... not for the first time in my life.

Recent 100HP owner. Came fitted with Fiat transverse roof bars, but pics in some of the manufacturers booklets and on this site show longitudinal bars.

Was there a change of spec, or are two types available?

Also, how do I remove the bars that are fitted, and are there manufacturing plugs available to fill in the holes that'll no doubt be left behind?

As ever, thanks in advance for your help / advice.

Holdie

Should have read 'manufacturers' (roof plugs). Auto text strikes again...

The longitudinal bars were optional extras usually ordered when placing order for car but they could be bought at a relatively high price. The transverse bars were accessories. They obviously are not designed to be left on the car as they create a certain amount of drag. Plugs are available for when the bars are removed.

Thanks for that - exactly what I needed to know. Off to the dealer then to order the plugs. I have a feeling the roof bars have been on for years, so the paintwork underneath isn't going the match the rest of the motor

Parts ordered through Desira Norwich - 4 plastic screws apparently!

Holdie123 said:

Parts ordered through Desira Norwich - 4 plastic screws apparently!

Click to expand...

Did you check the price before ordering? You might just be in for a surprise.

Hah! Yes, got surprised upfront to the tune of £16.62. Bit pricey for 4 plazzy screws but reckon in the long run I'll save more than that o fuel cost by not having the bars o all the time. Plus, it looks crap with the bars on...

Holdie123 said:

Hah! Yes, got surprised upfront to the tune of £16.62.

Click to expand...

I did think it odd that they'd have ordered these in without getting payment upfront.

Objectively these look like the kind of plastic plugs you'd buy for 29p a packet, but they know they've got a captive market (if you'll pardon the pun) and as you say, the car won't look right with just the empty holes.

Not sure how well they'll stand up to repeated removal and refitting, though.

Surprised me as well - just did it by email with their parts guy who was really helpful. I don't anticipate using the roof bars much, if at all (although my surfer teenage son has other ideas) so once plastic screws are in, they'll probably not get taken out much. May have to get a can of primer and top coat to colour code them first though - I'm assuming they'll be black.

Holdie123 said:

May have to get a can of primer and top coat to colour code them first though - I'm assuming they'll be black.

Click to expand...

They are, though they're thin and discreet, and match the other black bits like the door handles. I don't think there's any purpose to be gained from painting them.

That'd be good if the door handles were black - they're slightly peeling lacquer colour coded red, as is the rear hatch spoiler. But it is 10 yrs old so I can't be too fussed about it.

Be careful when screwing in the plastic bolts.I removed mine just over a month ago (when fitting longitude rails) and rounded off the screwdriver slots of one.The heads of the screws are massive but the screwdriver slots are tiny and the plastic soft,and can easily round off if any resistance is found.

Tomsk

Thanks for that. I'm just about to go out and try to remove the roof bars. Picked up the screws/plugs yesterday and can see exactly what you mean!

You could do the job with some flanged button head stainless screws from eBay. use anti seize so they can be removed if you ever come across a pair of longitudinal bars.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M6-6mm-A2...hash=item53f98c4a1a:m:msmmy5FH6V-hORri7Ae5q4w

Plastic M6
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...ew+M6.TRS0&_nkw=black+nylon+screw+M6&_sacat=0

Plastic M8
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMALL-QUA...258793&hash=item3f64120954:g:9yEAAOSwQupXUBwd

Did they just come off? Mine look like theyve been on a long time, and the bolts that screw them in are all rusted. Do you have a few photos of taking yours off?

Hi. Haven't taken the roof bars off yet.


Started to try this last weekend, but gave up when it looked like the removable plastic moulding covering the bolt holes was just going to snap.


Like yours, looks like they've been on for years and I think the plastic's probably really brittle now. Looked like I'd have to force it and the internal moulded lugs would just snap off.


I might try again and see if I can get some pics for you.


H

Squirt with a little penetrating fluid every day for a week. The plastic will probably break but the screws should come out. Clean any socket heads and be absolutely sure you have the correct hex/torx bit before trying to turn the screws.