W638/2 Vito - Roof rail removal

[Stuart1133]

Evening all,

After fixing a nice whole in the roof (rust hole), ensuring and testing the sunroofs(all good), I thought I had cracked the leak in my Vito..... Till is rained this afternoon. Only leaves a the leak to ne in the roof rail, not sealed correctly or more rust! Does anyone know how to remove them? I have taken the rail off before, by just sliding it out, but I never really looked at the base! Anyone with experience on this?

Stuart

 

[Marku]

I assume there is no headlining so can't you see the bases of the rails where they bolt through?

 

[Stuart1133]

Hi Marku,

The headliner is still in, I did read (somewhere), that they are all removed from the outside? Is this not true? I don’t really want to go removing all the headliner, fills me with dread, lol

Stuart

 

[Marku]

Can be a bit intimidating but its only clips holding it use a plastic wedge and go along easing it off at the sides no need to take it all off. Have to say I don't know how the rails are fixed but assume they would need a strong anchor. I will look on the workshop info system and the parts catalogue as much for my own info and post what I find.

 

[Marku]

So it seems that they screw down from the top. The end caps and the cover around the central support come off and expose the fixings. When you think about it a much better arrangement. Hope this solves your problem.

 

[Stuart1133]

Cheers Marku, I only did the front headliner, and the roof rails are bolted through the roof! But I did find a hole in the body work, under both front parts of the rail! hopefully it is fixed now! I do have another enquiry do you know where I can get these clips from, broke one taking off the sunroof surround!

 

[Marku]

Your best bet as you are in the Midlands is to go to someone like Mertrux, Mercedes commercial dealer. I have found them very helpful unlike Inchcape, the car dealers, who really were not interested. They are at Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Mansfield. Don't know if any are near you but I have had no problems even on the smallest item and they will post. Just phone them describe what it is and let them look it up. The car dealers wanted a part number and of course payment up front. If it was wrong it was your problem and no refunds.

 

[Stuart1133]

Cheers for that will call them during the week