Retro-fitting roof rails to C3 Picasso

I'm attempting to retro-fit roof rails on to our C3 Picasso which didn't come with them. Managed to get a set cheap from a scrap vehicle.

After lifting the plastic strips that cover the 'gutters' on the roof (sorry, not sure if that's the correct name) there are 4 x torx (star) bolts per side which appear to align with the holes in the newly acquired roof rails. I doubt the existing bolts will be long enough for the rails but they need to come out, regardless.

Has anyone ever managed to unscrew these bolts? I've tried with two albeit cheap torx bits and both have given up & bent out of shape in the attempt.

These are the bolts I'm trying to undo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PIqF7Z ... zTunf0HvH9
Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve

You need a better quality tool to do the job of removal and then you will need it to tighten them back up to 0.80 daN.m

To tighten them properly, 'tighten the bolts, then release them, then tighten them to the specified torque'

steveharman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 10, 2018 1:24 pm I doubt the existing bolts will be long enough for the rails but they need to come out, regardless.

They should be M6 X 100 FIXING NUT (6935 C7). Some come with a stud that replaces the bolts and these must be swapped over one by one so you don't have all the bolts removed at the same time as you replace them with studs.

There is also a mention of a nut with a washer which would be on the other side , no mention of a captive nut. I imagine the parts would vary depending if they were fitted in the factory or not?

Brilliant, just what I needed to know. Thanks @c3car !

One final query about root-rails on the C3 Picasso. On our current car - the one without factory-fitted rails - there is a single-piece black clip-on cover for the "gutters", one each side of the roof. Removing the covers reveals the bolts shown in my initial question. Do you think that cars which came with factory-fitted rails would have their plastic covers in separate sections rather than all in one piece, to allow for the roof-rail fixings?

I tried and failed to source a Haynes manual for the C3 Picasso (doesn't exist, apparently?). Now wondering what my next best option would be for a workshop manual. There seem to be some PDFs and "DVDs" on eBay (eg; https://goo.gl/hXbter) but none of them seem to show sample content so I'm a bit wary.

Cheers,
Steve

steveharman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:35 am Brilliant, just what I needed to know. Thanks @c3car !

One final query about root-rails on the C3 Picasso. On our current car - the one without factory-fitted rails - there is a single-piece black clip-on cover for the "gutters", one each side of the roof. Removing the covers reveals the bolts shown in my initial question. Do you think that cars which came with factory-fitted rails would have their plastic covers in separate sections rather than all in one piece, to allow for the roof-rail fixings?

There are some part numbers for the bits of plastic that fit around the mounting when the rails are in place. I will dig these out for you and you may be able to source some.

steveharman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:35 am I tried and failed to source a Haynes manual for the C3 Picasso (doesn't exist, apparently?).

Haynes doesn't cover may of the late model cars, its a shame.

You may get some mileage from https://service.citroen.com

It looks like you remove the screws you have fitted (part 5 in the diagram) and replace them with part 8 in the diagram when the roof bars are fitted.

and the covers are 10 and 11 in the diagram

10 is 8320.J4 and 8319.P0 (with roof bar , L&R)

11 is 8320.J5 and 8319.P1 (without roof bar, L & R)

Brilliant - I'd never have figured all this out without your help. Much obliged.

Maybe you should write a manual, take Haynes on where they don't produce them?

Steve

steveharman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 11, 2018 12:29 pm Brilliant - I'd never have figured all this out without your help. Much obliged.

Maybe you should write a manual, take Haynes on where they don't produce them?

Steve

You are welcome to add some photos of the project, before during and after and become part of the manual

Happy to do that. Unless it all goes horribly wrong, in which case I'll add a few "where does this go?" but still upload the images.

Thanks again.

Steve



Edit:
Update, the procedure to retro-fit roof bars to the C3 picasso is here - Retro fitting roof rails to the C3 Picasso