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Would someone provide some recommendations for reasonably priced non-OEM low profile roof rail cross bars for my F60 Countryman. Would appreciate some recommendations.
I have a pair of Whispbar S44. I luckily got them for $275 total for both bars, seems they're $229 per bar. They're under Yakima's rail bar section now (https://yakima.com/products/railbar-system). The sunroof clears under it with maybe an inch or so clearance.
If you want more closeups, let me know what you want to see and I can get better pictures. I really think this is the sleekest cross bar solution for the F60.
Last edited by atruelunatic; Nov 16, 2020 at 11:45 AM.
Yours is the first other one I've seen also! I keep going back and forth on lifting it...that recent xraid news made me want to do it again though. You?
Yours is the first other one I've seen also! I keep going back and forth on lifting it...that recent xraid news made me want to do it again though. You?
Haven't seen that X-Raid video til now. Thanks! I've been planning to throw a lift kit on it cause we take it "off-roading" (think forest service roads) and it's been fine most of the time... I have hit a bunch of rocks which caused the heat shield to bend and rub against the drive shaft which caused noises at certain speeds. I easily fixed it by bending it back though. Was in between the Journey's lift kit and the M7 lift kit... I think I'm leaning more towards M7 now after checking out X-Raid (looks like what's installed on their vehicle).
I bought a nice used set of the Whispbars for my Tiguan for $80. Unfortunately they were too close to the roof on that car and I sold them before I bought my Countryman. Wish that I had kept them around, they look nice. I have a set of the low profile Thule Aeroblade bars on my Tiguan now and I'm very happy with those. The only reason I haven't put them on my Countryman is because my wife got mad that I was going to take them off her car.
The Thule aeroblade has been most superceded by the Thule Wingbar Evo. I have a set for my Countryman and they are very quiet, even without anything on them.
The Thule aeroblade has been most superceded by the Thule Wingbar Evo. I have a set for my Countryman and they are very quiet, even without anything on them.
My bad, I meant the Aeroblade Edge, the really low profile one.
Just an FYI when looking at low profile cross bars... If you have the sunroof, you may not be able to open it without contacting the low profile bars. Just something to be aware of.
The low profile bars do look much better, however!
curious if you ended up doing a lift yet? I just picked up a 2019 F60 PHEV that I'm planning the M7Speed 2.5in lift and some 27in tires to hopefully give me at least 10-10.5 in of ground clearance.
Thanks for the tip. How did you determine the S44 were the correct size?
Originally Posted by atruelunatic
I have a pair of Whispbar S44. I luckily got them for $275 total for both bars, seems they're $229 per bar. They're under Yakima's rail bar section now (https://yakima.com/products/railbar-system). The sunroof clears under it with maybe an inch or so clearance.
If you want more closeups, let me know what you want to see and I can get better pictures. I really think this is the sleekest cross bar solution for the F60.
I’ve spoken to Mark at M7, Mike at Journeys and Thomas Quant from X-Raid. They are all using the same methodology for their lift. The difference is M7 is 2.5”, Journey is 2” and X-Raid is 0.78”. They all recommend increasing tire profile by two sizes which provides another 0.78” of lift.
Originally Posted by atruelunatic
Haven't seen that X-Raid video til now. Thanks! I've been planning to throw a lift kit on it cause we take it "off-roading" (think forest service roads) and it's been fine most of the time... I have hit a bunch of rocks which caused the heat shield to bend and rub against the drive shaft which caused noises at certain speeds. I easily fixed it by bending it back though. Was in between the Journey's lift kit and the M7 lift kit... I think I'm leaning more towards M7 now after checking out X-Raid (looks like what's installed on their vehicle).
The Thule aeroblade has been most superceded by the Thule Wingbar Evo. I have a set for my Countryman and they are very quiet, even without anything on them.
Originally Posted by Sopey15
My bad, I meant the Aeroblade Edge, the really low profile one.
Originally Posted by mattyb13
+1 for the Thule Aeroblade Edge bars! Great products.
Given that the Yakima Railbars seem out of stock everywhere in Canada, would @MattyB@Sopey15 and/or @eric.stewart be able to share more pics of either the Thule Aeroblade Edge or Wingbar Evo (or whatever other) systems you're using?
Thanks (and sorry for bringing up old-ish thread!)
Out of curiosity, what made you choose Wingbar Evo over the Aeroblade Edge?
Is one newer than the other? I just went with the latest one recommended by a local outfitter. They are also the quietest option according to Thule. Sent you a reply to your PM, btw.
Given that the Yakima Railbars seem out of stock everywhere in Canada, would @MattyB@Sopey15 and/or @eric.stewart be able to share more pics of either the Thule Aeroblade Edge or Wingbar Evo (or whatever other) systems you're using?
Thanks (and sorry for bringing up old-ish thread!)
The Yakima bars are in stock in canada. Super cool how low profile they are. I have the mini oem ones (use them on my clubman) and damn to they sit high on the countryman. From what I saw on the Yakima needs 2x size MD for the countryman. Found them below and there is another 8% discount.
Ok, here's the next question. Thanks so much for all your help, I'm so glad to have such an active forum!
Has anyone fitted, on either the Aeroblade Edge or Yakima Railbars, a small Snowpack-style ski/snowboard carrier, and any kind of box at the same time?
If not, would it be possible to measure the free space of either set of bars? Like, how much room there's be to mount things?
That's my only hesitation on low-profile bars. It seems like there might be more room on the Wingbar with the towers.
I ended up getting a second set of Thule Aeroblade Edge bars to put on my Countryman. They look and work great but unfortunately have a faint whistle between 40-55 mph. Has anyone else installed these bars and noticed the same thing? I tried following the recommendation of moving their positions but still have that high pitched whistle.
The one thing I found that takes care of the whistle is to wrap paracord around the front bar. I was hoping not to have to do this with these aero bars though. I don't notice any noise with the same bars on my wife's Tiguan but she also doesn't have a sunroof so maybe that's why.
