Hi Botanics, just read your description, very comprehensive instructions indeed! I have not long had my Freelander 2 so am still getting used to some of the terms! I noticed from the photos you have a sun roof - is it the twin one, ie front opening and rear fixed?
My FL2 is a 2007 SE model with the twin sunroofs but I have been put off buying the roof rails (particularly from places like fleabay as it nearly always says in the description "not suitable for panoramic sun roof". Can I assume these twin roofs are not therefore "panoramic" and any standard OEM Land Rover/Freelander 2 roof rail kit will fit? 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE in Sumatra Black. 38,000 miles. Have put on 19" Evoque Style 4 Sparkle Silver wheels with 35 x 55 Pirelli Scorpion Verde tyres. Added fog light surrounds, stainless tailgate protectors and high level spoiler. New leather seat covers and chrome door handle covers; Dipped trim with dark wood effect; Re trimmed steering wheel to match seats (black with red stitching); Updated rear light units: Black painted front grill and rear door handle/light unit.

As far as I'm aware there are two types of rail, one for cars with sunroof and one for cars without. I suspect the sun roof rails are slightly taller so the roof can open without smashing itself on the rails... The sun roof works fine with mine no problems at all. The rails I bought where genuine LR ones, I cant speak for 'other' branded ones you might find on Ebay.

Edited to add yes mine is the twin sunroof that you describe, the front opens but the rear panel is fixed.

Thanks for that. You don't happen to have the LR part code for the compatible sunroof rails you fitted do you??  2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE in Sumatra Black. 38,000 miles. Have put on 19" Evoque Style 4 Sparkle Silver wheels with 35 x 55 Pirelli Scorpion Verde tyres. Added fog light surrounds, stainless tailgate protectors and high level spoiler. New leather seat covers and chrome door handle covers; Dipped trim with dark wood effect; Re trimmed steering wheel to match seats (black with red stitching); Updated rear light units: Black painted front grill and rear door handle/light unit.

From the LR documentation.

LR006608 - Raised roof rail and cross brace kit (non panoramic sunroof vehicles)*

LR007220 - Raised roof rail and cross brace kit (panoramic sunroof vehicles)* Crossbar kit (requires raised roof rail kit)


So I fitted the LR007220.

botanics wrote:

5) Next fit the cross brace, this bit is quite fiddly. When the advances in genetic engineering have been made and you have the experience of a 60 year old mechanic, with the strength of a 25 year old and the hand size of a six year old this job will be a doodle! just make sure you cover the roof with a towel to stop any damage, lift up one end and align the holes and loosely insert the Allen bolts, then lift up the other side and repeat. Take your time and if you get frustrated, go and have a cup of tea and try again! One you have the bolts in go round and tighten the rail bolts and finally the cross brace

Just fitted bars today, well I started yesterday!!!! All the plastic trim clips either snapped,twisted off or just would not budge. So after drilling and digging all the plastic out of the holes I started to fit, this is when it really started to go wrong drilled hole for front mountings with no problems, bars put on roof with all washers and rubber gaskets in place.

Word of caution to anyone who attempts this after snapping the plastic trim clips ENSURE ALL THE PLASTIC IS OUT OF THE HOLE. first bolt I put in snapped in the roof because I tried to tighten the bolt up thinking it was just tight but no there was still plastic in the hole!!!!!!!

If you do do this you can luckily change it for one of the front ones and a trip to local hardware shop to get a new bolt. In total it took me nearly 5 hours to complete.

If I was to do it again I would by a trim clip removing tool and put the stupid cross bar onto the bars before fitting.

Hope this helps someone

PS

The bloody cross bar feet I have don't even bloody fit.

A tip for removing the plastic trim clips.. is to drill 2 small holes at opposite sides of the clips (where the slots in the roof trim are) then use a pair of circlip pliers in the holes to unscrew them.

Came up with this idea after struggling to remove the first clip for a good 20 mins
The other 3 came out much faster than the first one  Cheers Ian
Migrated over from Disco4
___________________________________________
MY13 FL2 HSE lux Orkney Grey (gone but never forgotten)
MY10 D4 XS Stornoway Grey
MY07 D3 SE Zermatt silver (traded in before any issues!)
Massey Ferguson 400 FIS AGTV - Arctic Cat by any other name...

All. I was hoping you could advise me if my roof bars are faulty. I had the plastic roof rack with crossbar fitted to my Freelander by a local mechanics. The roof rack is a patent part so cheaper than the Land Rover version. The problem I have is that the feet at the rear do not sit flush to the roof, it looks like the rubber gromet/seal is not thick enough. I know the rear bolts are lower into the roof than the other 2 bolts but should the roof rack be flush to the roof?? Any help appreciated. Thanks

outofyorkshire wrote:

A tip for removing the plastic trim clips.. is to drill 2 small holes at opposite sides of the clips (where the slots in the roof trim are) then use a pair of circlip pliers in the holes to unscrew them.

Came up with this idea after struggling to remove the first clip for a good 20 mins
The other 3 came out much faster than the first one

SteveC wrote:

I took the rails off the roof, and assembled the whole thing indoors, and then put the whole assembly back on the roof.

Worked like a charm....

Yep agree, that's what I did, a far easier & less stressful way of fitting.

If for nothing else, pop a foot on the rear tyre and a hand on the roof rail.... Pull yourself up and now able to wash the bloomin roof easier

Barneyarmy1 - yes, the brackets should fit tightly against the roof.

When installing, the assembly should be kept finger tight and then torqued up when everything is in place to prevent gaps between the rail system and the roof.

I'd take it back to the person who fitted it for you. garioch43

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE - Santorini Black/Black Leather
2002 MGF 1.8i - British Racing Green/Cream Leather with loads of walnut and chrome bits