Does anybody know if the roof rails are detachable?

If so how do I do it?

Trying to have them re-painted

Thanks!

 

You have to pull the headliner to get to the 4 nuts that hold them on. There was a thread on this about a year ago that had the real-OEM parts drawing showing the rail with studs and nuts or the underside.

I have no clue how hard pulling the headliner is.

 

i had mine painted white to match my white roof

it was done while the all4 was in the mini dealer's body shop to get hail damage repaired (paintless method)

to get the dings out of the of the roof they needed to remove the headliner ... the quote stated 4 hours to R&R the headliner

since the headliner was coming out, the rail removal and painting was only $100 extra

i had previously been quoted $750-$1000 by the same body shop to paint the rails (time and materials)

 

headliner removal

remove
upper switch panel
cabin light
front sun visors
drivers side sun visor
3 passenger grip handles
A, B , C and D pillar trim
plug at center rear of headliner

 

Item 2 is called a 'compensating element' (no, I've no idea what that means, either).

 

That is the sealing surface that compensates for slight variations between the roof and ridged hard rail.

 

otherwise called a gasket

 

Post up some pics if you get it removed.