Roof rail gutter inserts - removal

I have a 2012 C3 with the panoramic screen & some 2nd hand genuine roof bars and inserts to fit, however ...

... before I can even get to see if they actually fit, I need to get the existing black standard gutter inserts / trims out without damaging them hopefully, so I can insert the ones with the slots in for the rails.

Are there any obvious tips for this please anyone? Do you start at the back or the front for e.g.? Is it a case of just prising them up & out gently? I can't see any obvious place to start.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry, forgot to say: bars are part no 9416G1 & the mouldings are 9416G8

Realstokebloke wrote:I have a 2012 C3 with the panoramic screen & some 2nd hand genuine roof bars and inserts to fit, however ...

... before I can even get to see if they actually fit, I need to get the existing black standard gutter inserts / trims out without damaging them hopefully, so I can insert the ones with the slots in for the rails.

Are there any obvious tips for this please anyone? Do you start at the back or the front for e.g.? Is it a case of just prising them up & out gently? I can't see any obvious place to start.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry, forgot to say: bars are part no 9416G1 & the mouldings are 9416G8

Hi Realstokebloke. Welcome to the forum.

The manual is not much help

I couldn't find anything from Citroen that would help either

There are some topics for roof bars over the years with some pictures

citroen-c3-questions/roof-bars-for-2016-c3-t2021.html

citroen-c3-tips/roof-bars-t1968.html

citroen-c3-questions/roof-bars-for-2016-c3-t2021.html

But none of them show how to remove the finishing strip on later models. On early models it can be a job to keep them on

Hi, I have the same C3 with the panoramic screen, and fitted my replacement roof trims with the slots last week. They were really easy to do, you just open the boot, and get your finger under the edge next to the boot opening and pull them upwards, and they just release from the clips as you work your way to the front. Fitting the new ones is literally the reverse by fitting them at the front above the windscreen and pushing down on the clips as you go towards the rear. The clips match up with notches on the roof, so can't be fitted incorrectly. It took me about 5 to 10 mins. Hope this helps.