[BmerMeUp]

UPDATE: 2013-10-27
*** Some pics and a detailed photo-diary attached at Post 14 ***

Ok, so I am looking to pull the trigger on some roof-rail-delete parts for my 2008 (Nov 2007) E91 [NA] 328xi and I have a problem:

ChiTown successfully did it on his 2005 E91:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17396

Using these [EURO] parts:
51137122871 and 51137122872


But!
All parts lists say those parts are only good until Model Year (Sep 2006).
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=VU12&mospid=49348&btnr=51_5902& hg=51&fg=20


These parts are on the same page and match NA cars:
51137124260 and 51137124259

But are designed with open rectangular holes to host roof rails which sort of defeats the purpose.

Arg.

The kicker is they are special order - I must pay in advance, no refunds AND unless I pay $132 each for a $72 each part at my local dealership, nobody will ship them to me as they are "too delicate" to ship - I must travel a fair distance to go pick them up across the border. So the part has to be 100% correct or I'm 100% out the money and a long fruitless drive.

Can anyone confirm the correct part?

Will the (Sep 2006) one work "anyway" because the roof is the same? I'm thinking it "should" but then why would they have a date on the parts list?!

I would like the smooth-no-hole (flaps cover ports) "unpainted" basic black no-hole mouldings like ChiTown... but for my 2008 (Nov-2007) E91.

[slupie]

I had them shipped from Tischer last fall. Luckily mine is 06/06 production. I also got 6 x part number 07-14-7-174-961, Screw. These are oval with a torx socket, rubber gasket and threaded stud. These are used to seal the holes that are left after removing the roof rails. You will also need 6 fender washers and nuts to mount the screws properly. Make sure that the screws that I gave part numbers for work for your car.

[BmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by slupie

I had them shipped from Tischer last fall. Luckily mine is 06/06 production. I also got 6 x part number 07-14-7-174-961, Screw. These are oval with a torx socket, rubber gasket and threaded stud. These are used to seal the holes that are left after removing the roof rails. You will also need 6 fender washers and nuts to mount the screws properly. Make sure that the screws that I gave part numbers for work for your car.

Thanks slupie, I am onside with the nuts and clips etc and luckily they don't seem to have a date restriction either (and glad to hear they worked out for you!) - just frustrated by the roof trim itself. Can't seem to get a positive answer - feel like I need to call a dealership in the UK or something! ha.

Would be great if ANYONE knows if the 09/2006 limitation is accurate or arbitrary for a positive yes/no on whether it will fit an 11/2007.

[krhodes1]

I'm a bit confused as to why you are having a hard time finding the correct part numbers - at least post LCI, the roof rails became an extra cost option. The roof itself did not change during the LCI (you can swap the new bars for the old ones), so just look up the parts for say an '11 like mine.

I suspect that the parts for a Sept 06 production would be for an e46 wagon and won't fit. NA and Europe had different introduction dates for the e9x cars - we did not get them until LONG after they did.

I actually want to back-date my car to the old-style roof rails, the new ones are useless, and limit you to using ONLY BMWs $$$ crossbars. But that is a wholly different complaint.

[BmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

I'm a bit confused as to why you are having a hard time finding the correct part numbers - at least post LCI, the roof rails became an extra cost option. The roof itself did not change during the LCI (you can swap the new bars for the old ones), so just look up the parts for say an '11 like mine.

I suspect that the parts for a Sept 06 production would be for an e46 wagon and won't fit. NA and Europe had different introduction dates for the e9x cars - we did not get them until LONG after they did.

I actually want to back-date my car to the old-style roof rails, the new ones are useless, and limit you to using ONLY BMWs $$$ crossbars. But that is a wholly different complaint.

Ahhaaaaa! Ok, yes that is great info and the first I've heard it put that way, which makes perfect sense! THANK YOU. It didn't occur to me the roofline was unchanged during LCI, giving me more models to pick from.

Ok, so now I find parts 51137124257 and ---258 which is great!
One thing though - they are listed as "Prime Coated" - the plain black one for the older models doesn't seem to be listed anymore.

So if I get that one, I guess I will need to get it painted (True / False?)
Anyone know what colour OEM "prime coated" is? i.e. Grey or Black?

(Thanks again - that was exactly the tip I needed: Post-LCI rooflines are the same! PS: If you are looking to get roof rails and I'm looking to get rid of them... wwwait a second... have I got a deal for YOU! )

[slupie]

black strips to replace roof rails that I ordered were
51-13-7-122-871 Roof Molding Left
51-13-7-122-872 Roof Molding Right

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by BmerMeUp

Ahhaaaaa! Ok, yes that is great info and the first I've heard it put that way, which makes perfect sense! THANK YOU. It didn't occur to me the roofline was unchanged during LCI, giving me more models to pick from.

Ok, so now I find parts 51137124257 and ---258 which is great!
One thing though - they are listed as "Prime Coated" - the plain black one for the older models doesn't seem to be listed anymore.

So if I get that one, I guess I will need to get it painted (True / False?)
Anyone know what colour OEM "prime coated" is? i.e. Grey or Black?

(Thanks again - that was exactly the tip I needed: Post-LCI rooflines are the same! PS: If you are looking to get roof rails and I'm looking to get rid of them... wwwait a second... have I got a deal for YOU! )

Well, I don't know how much they would be to ship, but if I find myself passing through Ontario, or you find yourself in Maine, we might have to make a deal! I'm in no rush, the thought of dropping the headliner to make the swap does not excite me...

Glad I could help - have fun with the project. There is a DIY around that goes into depth on removing the headliner. I think it was about dyeing it black.

[BmerMeUp]

Parts ordered... $284 from Towne BMW (Buffalo, NY) for the primed rails, plus clips and nuts (just in case). I will plan to pick them up in a week or so when they are expected to arrive.


As for Maine... hm. Well hey - once I get them off, I'll see what the cost is to ship and we'll decide from there!

[BmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by slupie

black strips to replace roof rails that I ordered were
51-13-7-122-871 Roof Molding Left
51-13-7-122-872 Roof Molding Right

Yup those are the 09/2006 jobbies... my car was made 1 year too late!
I just ordered:

1 x Roof Rail Moulding Primed 51137124257 (one side)
1 x Roof Rail Moulding Primed 51137124258 (the other side)

9 x Clip 51137073553 (only comes in a pkg of 10)
6 x Nut 07147195759 (only comes in a pkg of 10)

Fingers crossed this is the right stuff!

[randomquickness]

is there a diy for removing the rails?

[BmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by randomquickness

is there a diy for removing the rails?

Sort of.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17396

[BmerMeUp]

So I finally made the drive to pick up, then immediately dropped off for painting:
1 x Roof Rail Moulding Primed
51137124257 (one side)

1 x Roof Rail Moulding Primed
51137124258 (the other side)

They look like the right part (whew) but won't know 100% until I strip off the existing rail of course...but *pretty sure* (lined them up side by side) they're the right ones for the 2007-onward E91 (mine is 11/2007 as mentioned). They arrived with a flat-black primer coating.

They also each came with a bag of clips (so I probably didn't need to order those) and a rubber gasket.

Once the parts are painted and I have a warm dry day to spend carefully ripping my headliner down, I will post further updates. Just wanted to confirm the part numbers, for my model and year *at this point* seem to be correct - you get two long flat delicate pieces of trim with the little rectangle flap-covered holes.

[BmerMeUp]

Minor update - picked up the mouldings today, freshly painted to match by Steve at Reflections in Milton Ontario (they look fantastic and match perfectly - I'll post some pics tomorrow, I'm at work until then now). Looking forward to a weekend where I feel brave enough to rip the headliner down and git'er done. Stay tuned - I'll post those pics once I finally start hacking away at it.

[BmerMeUp]

Railectomy Finally Completed! Wanted to get it done before the winter, planned for two days in case I screwed it up, and got'er done. McLovin the results.

Some pics and detailed photo-diary attached.
Thanks to everyone who provided inspiration and/or input:
ChiTown, slupie, krhodes1, Patman...

[krhodes1]

Awesome! Great work! So how bad was dropping the headliner?

I'm definitely interested in your rails, if we can figure out a way to get them here for reasonable money. Or maybe I just take a nice roadtrip at some point. I've never been to Ontario.

[mazac]

Hi all, as per instructions I need:

"9 x Clip 51137073553 (you’ll need two packages)"

So, does it actually mean I need 9 x clip, or 18 x clip ?

I have bought one package and it contains 10 clips. I'm now worried it's for one side only.

thoughts ?

Thanks

[adonnan]

Thanks for confirming this is for an LCI e91 and also showing that it has the flaps to gain access to the studs to mount a crossbar. I assume this means an e90 sedan crossbar will fit no problem.

[tlow98]

Great write up and PDF. Saved!

You still around @bmermeup ?

[putnampunk]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

I actually want to back-date my car to the old-style roof rails, the new ones are useless, and limit you to using ONLY BMWs $$$ crossbars. But that is a wholly different complaint.

Funny, I'm considering updating mine to the later flush type (don't use roof rails) but debating deleting them entirely too.

So we confirmed in this thread they all plug and play?

[NYBulldog]

Looks so crispy. I like this look a lot. However I also really like having my roof rack.

[slupie]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

Looks so crispy. I like this look a lot. However I also really like having my roof rack.

I did the same thing. Just use the E90 roof rack.

[Onizukachan]

Since the supply of fully blank and mini door no rail trims are all NLA (and the hoarders want $350 a SIDE for the few left out there)…
I was wondering if someone has already designed or 3D printed blanking inserts for the normal rails?

Like what the e46 guys did here after their supply of rails dried up and went also thru the roof in pricing a few years back?

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/...-plugs.1299678