that are being held in by nuts. These nuts are hiding in the curtain airbags. Undo them and pull up on the rails.
5. Reinstall everything interior wise.

No headliner drop. BE PATIENT. The plastic clips will frustrate you, and hopefully you wont break too many.



And seeing your couple new threads recently, I have a feeling we will be in close contact on the forums

[vedub84]

thanks alot bro i appreciate the info on getting the rails off

[Saturnine]

I'd add unhooking the battery to that list.. You can never be to careful when working around airbags

ya that looks sick, did u have to take the headliner out and weld in the holes ? did u paint the middle of the 3 bar grill i have the same one and could not find it in anything but chrome

[merrigan]

this option for the plastic strips without rail holes. where can i buy them? i need them desperately. i hate having the three holes showing in my roof.

[merrigan]

bump any answers?

[merrigan]

ttt

[flynnr]

did this ever go down? i want to trade my friend for his 2.8 rails before he sells it (he has the aluminum trimmed ones and mine are all black)

i want to swap them, but unless i can do it in like an hour or so idk if its worth my time.

[dropshadow]

I support swapping for silver rails, flynnr.