Pluriel roof issue

Hey everyone
I've been away for a while but I'm back!
This time I'm almost determined to have the roof repaired by summer - I've tried contacting some professionals who all said they can't handle it as parts are expensive & nowhere to be found, etc...
I haven't had much luck finding a complete cassette either, but I'm still trying...

I've started considering the idea of repairing the roof myself; As in, getting a used fabric piece (which can be found easily and at a good price), transferring all of the sliders/cables/etc over and replacing the broken bits & pieces.
My problem is - I know it's a tricky job, I've pulled off tricky stuff in the past, but will I be able to do it, or will I mess it up completely in the process? Anyone here who has attempted such a repair?
Also, is there any way I can identify exactly what parts & pieces are those that need to be replaced, before taking the roof apart? I would need order all replacement parts in advance, as they'd need months to arrive, and I can't possibly be left without a car during all those months...

Another off-topic question - I managed to ruin my rear right taillight. Problem is, it's the black "facelift" version, not the original silver one. So while used silver ones can be had for 30 euros or so, the lowest I've managed to find this one for, brand new, is 100 euros shipped.
While 100 euros is fair for a new taillight, I was wondering if anyone has come across any used ones in Europe?

And a third question, I'm looking for the rear Citroen badge Does anyone happen to know the part number for it, or how I could find it?

Thanks so much!
Stelios.

smac wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:01 pm My problem is - I know it's a tricky job, I've pulled off tricky stuff in the past, but will I be able to do it, or will I mess it up completely in the process? Anyone here who has attempted such a repair?

Hello smac

Yes, its been done before. Have a look at How to replace the Pluriel rear window hinge. and Roof issue investigation which have pictures and words for the pluriel roof and it's usual problems.

smac wrote:Also, is there any way I can identify exactly what parts & pieces are those that need to be replaced, before taking the roof apart? I would need order all replacement parts in advance, as they'd need months to arrive, and I can't possibly be left without a car during all those months...
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No, not really, other than 'common problems' but that could mean getting parts you don't actually need and missing parts you need that others didn't. It sounds like you need a whole pluriel roof if you want to do a quick swap over?

Advice is to take photos as you go so you keep a record of its disassembly for reassembly - and for uploading to the forum

smac wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:01 pm And a third question, I'm looking for the rear Citroen badge Does anyone happen to know the part number for it, or how I could find it?

The part number is 7810.P1 for Pluriels in production from 13 September 2004 to 2 March 2008

Your best bet for that part would be a Citroen dealer and they can also advise you what part you need if yours is post the 2nd March 2008 production.

Citroen-Driver wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2019 6:52 pm No, not really, other than 'common problems' but that could mean getting parts you don't actually need and missing parts you need that others didn't. It sounds like you need a whole pluriel roof if you want to do a quick swap over?

Advice is to take photos as you go so you keep a record of its disassembly for reassembly - and for uploading to the forum

I'd definitely upload it on the forum if I ended up repairing it! I'm sick of having to translate french and Italian guides, there needs to be an English one. Plus I'm pretty certain I'd mess something up, I'd need pics to ask for help

Swapping out the whole roof is what I wanted to do originally - But it's really hard to find one, especially for a good price. To this date, I've come across 4, globally:
- One was in Germany, and they wanted 1500 euros ( ) for it (I can find a whole car for less!!!),
- Another one was in the UK, it cost a very reasonable 300ish Euros, but they wanted another 300ish to transport it (Reasonably priced, but at the time shipping costs sounded HUGE and I decided not to buy it),
- The third one was in the UK too, I think, it got sold before the seller had the chance to contact me back but wouldn't ship to Greece anyway,
- The forth one was the wrong color, and it could've been sold out, not sure
I haven't found anything locally. Pluriels weren't particularly successful, especially in my area. I'm not giving up though, still on the lookout!

My other issue is, I've read newer cars use a different communication method between the roof & main ECUs. But I assume I could just swap out the new roof's ECU for my old one, right?

Citroen-Driver wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2019 7:07 pm The part number is 7810.P1 for Pluriels in production from 13 September 2004 to 2 March 2008

Your best bet for that part would be a Citroen dealer and they can also advise you what part you need if yours is post the 2nd March 2008 production.

Thank you! Mine was built in April, so it's got a newer one, but searching for the part number you gave me, I was able to find the correct one almost instantly - 7810W4

I actually found in on a weird Russian website, along with the taillights, for almost half the price everyone else's selling it for. Just sent them an e-mail asking if they ship to Greece, hopefully they do! ~70 Euros for both a new taillight & badge is a pretty good deal...

smac wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 8:35 pm My other issue is, I've read newer cars use a different communication method between the roof & main ECUs. But I assume I could just swap out the new roof's ECU for my old one, right?

Hi smac

CAN-VAN changed to CAN-CAN around 2006 for the C3.

I would think it is a fair assumption that keeping your existing roof ECU would be ok, but Citroen do list the 'top top control' - roof control differently for CAN-CAN and CAN-VAN cars so you may be better off sticking with later roofs. The later ones should be in a better condition anyway.

Just ordered the taillight I ruined and the rear badge from my local dealer
94 euros for the taillight and 27 for the badge - pretty much what they go for online but without the shipping costs, so I'm not complaining I will have to wait 10-15 days for them though, as they were not available and will have to ship from France (!)

While I was there, I also asked about the cable kit (8401Z0) and gear kit (8484C4) - They were priced at 106 euros and 61 euros respectively, and, weirdly enough, those actually were in stock! Taillights not in stock, roof repair parts in stock, go figure, haha

I think I could pull the cable & gear repair off, it doesn't seem horribly difficult and there's enough info online on how to do it, however it's the fabric that worries me. I'd have to transfer all connecting rods, interslides, etc from one to the other, and that sounds like quite a lengthy and difficult process... I really don't know what to do Help!

smac wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:59 am I think I could pull the cable & gear repair off, it doesn't seem horribly difficult and there's enough info online on how to do it, however it's the fabric that worries me. I'd have to transfer all connecting rods, interslides, etc from one to the other, and that sounds like quite a lengthy and difficult process... I really don't know what to do Help!

It will take you longer than you expect because as you get stuck into the jobs, more parts will be found to be worn or broken It is always the way.

If you have time and space to do the roof fabric then go for it. At least you can drive the car without the roof on

What is the worst that could happen? You need to get a fabric, complete from another Pluriel?

Whatever you decide, take pictures as you go. They are ever so helpful when trying to put it back together and wondering which way around things went....

Okayyyy, sooo...
I was loading my backpack in the trunk and I saw this
Zip ties! Yay!

It seems like my roof's been worked on in the past - Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow, I'll start taking stuff apart and posting pictures of what I find.
Could it all be a bad repair that ended up with a misaligned roof, which then caused excessive forces & wear on the gear and cables? Is it possible to replace the cables in such a way that this would happen?

Anyway, on a (brighter) side note, I polished and ceramic coated my hood and headlights - Also cleaned my engine bay while I was at it. Pretty happy with the results! Waiting for some pads, backing plates, clay bars & more ceramic coating I ordered from china to do the rest of the car (I used Sonax' Perfect Finish, Mr Fix It cheap eBay ceramic coating and Sonax' Brilliant Shine Detailer)

Engine Bay Before: Engine Bay After: (Cleaned with some dish soap & running water, silicone spray on all the plastics afterwards. Any ideas on how to remove or at least cover up the corrosion on the turbo & all the metal engine bits?)

Hopefully more coming tomorrow!

The weather wasn't all that great, but it wasn't going to get any better so I got on with it!

I ended up removing this plastic cover, Then I removed some more! First time I've seen the car like this, ever - Honestly looks much, much better than I expected!
Anyway, the bits on the tailgate looked pretty clean, apart from the zip ties. I hope those are not original, are they? If not, I may have a clue as to who did the repairs before the car was exported from Germany - I've seen zip ties exactly like this in another pic. If they are, in fact, original - Well then I got no clue.
The actuator that's required to open the casette on the driver's side did not work - I had to open it manually. I couldn't figure out how to unplug this thing to measure with a multi meter, so that's going to have to be another time. After putting the car back together I started investigating near the interslides. And guess what, some more signs of repair! I also noticed these dragging lines on the sliders. Are those normal? I guess I'll keep looking for a complete roof - Had the fabric not been ruined with this crappy insulation silicone or whatever it is by the previous owner, it would've probably been worth fixing. But right now it seems like too much of a hassle.
If anyone finds anything reasonably priced online I'd be very much interested (as would about a million other Pluriel owners I'm sure, haha)

smac wrote: ↑Sun Apr 07, 2019 9:35 am (Cleaned with some dish soap & running water, silicone spray on all the plastics afterwards. Any ideas on how to remove or at least cover up the corrosion on the turbo & all the metal engine bits?)

Pluriel engine Bay

The grey turbo bit is aluminium and that polishes up to a mirror finish, but some Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish but if you want to go further, try the Polishing Mops.


It is looking much more like new now