Hi everyone,

I thought I'd share an email I received from Yakima regarding racks for the Countryman. I wonder if more folks ask about it they'll produce rails for us sooner! I'm hoping to have some YakRacks by this winter!

-Len

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Yakima Customer Support.

We need to test every vehicle as it comes out with our racks to make sure that the fit is safe. Our Fit Team has not had an opportunity to complete our testing of the Mini Countryman. We cannot test anything until one becomes available from a dealership and then it has to go through rigorous testing to be sure it is a safe fit. Many times, once we’ve gone through all of the testing we can use one of our existing tower systems and call out the fit. That usually just takes a month or so after we’ve seen it. If we cannot use an existing system, we need to develop something especially for it and that does take at least 6 months to go through the development process.

I have logged that you requested a fit for your car, which will help show our engineers there is demand for it. Once the vehicle has been evaluated, www.yakima.com will be updated with the information (follow the “Fit My Car” link).

Thank you for your inquiry!
Yakima Support

 

More than one of us have "certified" the Skybox 16s on stock rail bars.

 

I contacted them back on July 26 because I already have a Yakima system to haul - ok don't laugh/gasp too hard - an 18' wooden canoe!

All I want are new towers to fit the MINI rails to hold my existing bars and gunwale brackets... It used to carry fine on top of my Volvo 760 and V90 wagons. I know this may be a stretch, but here was Yakima's response. I checked again today, and still nothing available... My mini will be here this week!!!!

Thank you for contacting Yakima Customer Support.

Our Yakima Fit Team is currently assessing a rack fit for your vehicle. Generally, this means that we will have a fit for your vehicle sometime in the near future, but not always. Sometimes we find that there is no way to fit your vehicle; in this case, we will update the vehicle to a "No Fit" status. Otherwise, we will list what towers, clips, and bars will work for you. Please be patient, there are a lot of vehicles out there on the road today for our fit team to check out. I have logged that you would like a rack for this vehicle. That will help show that there is a demand for it.

Please visit www.yakima.com and click on "Fit My Car", you can sign up for an automatic notification when a fit is available. You can also check back periodically to see if fit information for your vehicle is available. Once we have a fit, the site will immediately reflect that information.

 

Thanks for starting this, I will also email them. I am with you guys in hoping Yakima comes out with something soon...but I need one by Spring (kayaking/biking in michigan.

 

I used to work in the industry. In my experience, it takes a minimum of six months (sometimes closer to a year) for Yakima to finish their "tests" and certify their products as safe for a particular new vehicle. If Yakima deems it necessary to produce a new rack component specific to the Countryman, expect it to take closer to a year to 18 months. Yakima has to conduct tests to see what the weight ratings and stability will be and if any vehicle damage from use will occur. That way they can warranty and stand behind their products. Their customer service is quite good; I've seen it first hand on several occasions.

The emails to Yakima will help them see the demand, but understand it will take awhile. I'll be surprised if they have things available by the end of the year, but hey, we can hope.

@SchHDogs - I don't know what kind of rails are on the Countryman, but I'd have to think the RailGrab would have a good chance of fitting. The issue would be that Yakima will not warranty any of their rack components on your vehicle until it is certified. I know dozens of people that have bought various Yakima components and made them work 100% on a vehicle that has "no fit" according to Yakima. It all depends on whether you want a warranty...........

If we get down the road a few more months and still have no answer, I'll contact an old industry friend who reps for Yakima and get one.

 

Interesting that Thule already has a foot kit out; wonder why it's taking yakima so long.

 

Isn't Thule the "official" MINI supplier?

If so, they got an advance look when the car was being develped.....

 

Looks like Yakima's RailGrab is finally MINI CM certified!

 

The Thule foot is different from the OEM MINI foot, the MINI foot is identical to the one used on the E91 3 series.

 

Where do you see that?

 

I swear this morning it said it was... my mistake... Maybe I selected a different MINI. I apologize. I also thought I had read that someone said they tested the Yakima and Thule rail grabs and both worked fine, but I can't find that now either.... must have not had enough coffee this morning :-(

 

I found that if you fill the info out on Yakimas home page, the rail grab comes up. However if you go through "fit my car" there is still no option for the Countryman. I'm still waiting to order...

 

Since the CM and the E91 Touring use the same profile rails if the Yakima rail grab fits the E91 it's going to fit the CM.