vrmoreno3 - couple of questions:

1. Did you go with the Euro Pitchfork, or the "regular" Pitchfork (or perhaps another tray altogether)?
2. Does that Thule fairing make a difference?

Thanks!

 

I have the regular pitchfork I think. The fairing cuts the noise off the bars. Even without the roof rack the noise is still loud when the roof is open. This actually made that a little quieter.

 

Hey Bentyyc - Do you have the right rail in the rear position? The rails are different lengths with the front being longer.

Bill

 

Miniblue - was just reading about that in the other thread in the General section. I definitely have the crossbar with the "tabs" in the front. Going to check to see if the read bar is actually shorter. I never measured, but they looked about the same length...

Thanks!

 

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting the MINI crossbars and roof rack from Amazon. How noisy is it?

Anybody out there know anywhere you can get that Mini rear hitch rack other than through the dealer? My dealer wants to charge $800.

Thanks much.

 

Very loud and you cannot attach a faring. I went Thule. See my pics.

 

I've had them on and didn't find them very loud at all.

However if it does bother you though Inno makes a universal fairing that would fit them no problem:

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/inno-r...61-ina262.html

I thought Yak did one too but can't seem to find it anywhere.

Still factory bars overall fit much better.

 

I was just curious if there was a big difference between the Racing Bike Holder described above, which is BMW brand:
http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Racing-Cyc.../dp/B004FRBWMY

And the Mini Fork Mounted Bike Rack?:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A29XGYB1O66VEN

 

The OEM's go on and off so quickly I put them on every Friday night when I put the boat on the car and take them off when I get home Saturday afternoon. I don't notice too much noise. I had Thule on my R56 and left then on all the time and they were noisy.

Bill

 

You'll find 20% + discounts from supporting vendor dealers through this website. I've ordered all of my mini parts through them and would definitely do the rack through them as well (assuming shipping doesn't kill you).

 

My OEM bars aren't loud either, and they come on and off super easily. I do hear a high whistle at highway speeds, but it's very soft and you have to turn the radio off to hear it. I think Thule bars might be a better idea in general, just because they're sized better for more accessories, plus you can get longer bars if you want to really load up your rack, whereas the OEM ones are only the width of the roof.

Still, I'm quite happy with my OEM bars because I don't like to leave them on when I'm not transporting the kayak. The ability to have them on or off in less than 5 minutes is huge. Perhaps the Thule solution is just as easy, but I don't know.

 

saw one on ebay for 180 shipped brand new.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINI-COUNTRY...item4843e80517

 

FYI the OEM bars are made by Thule, same as all BMW bars.

 

Just bought the base rack on eBay (thanks aznqtboy984 for the link) - does anybody know of any cheaper places to buy the ski holder and/or regular bike holder?

 

just bought the base rack from ebay too, thinking to get a yakima snowboard attachment? anyone have any good suggestion for snowboard?

 

What do you guys think about this one:

http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2012/5172.html

 

Need help. Have Mini Cooper Clubman s. Bought the base rack and 2 touring bike holders from a private person. Manual says easy to install base rack---horse ****. tried for over 2 hours. got screwed by the dealer for install and now afraid to take the base rack off for fear of not getting it back on. took the dealer almost 2 hours to install. More importantly, a screw or two fell off of the plate that holds the bike holders to the base rack. Called the dealers and they do not have replacement screws. Called Mini and got such a run around that i want to mail them my bike rack. No one there knows anything about the rack, who made it for them, etc. Refer me back to the dealers who know just as much, nothing. So i in theory would have spent $550 for the base and 2 bike holders and 2 hours labor cost to install and now can not safely use the second bike holder. Any one know who made the bike rack for Mini? Anyone know the size specs of the screws used to mount the tire rails to the plates to attach to the base holder?
Evan

 

I'd recommend pulling one of the existing screws and taking it to a hardware store for a match. Though if it's really a screw, just about any screw should work. If it's a bolt, which seems more likely, I know Ace and True Value have displays where you can thread your bolt to find what size it is.

You can also check RealOEM for part numbers if the bike rack is from MINI. You can see all the various roof rack parts here: http://realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?mo...27&hg=82&fg=51

 

We're ready to order a new Countryman but want a bike rack. We have two concerns:

1. Would you recommend the Mini rack or the Thule
2. Does either rack conflict with a sun roof?

We currently are driving a R50 with the sunroof and really enjoy the view as well as the extra ventilation, but are worried about the roof rack and the potential conflict with the roof rack/bike rack.

Can you advise?

 

I'd recommend the MINI rack, it was actually cheaper than the Thule and fits without having to mess around with fit kits, I then added a Thule Outride 561 bike carrier, which is cheaper than the MINI bike carrier.

With either rack you should have no problems with the sunroof.

 

Well i will say this. IF the only rack from Mini is the kind that i have which must be jammed in between the rain gutter and a 1/4' gash in the roof, then i would go with another kind of system now that i know. I guess most other racks grip your car roof frame in the door sil area. And thus are easier to put on and off if not planning to use often. I am afraid to take the base rack off my car for fear of not getting it back on. Another option is to get a Mini with the running rails if its a Clubman or Countryman. Then the cross bars can be added or removed much easier and as wanted leaving the running rails to be more aerodynamic with the car vs. having two base rack rail going across the roof.

 

The MINI rack for the countryman is a breeze to take on and off. I made a guide stick from a wood scrap and the front mounts 8-inches back from the front of the rail and the rear 10-inches forward of the back end. I use an electric drill to fasten it down. 2-minutes off and 3-minutes on. I do it every weekend.

Bill

 

I agree the OEM CM bar is easy to install/remove. If you remove it often, you can mark the roof strips w/ a clear vinyl sticker for easier placement/alignment when re-installing.
You will barely see it when the rack is removed & its covered by the rack bases when installed.

BTW- I have a new in the box OEM CM rack/load bars FS $210 shipped. I won 2 on ebay :( Instead of bailing on the seller, I now have 2. Just trying to get close to what I paid for it.

 

The OEM CM bar is super-easy to install, I used some tape to mark the alignment, 5 min. My Thule bars on my other car take a *little* longer, but it's because it doesn't have factory rails. I have a Rockymounts ski rack I put on the CM, but for more gear, you gotta go with a cargo box (esp with 4 people with any bags)! Check out Rhino Rack.

 

what cargo boxes fit on the oem rack/bars ? (besides the oem one) i'd like a black sleeker looking box.