Bruce C

I got the official roof bars when I bought the 4 door (MY00), and have tried fitting them without success.

The hooked bits just won't fit under the plates in the gutter.

Is it just a question of brute force? Any clues welcome,

Bruce

Phil

I had similar problem

The secret is get the wife to take it to the dealer,not when it needs servicing,

and say " I don't really understand the instructions can you show me "

Fitted free no charge just some lecherous looks from the service manager

Phil

Bruce C

Thanks Phil, can I borrow your wife? Someone must have got the damned things to fit? I suspect you have to file down the seam a bit?

Bruce

Neil Micklethwaite

The little hooks ( one for each leg ) catch on to little hoops which are located under the trim which runs from windscreen to bonnet. I tried levering the trim up to get a better view of the hoops.

In the instructions it says there might be sealant under these hoops.

I used a little screw driver to clear these, 2 went in very easily and two were right pigs all this accomplished in just under an hour.

I used a lubricant as well as the little plastic strip to try ease the hooks in

Unfortunately I ended up with scratches in the paintwork and managed to break a couple of the plugs that hold the trim down.

The roof bars however were top class and as solid as a rock.

My advice would be to follow phil's advice and borrow his wife

Neil F

I found the same initially, but resorted to some washing up liquid and a little wriggling about (the hooks not me).
I think I may also have cleaned up some of the paint on the hooks as it was a little thicker at the edges (as if the paint had run and collected at the lip).
Also remember that each hook is different due to the slope of the roof/left and right fitting.

Mine now takes about 10-15 minutes to fit including bike racks.

Neil.

Bruce C

Thanks chaps. I'll try some lubrication

It seems a poor bit of design compared to the ease of clipping the bars onto the roof rails on my old wagon. Scraping the paint off the clips will probably help too.

Bruce

Jerry B

Bruce

Got to get some bars and bike fittings for my wagon, what did you have on yours? The dealer can order me the official ones but I don't know if they're any good as he says they're UK sourced. Don't want to end up with something feeble and noisy holding my toys on top....seen some crappy ones in the aftermarket shops.....

Jerry.

millband

Got bars for my 5-door from Halfords last year - look like the previous model Thule bars (the locks are interchangeable for instance) and seem pretty tough. Mine are for canoes though, so I can't advise on the bike fittings

Cheers,

Steve

Jerry B

Thanks Steve, I'll check 'em out.

Bruce C

Sorry for the belated reply Jerry.

I had the standard Subaru bars on my old wagon which were fine. Solidly made and secure with integrated locks. In fact I still have them if you are interested Not much use to me now on the 4-door...

Bruce

wilf

I use a softrack on my 4 door. Works well for surfboards but obviously not bikes. Cos there are no gutters on the roof the strapping has to run right through the interior of the car. This sounds a little drastic but works in practice and is weatherproof.

I sometimes wonder why on earth I ever got rid of my old 5 door which could swallow up surfboards up to 9 foot 6 inches in the interior.