Shrinking Rubber Trim Strips... Roof Racks

[95wildtt]

Hi,

I just noticed, when cleaning up the X5 for Spring, that the small rubber trim strips on either side of the strip where the roof rails are mounted, are shrinking at both ends and on both sides of the roof.
I've attached a few photos...

Anyone else have this happening to theirs?

Is it something I should be concerned about and should I look to replace them?

Thanks in advance,
John

[bmrboi2]

It was doing this on my last '08 E70 I made a point of every time I was waxing it to give it and the rubber window/windshield trim a generous coat of mothers Carnuba wax which over time helped immensely. The trim dries out and shrinks as with every BMW over time and I learned the hard way on my old E36 and E46 when it started to crack. My E60 and E70 wasnt nearly as bad but still evident, yours look worse then mine and you may need to replace them.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by bmrboi2

The trim dries out and shrinks as with every BMW over time. My E60 and E70 wasnt nearly as bad but still evident, yours look worse then mine and you may need to replace them.

Thanks bmrboi2,

That's what I was thinking too.

Hoping replacing them is as simple as sliding these rubber pieces out and sliding new one's in (looks like they are only sold with new roof molding strips)

I don't want to drop the headliner to loosen the rails.

Will report back on what's involved.

Thanks,
John B

[blue dragon]

You don't have to drop the liner fully to loosen the rails. I changed my drivers side rail last year as it was corroded at the joint. I was able to do that without having to drop the headliner completely,

[95wildtt]

I think I'll just get some black silicone and carefully fill-in the areas at each end of the rubber pieces.
I just can't see spending $160 (cost of 2 new trim pieces) for this

There is no concern on my part of water leaking into the X5, as I helped a buddy with a rail delete mod last summer and there are only holes under the trim pieces for the bolts on the rails. Otherwise, it's a welded aluminum channel and no concern with water ingress there.

Thanks.

[bmrboi2]

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8

Long Link but may offer a solution?

Please do report back. I just got my M-sport black bars for mine and Im wondering if I should just bite the bullet and buy new strips as well.

[95wildtt]

Thanks for the link...
I'm not sure that's what I would need, but maybe.

It feels to me like the black rubber strips are lose in the channels they mount in, so i think they could be slid out frpm one end and removed, then replaced without adjusting or loosening anything.

I think I'm going to try the black silicone idea this weekend, and if that works call it done... only out $6 on Amazon.

Thanks again,
John

[noelskii]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

I think I'll just get some black silicone and carefully fill-in the areas at each end of the rubber pieces.
I just can't see spending $160 (cost of 2 new trim pieces) for this

There is no concern on my part of water leaking into the X5, as I helped a buddy with a rail delete mod last summer and there are only holes under the trim pieces for the bolts on the rails. Otherwise, it's a welded aluminum channel and no concern with water ingress there.

Thanks.

So, what's the rubber trim for and why do you still need to silicone it if it won't cause a leak?

[95wildtt]

Fixed, or at least looks the way it should.

Some black silicone, a bit of blue painters tape to cleanly define the edges, and just like new.

John