i got my sidearm mounted and it rocks!!

 

Ghosthound, that looks like a good fit. I may just sell my Yakima Highrollers because I cannot adjust the front mounting point as it appears you can. So I have mount in reverse if I want to open hatch. Plus, I have to get additional mighty mounts. It appears you used the slots in the rack cross bars. One positive for the Yakima high roller, it probably has little more holding power and stability in comparison, just not as flexible in the mounting.

With your sunroof open, you could get sand / dirt in your hair

 

haha, yeah! i havent gone to the mountains yet although i cant wait!!

The rack itself is actually very solid and holds the bike very well. I agree that the highroller is probably even more stable, but there is no way the bike is going to fall out of the sidearm. I was able to utilize the rear slot in the rack but i had to get a washer and grind it to fit... i will take pix tomorrow.

Basically the square screw that came with the xadaptor1 kit was not big enough and could pop out of the slot if shifted around just a little.

another reason i went with the sidearm over the highroller was because of the hatch opening ability. I can still open the hatch fine without having to mount it backwards as you have already mentioned.

 

This past Saturday, I went to my local dealer for my first oil change.
While there, I asked about the base support system which they had in stock. I pulled out my Houston Motoring membership card and got 10% plus got it installed on the spot... so far I am very happy w/ how it looks, it feels very well built, so I may just leave the thing on my roof .

I'll post some pictures this week....

P.S. By the way, no charge for the install. It does pay to have connections

 

very nice!!

 

Alright, here are the pix of the bolt/washer setup for the Thule sidearm with the Xadapt1 kit.


As you can see in this first pic, the bolt head is much too narrow for the gap in the factory rack. Although it does have enough lip to secure the rear end of the rack down, the slightest forward or backward slide of the rack could easily cause the bolt to slip out of the gap.



In this pic, i am comparing the plain bolt to the bolt/washer combo. The washer itself i had to grind down to fit perfectly in the gap without being able to free itself, its very solid now.



As you can see, with the washer attached, there is a very snug and secure fit.



Hope this helps anyone with the factory rack!

 

For those who have done the install, are the "cutouts" something that's visible or are they something you measure and cut? I've looked for cutouts on mine a couple times and there's nothing visible. I'm worried that my early 07 build doesn't have them...it didn't have the secret compartment open either.

 

Those cutouts can be hard to see. The will on the ridge right next to the roof (paint). Take a flashlight and shine directly on there and move along the channel until you spot them. I have an October build so I can not speak about your earlier build but I can not imagine you not having them too.

 

Thanks for the reply, JLLG. I found 'em now. They're barely dimples in my rain gutter...guess I was looking for more.

 

I used a sharp utility knife to cut the verticals, wish I could on the horizontals but the rain gutter did not allow enough space. Reason is, when the perferations tear, they leave significant sized bumps and not a nice straight line. Make sure to use the plastic backer included in the kit before doing anything.

 

Has anyone fitted a Yakima Horizontal Mighty Mount (not the universal mighty mount) to the Mini Base Rack System? I have a pair of Yakima highroller bike racks to mount, probably will have to go backwards. Anyway, the universal mounts look a bit too much when it seems there should be a regular mighty mount that may work. I read somewhere that the Mini rack cross bars are basically the Thule Aero bars. Can anyone confirm this? Judging by ghosthound's finding's it seems they may be close but not the same.

I am considering a bolt / washer combination similar to ghosthound, but that will not work for the Yakima Highroller mount near rear bike wheel.

I also concern about those 3 hard plastic ridges glued on the underside of the front Mini cross bar. Can anyone clue us in on the usage of these ridges? I may just remove mine if they get in the way.

 

Neither the rack nor the fillers should be pushing the rain gutters down...

 

It's minimal, probably 1/8" inch or less. I could make it better if I could trim down the cut outs but its not easy to get leverage in there. Most of the perferations are still present which probably contribute to rack pushing down the gutter.

 

Ahh, I see. I was able to pluck any remaining perforations with the tweezers, as opposed to trying to cut them out, and using the plastic card slipped between trim and the roof for protection. Takes a few minutes but ended up getting all of them. Happy plucking!

 

I called Yakima and asked them specifically about that and they told me that even though the bars are a dealer option on many cars they still consider them an after market part and will not make a Mighty Mount for them. Several of them are so close though, and they are just plastic, that if someone had time and an understanding Yakima retailer I'm sure you could get one to work just fine. I have a high roller I mounted up with the universal mighty mounts and it whistled to no end and I took it back off.

 

I exchanged several emails a while back with Yakima and discovered their stance on the Mini Rack. IMO, Yakima is not doing themselves any favours by not even testing it because they classify the same as aftermarket. I wonder if they consider the rack for BMW 3 series sedan the same way (it clips in similar to R56). Anyway, its just disappointing because I really like their products. They gave me some line about inconsitent installs by the dealer. I have used there Q-Towers and I think those have as much or more variation because they place that install in the end customer's hands.

So for your highroller, I assume you mounted backwards? Do you plan on using it still or just taking off when not hauling your bike? Taking off frequently would be a pain unless you had another person help you just remove the entire rack with high roller(s) attached. The high roller is the culprit to the extra noise right? I have left my rack on since November and it really does not seem to add much noise.

I am seriously considering just using my SUV and a hitch mount to biking. Trying to bike carriers on the mini rack seem to be a pain, except for ghosthound's Thule setup. The Mini bike carrier seems like a nice option but cutting holes in bumper is not too appealing to me. Decisions, decisions...

 

I'm still waiting for my 08 MCS (R56) to arrive. I've ordered the factory rack.

Could someone tell me the distance between the front and back rails? I want to see if my existing stuff will work, or if I'll have to start putting together alternatives.

Cheers--

 

Hi everyone. I've been a lurker for a few months. Picked up my 08 Mini in February and having a blast.

I ordered the racks and finally arrived this week (it took almost 3 weeks from Morristown Mini for some reason.. but I was in no rush. I read the step by step with pictures here and the manual before starting anything.

Seems easy enough!! My issue was when i was installing the fitting bracket wouldn't push the clamps down flat no matter what I tried!

I even took the racks off and tried to push them flat that way too but with no luck.

Did anyone else come across this issue? Or does anyone have any advice?

Surfing season is coming and I can't get to the beach!!


Thanks everyone!

BTW i have a 08 Pepper white MCS!

 

Are you talking about fitting the roof rack to the car or a carrier to the roof rack? Any chance you could take a picture of what you're talking about?

 

My wife just got a Clubman and we got the Mini base rack and bike rack setups. She for the first time tried getting her bike mounted and did. But, she isn't "tall" and with the front wheel on, it is a clumsy experience. Cannot imagine how that is going to go down after a long ride (exhaustion)...

So, she is wondering if there is an option for a fork mount for the front that works with the Mini bike rack, or do I need to dump the bike rack and get another manufacture with the fork mount that works on the Mini base..

Thanks!

 

I'm talking about getting the base roof rack onto the car. I'll try to take a pic and get it posted up.

 

I just installed the roof rack on my Mini-it is extremely sturdy and does not clamp onto the rain gutter. There are four hidden mountings under the rain gutter rubber molding. You have to take a razor blade and cut away the molding in exactly the right spot, then the mountings are exposed.

If you are needing to haul a bicycle, I am sorry to report that the Mini touring cycle holder (the one that holds a bike with the front wheel mounted on it), is a huge pain in the @ss and I hate it.

 

I know that I have seen that they make bike racks that are fork mounts so you can take the front wheel off.

 

----
Hi!
I just installed the roof rack on my Mini, and when I followed the instructions in the manual, it was impossible as you mentioned, to get the clamps flat. Don't even bother. Loosen the nut so there is some play, shove the clamps into the mounting slot, then slowly start to tighten the nut. As you tighten, you will see that the clamps will naturally start to flatten and then you can use that weird flimsy tool that looks like a bottle opener to press on the clamps and work them down and together in the center. Go slowly and eventually you will get it right.

 

Actually, if you look in the Motoring Accessories book there is no picture but it is listed underneath the full bike mount.