Just had it brought to my attention, that the black roof trims on several other owner's Urbans (not the actual rails) have started to crack. Had a look at mine and luckily they appear OK. Don't know if it is the cold weather, but going to be a bugger to replace by dealer, as they are glued to the roof.

Other Urban owners - any comments?

I have them as a dealer fit option on the Elegance and fingers x no cracking in two years.

Mind one has been replaced due to it coming adrift (not enough glue) and yes your correct they are glued with some horrible none removable stuff (roof respray required to get rid of it), which sadly I was not aware of as the bonding medium, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered; thought they fixed with sticky tape like the side mouldings :S

TP

I suspect they are stuck on with a bonding compounded similar to the windscreen bonding compound, which I know is difficult to remove. There is a chemical that will remove it, but even then it isn't an easy job!

The stuff they used with mine was the colour of putty and it set like rock. The strip came away due to a thin line of glue applied to both the roof and strip but after a few months the bond between these two lines of glue fractured.

TP

Interesting.

If Kent Industries are still selling in the UK they did a product called Acrysol which removed some glues, and another product called Speedy 500 that worked on nearly all glues. I think Worth do similar products.

I have them as a dealer fit option on the Elegance and fingers x no cracking in two years.

Mind one has been replaced due to it coming adrift (not enough glue) and yes your correct they are glued with some horrible none removable stuff (roof respray required to get rid of it), which sadly I was not aware of as the bonding medium, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered; thought they fixed with sticky tape like the side mouldings :S

TP

Yes Skoda do seem to use some horrible cement style glue that is almost impossible to shift. I was considering buying the bright trimmed side strips as they fit to the Urban model (ex-SuperSkoda at about £99) until I saw they are stuck on with double sided tape. I then wondered if the cement was also beneath the strips and the dealer said it probably was. I did not want to find it damaged the surface when I removed the originals so I decided to go no further.

Interesting.

If Kent Industries are still selling in the UK they did a product called Acrysol which removed some glues, and another product called Speedy 500 that worked on nearly all glues. I think Worth do similar products.

Graham. that is a name from the past, I recall they used to sell products for leaking panels and windscreens etc. The MPD's around the country used to also use it around the Class 25 and 31 windscreens etc. to stop leaks and drafts. I recall they were somewhere around the Billingshurst area and owned by an American company, Premier Chemicals I think...takes you back to the leaky 1970s days

Correct Jon.

I was a rep and Manager for them for several years in the West Mids, Worcester and Hereford areas. The American company was indeed Premier Industries, with their UK HQ at Billingshurst.

Believe it or not I still have one of their orange cabinets and have still got tubes and cans that still work after more than 10 years.

I actually use a product called K44 Silicone Grease to lubricate my door rubbers.

Correct Jon.

I was a rep and Manager for them for several years in the West Mids, Worcester and Hereford areas. The American company was indeed Premier Industries, with their UK HQ at Billingshurst.

Believe it or not I still have one of their orange cabinets and have still got tubes and cans that still work after more than 10 years.

I actually use a product called K44 Silicone Grease to lubricate my door rubbers.

Graham. I wish I still had some of their adhesives you are lucky and don't they last some time. I recall when employed at Railway Tech Centre in Derby back in the 70's a Rep used to visit and demonstrate a full range of products including a great copper grease which I had a sample of for years and used on the back of brake pads. I seem to remember his name was Dave (surname gone) who like you was an area manager. I did a search for them on Google and it seems they are now based in Scotland, trialling those products bring back great memories

I've still got a tin of that copper grease, and some Spray White Grease!