BMW Factory Roof Rack with Thule bike holder

[Nikodog1]

I searched the web high and low prior to this install and found very little info so I figured I'll save the next guy a headache and post the results. I've had Thule racks in the past and the rubber feet WILL damage the paint if left on long enough so I went with the BMW factory rack. Install is 10 minutes and it doesn't touch the paint AT ALL. I did not want the BMW bike carriers as you can get nicer stuff from Thule, so I picked up the Echelon fork mount on sale at REI, and I read somewhere Thule Xadapt9 kit would allow the Thule Echelon to mount to the BMW bars. Not quite, but it's an easy fix to make it work. The BMW bars have a channel like the Thule aero bars that Xadapt9 was designed for. The BMW channel is wider and the opening is wider so the bolts from Xadapt9 are a marginal fit and could pull though if shifted around. The channel is 1 inch wide so just find a 1 inch metal washer or plate and it's good to go, just be sure the washer isn't too thick or the bolt will be too short to really let the nut on top grab enough threads. I'll post some pictures if anyone is interested.

[kosmoHR]

Very interested in pix if you have the time and inclination.

Currently wrestling with the decision between roof rack and bumper rack.

Found a knowledgeable salesman that had monkeyed around with both at the product rollout. He said go roof rack if you mostly leave them on, but the bumper rack is MUCH easier to take on and off by yourself.

Thanks!

[Nikodog1]

Many pictures follow including a view with the end cap open to show the channel in the bars:

[kosmoHR]

Thanks for the pix. Looks like a very sano system.

How is the wind noise? Any whistling from that thin gap between the bottom of the towers and the roof?

[Mega Man]

Pretty nifty! I hope there's some kind of surf rack in the near future.

[arok]

how's the wind noise w/the oem bmw rack?

[arok]

how's the wind noise w/the oem bmw rack?

[zamboni]

I had an E46 OEM rack and it's very noisy. Nice bike BTW.

[N55_NOLE]

What a beautiful background! Where is that?

[zamboni]

Got the rack installed over the weekend and turn out real nice, the wind noise is less than my E46 perhaps with the rubber on the cross bar that might help to reduce wind noise.

[UdubBadger]

excellent... now lets see if we can get a fairing on this rack and it'll be perfect

[zamboni]

Badger,

Congrat on your Hawks Stanley Cup Championship.

I previously had problem with fairing on my E46 but the E82 is not bad I don't think I would need the fairing to reduce wind noise.

[Trowa]

did you have to cut that rubber strip tat covers the channel ?

[zamboni]

Yes.

[ScottyG]

How does the factory rack attach to the roof? Do you drill holes?

[MarkR171]

There are already 4 holes on the roof. They are under the tabs at the corner of the roof. Use your fingernail to flip the tab up and you will see the holes.

The black roof rack posts slide over those tabs and there is a screw inside those posts that attach to the hole inside. Nothing on the roof rack comes into contact with the car's paint. There is a black plastic protector that you apply to the area around the existing holes to protect even the paint under the tabs. That plastic protector and the screw/hole are the only places where the roof rack assembly contacts the car. The paint doesn't get touched.

Installing the rack and removing it for storage takes less than 5 minutes. I only attach the rack when I need it and detach it when I'm done using it.

Edit: for example, these tabs flip open and there is a screw hole inside. The roof rack attaches to that.

[MarkR171]

On a semi related note, if anyone is curious about BMW's surfboard attachment for the base rack system, I highly recommend it. I've carried 2 longboards (8'6" and 8'0") on it and the surfboard attachment grips the boards very well and there is absolutely no movement or play when strapped in. You could forcefully try to move the boards but you would just end up shaking the whole car. Best longboard/sup board solution I've found.

Here's a shot of it with my longboard:

[zamboni]

Installing the rack and removing it for storage takes less than 5 minutes. I only attach the rack when I need it and detach it when I'm done using it.

Can you leave the racks on and use the middle part for surf board? On & off did not sound too good.

[MarkR171]

Yea I've been thinking it may not be too good either, risking stripped holes/screws. Driving with the racks and surfboard attachment still on is fine too. I don't notice much wind noise even with them on (after cutting and applying the rubber covers on the rack) so I've been debating just keeping them on. The surfboard attachment is secured to the rack by 1 flathead screw per corner. It just slides off the sides when you loosen the screw.

These past 2 days I've kept the rack on with the surfboard attachment and just leave my straps in the trunk. No noticeable wind noise with windows up or down. I might just leave it this way. On the other hand, I don't actually use it much anyway. I live on the water and mainly surf right outside my house so the rack doesn't get used too much. Maybe once a month at most.

...Which leads me to a semi off-topic question, will I be asked to remove the rack for SCCA Auto X?

[merlinbk]

Thanks for posting this... I have been curious about how to install the roof rack as well.

[ScottyG]

Thanks, Mark. You rock!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Badger,

Congrat on your Hawks Stanley Cup Championship.

I previously had problem with fairing on my E46 but the E82 is not bad I don't think I would need the fairing to reduce wind noise.

well from driving my e90 this winter with boards/skis on top it would get a little loud at times... I think the fairing is still a good idea if one would fit on the oem cross bars.