C5 MK II Roof Bar Issue

[dulenator]

I want to take off roof racks or bars (if that is how those roof thingies for carrying stuff are called ), but I don't have any plugs to put in the holes where they are mounted.
I tried searching for the plugs, but all I get are results for newer C5 or Aircross.
Can these plugs be found, or is it something that exists only in wonderland?

VIN, in case there is a part no for this: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Thanks!

[myglaren]

Have you removed the roof rack yet?
Mine had small 'trapdoors' fixed to the roof, hinged so just lifted open to fit the bolts.

[dulenator]

Not yet, because I always think - what if I screw something up and can't install the rack back to its place.
I will try to remove one side and see if the trapdoors exist. It would be nice if there is something like that, so I don't need to chase any possibly rare parts.

But that will have to wait for the next week because the car is at my friend's garage, waiting for a new drive shaft and he's far away from me.

[myglaren]

I don't have mine any more but it may be possible to see the trapdoor.
Even better another member may chip in with a photo (James)?

[GiveMeABreak]

I've moved this out of Official Parts as there are no parts for this.

Normally the Estate can be supplied with or without longitudinal roof rails. Then roof bars can be attached that go across to each of the rail bars on which various other equipment can be fitted.

I checked the accessories section and can only see equipment specifically for the estates with the longitudinal roof bars. I can't see any plugs or other blanks for vehicles without these bars.

[dulenator]

Thank you for the info. I will try to remove the longitudinal roof rails (now I know the correct name ) and see if the holes are self-covering or not.
I'll post the results if anyone else is crazy like me and wants to get rid of those rails.

[GiveMeABreak]

I know that on some later vehicles like the C3 Aircross, the interior headlining has to be removed to get access to the fixings and once the bars are removed there are no blanks, so this will allow water to get into the roof. So just be advised, although there may be a different system in place for the older C5 system.

Personally I think they look good and enhance the vehicle, but that's my opinion.

[Gibbo2286]

If it's just to keep the wet out..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fro ... sacat=3187

[dulenator]

I wanted to take off roof rails to check whether it would resolve the side wind's noise because there is always some wind blowing on the highway.

I will at least paint them black (to match the car colour) when I take them off, so they don't stand out like some aftermarket rails.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'd first look at the weather seals in the doors. These can cause wind noise if they are out of shape or loose. Wind deflectors for the front windows are another suggestion.

[dulenator]

I installed wind deflectors a while ago, which changed only the frontal wind noise, but the side is still whistling and the noise seems to be coming from the "attic".