850 and V70 Wagon Roof Trim

[erikv11]

I disagree about the economics: $120+ for roof rails at a junkyard, vs maybe $40 top for roof strips from a junkyard. And even if you have rails, the trim strips will peel on the portion that runs alongside the window. In fact the front area almost always peels before the rooftop section.

So as far as economics, it will be cheaper if you can pull strips yourself, hands down. Plus this is not about function, it is purely cosmetics. Most economical move would be to just ignore it.

Get the V70 strips, they last longer and have built-in rain diverters.

[hankbates]

The strips used on 97 850's also had the diverters. These later design strips were of better material, but they fail too. A few years from now if you again need to replace the strips, wouldn't it be easier to find the short front strips (which can also come from local sedans and roof rail wagons), or can be easily shipped?
Certainly it would be best if you can find wagon strips locally, but if you find rails in your local pick-a-part, don't turn them down, they may be less expensive than you think.....

[erikv11]

... if you find rails in your local pick-a-part, don't turn them down, they may be less expensive than you think.....

Hear hear, I have always put rails on my wagons, in that sense you can't go wrong!

[BEJinFbk]

And rails can make nice hand grips in icy parking lots!

[kodi b]

Hi all. I got 2000 V70 roof rails + molding today from a local salvage yard to put on my 96 850 glt wagon. Excited to put it on but worried about how to secure the molding (among other things) -- I know there are clips underneath but the molding also looks like it's secured to the windshield and back by a caulk-like or other adhesive. I unfortunately didn't see the molding stripped off the V70 and am a little worried I won't be able to do it on my own now that I actually see the parts. Don't want to take it off and then not be able to put it or the rails on myself.

Any instructions/pics of how the molding comes off / roof rack goes on? Got a wonderful PDF online about rails but it's incomprehensible to me (though probably others could get it!). It lists all the parts if you buy from the dealer, I think, but the ones I got don't have nearly that many parts and are mostly intact. (I actually don't know how he got it off!) Thanks for any help at all.

PS -- Thanks for the pic of the molding. Actually didn't even remember mine used to be black -- it's all grey now excepting the sides!

[erikv11]

I don't have a pdf but can offer some basic tips:

- There is no adhesive for the molding, it just clips in.

- To remove the molding from your 96, start down at where the windshield meets the hood and simply pull the end of the molding out. Move back gradually from there. Pay wttention to the clips; they should all stay on the car but some may pull out with the molding.

- Once you remove the molding all the way back from the roof, the rails screw in. Hopefully they gave you that hardware (torx screws) with the rails. The white plastic pieces that receive the screws will be in the hood, but may be covered with sticky gray gunk (looks like adhesive). I always just screw through the gunk, to help keep water out of the inside of the car.

- the V70 molding and V70 rails both look better than the 850 ones, good pickup. And good luck!

[Houandrew]

I've got a couple extra sets of 850 wagon roof trim in good shape but as stated shipping is not realistic. I'd be happy to sell them locally though ...

Your best bet is go to a junkyard and pull them. They just pop out, start with the front corner/end at the windshield and go carefully from there, work your way back. Or some people refinish them.

There is a GAp near the front of my roof now water is leaking into the corner of inside roof. Maybe because rusted hole? Thinking of peeling back myself but worried I’ll damage it. Any tips? Or should i just try to seal gap on top of body? Thanks

[erikv11]

I've got a couple extra sets of 850 wagon roof trim in good shape but as stated shipping is not realistic. I'd be happy to sell them locally though ...

Your best bet is go to a junkyard and pull them. They just pop out, start with the front corner/end at the windshield and go carefully from there, work your way back. Or some people refinish them.

There is a GAp near the front of my roof now water is leaking into the corner of inside roof. Maybe because rusted hole? Thinking of peeling back myself but worried I’ll damage it. Any tips? Or should i just try to seal gap on top of body? Thanks

Can you post a picture of that gap? Maybe post it in your other thread about this question. I'm not fully understanding what you're dealing with here, so unsure what to recommend.

But I will say this: many, many people have removed the trim without damaging it, but as per the suggestions in your other thread, you need to do it deliberately and be a little careful. Just watch the strip as you lift it. Start where the windshield meets the hood and move up. Don't bend the strips. The strips are not so fragile they will instantly bend, you will have warning time and if you're just a little careful they won't bend.

This video gives you some idea about the strips and what it takes to pop them out of the clips, they don't just fall to pieces they have a little stiffness:

[abscate]

Everyone knows to remove the rails in the case of Zombie Invasion, I hope? Do we need a thread on that?