In order to fit my bike rack, I cut the black strips that go into the aero rails.

I looked at Thule and theirs is different (wavy instead of rippled).

Anyone know where to get replacements strips for our version?

....also

I have the Thule Upright. The aero mounts that slide INTO the rails, rather than Clamp ONTO the rails are a smaller width than the notch in the rails. The ones included with the rack are 20mm square. The rail notches are 25mm width.

The result is a clamping system that is tilted and grabs one side more than the other.

Instead, I replaced all the clamping hardware with 1/4" bolt and barrel mounts. Then, added a washer to each. Now they are firm, rather than barely attached.

Has anyone else found this?
Paul

swisstony wrote

Cut this from Jeepersjoey's post in another thread:

Today I installed my roof rack.

Wanting to know how much noise it was making, I opened the sunroof.

Dear god there is awesome sound dampening (acoustic glass??) with the sunroof.

Closed = small amount of wind noise.
Open = HUGE amount of wind noise.

Yea...they are in the right spot. Not only did I measure, but they are aligned with the notch on the inside edge of the rack.

Wow...great job, BMW!!!

Paul

I have Thule roof bars. Thule recommend a specific gap between the bars themselves - but say use trial and error regarding actual placement.
I had a quick look on my x3 but could not see "the notch". Anybody else seen this?

Swisstony

If you're standing next to your car, put your hand on the rail like your grabbing it. Run your fingers along the rubber on the other side of the rail. You'll feel a little bump in the rubber.

animal.style wrote

If you're standing next to your car, put your hand on the rail like your grabbing it. Run your fingers along the rubber on the other side of the rail. You'll feel a little bump in the rubber.

Thanks - I found them! I was only an inch off as it happens so no need to move mine this year. The gap is exactly as per the Thule instructions.
Interesting to see that the front markers are ahead of the main pillar. This means that some of the installations shown in this thread are too far towards the back of the car .....

Swisstony

swisstony wrote

animal.style wrote

If you're standing next to your car, put your hand on the rail like your grabbing it. Run your fingers along the rubber on the other side of the rail. You'll feel a little bump in the rubber.

Thanks - I found them! I was only an inch off as it happens so no need to move mine this year. The gap is exactly as per the Thule instructions.
Interesting to see that the front markers are ahead of the main pillar. This means that some of the installations shown in this thread are too far towards the back of the car .....

Swisstony

They are only guides. Traditionally people put rails farther back for aero/noise purposes, especially when not in active use.

You can place them where they need to be for the equipment as not all equipment will be the same size and shape. Personally I'm taking them off and putting them on regularly, it's pretty quick once you know what to do.

Seasuckers for the win......

ParadigmDawg wrote

Seasuckers for the win......

Nice!
But I guess you have to have a very clean car to put them on.. not salty winter sh*t we have here when putting ski box on... would scratch ...?

Hi, just come across this thread. I have an F16 X6 with factory black painted roof rails. I am looking to carry 2 bikes on the roof but have always worried that the BMW oem bar clamps would damage the paint finish on the black rails. Has anyone seen / experienced any damage caused by the clamps?
Thanks in anticipation.

t15dja wrote

Hi, just come across this thread. I have an F16 X6 with factory black painted roof rails. I am looking to carry 2 bikes on the roof but have always worried that the BMW oem bar clamps would damage the paint finish on the black rails. Has anyone seen / experienced any damage caused by the clamps?
Thanks in anticipation.

Nope. No damage.

Just make sure the clamps are clean with no dust or grit and they seem to be fine.

Just wanted to share what I have on my M40i.

Since I didn't like the chrome OEM/Thule look. Decided to go with a Yakima setup and a Rocky Mounts bike rack to utilize the internal track on the Yakima rails. Pretty quiet at highway speeds too.

As for mounting the bike up top, I'm 5'8" and have no issues grabbing the fork and down tube.

Currently have the aerobar, towers, and fit kit from my B8.5 Audi A4. If I want to migrate the bars over to my X3, I'll need a new fit kit and set of towers, coming out to about 350 bucks around here. At that price, I might as well get the BMW rack.

Can I use the Thule track mounts to mount my gear flush to the rack like I do with my Thule bars or do I need to use the universal mounts

azf100 wrote

Here's my setup.

That is beautiful!

Can you share details on the part numbers for those cross bars and the cargo box?

I have a question about the spacing between crossbars. I'm looking at the BMW OEM ROOF RACK BASE SUPPORT SYSTEM Part # 82-71-2-414-373 and realize that BMW has predefined spots on the car to mount these.

I have a cargo box that has fixed mounting locations. Will it matter if I have a longer distance between the crossbars than what BMW has engineered? I realize it's not optimal, and may add wind noise, but I can live with that.

Anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

pej7445 wrote

I have a question about the spacing between crossbars. I'm looking at the BMW OEM ROOF RACK BASE SUPPORT SYSTEM Part # 82-71-2-414-373 and realize that BMW has predefined spots on the car to mount these.

I have a cargo box that has fixed mounting locations. Will it matter if I have a longer distance between the crossbars than what BMW has engineered? I realize it's not optimal, and may add wind noise, but I can live with that.

Anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

I still don't know what to think about this. I had a lot of similar questions above but didn't really get much answers.

One would think that the designated locations are where they are for support. But it's weird that they're not where the support beams are. It would also make sense that they are designated since specific base systems go with specific cars and you don't want to distort the rails by pulling them together (as noted above). But this doesn't make a whole bunch of sense either since the base system length is adjustable by about 2-3 inches, and certain parts are compatible with multiple models.

Maybe the location is just to minimize wind and drag? Who knows. I spaced mine apart beyond the designated mounting spots and it definitely made the plane uneven.

Question as this i first time I shopping for roof rack
I like the look of OEM Rack, but what other component I need to secure Skis on the roof??

I see other brand thule have differ attachment for the bar, but BMW OEM one don't have any attachment.

Sorry if it is stupid question, again, very first time looking into it

lo_cheng wrote

Question as this i first time I shopping for roof rack
I like the look of OEM Rack, but what other component I need to secure Skis on the roof??

I see other brand thule have differ attachment for the bar, but BMW OEM one don't have any attachment.

Sorry if it is stupid question, again, very first time looking into it

The OEM rack is just the base rail. You need to buy an attachment for whatever you decide to put on the base rails...ski rack, bike rack, those big travel boxes, etc.

Does someone know whether roof bars that fit an F25 will fit a G01?

animal.style wrote

The OEM rack is just the base rail. You need to buy an attachment for whatever you decide to put on the base rails...ski rack, bike rack, those big travel boxes, etc.

Ok, so I just google it a bit.
After the OEM Rack, I still need ski rack, which is something like this?

https://www.thule.com/en-ca/ca/sport-rack/ski-racks/thule-snowpack-l-_-7326


My main question is, it seem like it is design for Thule base rack. So will it fit the BMW OEM Rack?

lo_cheng wrote

animal.style wrote

The OEM rack is just the base rail. You need to buy an attachment for whatever you decide to put on the base rails...ski rack, bike rack, those big travel boxes, etc.

Ok, so I just google it a bit.
After the OEM Rack, I still need ski rack, which is something like this?

https://www.thule.com/en-ca/ca/sport-rack/ski-racks/thule-snowpack-l-_-7326


My main question is, it seem like it is design for Thule base rack. So will it fit the BMW OEM Rack?

The OEMs are similar to Thule's aero style base. I haven't seen the Thules but that's what I've read in this forum. OEM has a higher profile which is helpful in my case because otherwise my snowboard bindings would hit my moonroof when mounted upside down. I have this ski rack

yakima - FatCat 6 EVO, Rooftop Ski and Snowboard Mount, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HR18FB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kUpHDb57185DF

I like it a lot because it has a lower profile. It fits the OEM rack perfectly and is easy to use. And most importantly it comes in black!

I have yet to see an 18 or 19 or 20 X3 that wasn't just gorgeous!

I hade to sound stupid but what is considered the left and right side of the car? I understand that each side of the OEM roof cross bars has FL, FR, RL, and RR but it isn't explained clearly as to which side of the car is left and which side of the car is right. Should the should the fatter part of the cross bar face the front or rear of the vehicle? Part of me thinks that the narrow part should face the front of the car for aerodynamics but at the same time, the fat part of an airplane wing faces the front...

Nevermind, I figured it out. The pictures on the crossbars made it more clear. Right side is the passenger side (US) and left side is the driver side (US)