OK, so I installed the factory rook rack on my R53 and I have enjoyed having it on there. I have big plans for utilization but have not been a big fan of the constant whistling from the end caps. or how the roof looks when the rack is not on (screw covers).

I have a weird idea, have some custom rails fabricated that will mount to the stock locations and use Thule or Yakima cross bars. This way, I can take the cross bars off, when not in use (damn you whistle & drag) but the rails stay in place and give a clean look compared to leaving the rack on or using the screw covers. Think Countryman

To give you an idea of what i'm talking about, the thought came after seeing a few Nissan Frontier/Xterra's with factory racks as I drove around L.A. today.



This is either gonna be awesome or horribly horribly bad. Either way, I need to find a welder/fabricator.

 

Sounds like a neat idea. I was never for the drill into my roof for the factory rails so I went with Yakima for several reasons.

Excited to see if this gets going.

 

I wasn't too fond either. Just couldn't resist after the deal I got on the OE rack. So now I'm back peddling and trying to find a way to hide the holes. This is the best way I found.

I'm going to look at a rack today. So once I get that. I can get some measurements and start looking for a welder.

 

Here is a test run using the factory Mini rack as the cross bars. I am looking into material options for the rails and mounting.

 

PS i love that sticker, and those rails are looking good! what are those rails from? and youll need some end caps cause i bet those will whistle hard!

 

i think your trying to fix the wrong thing. i have a roof rack as well, mine was whistling. i made a fairing and now it no longer whistles. try a fairing on the OE rack.
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here is a picture of mine now
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In reality, the whistling isn't the biggest issue. I have made the fairing. It helped get rid of the whistling for the most part. but it didn't solve my biggest problem. The fact that I have these huge bolt heads on my roof. I have been fine tuning my roof rail search and think I may have found a viable solution. The Nissan tube rail thing is just too bulky/ large diameter tube to sit right on the mini. I recently bought a set of roof rails from a chevy suburban that may do the trick. It sounds crazy, but im my head, it works. Stay tuned for updates.

 

good looking car, and i love the plates
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here is mine
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I bet them beemer boys aren't too fond of your plate. haha

 

MINI actually makes/ made a set of rod rails for the R53. Flow MINI of Winston Salem ordered them and installed them on a car. Not too bad looking. If I remember right they used the factory roof rack and it screwed into an piece on the rail. This allowed it to be adjusted front to rear. I also remember, could be wrong, that is used the same mounting points as you do if you mount the roof rails directly to the roof.

 

My jaw dropped after reading that. I looked and I have found this. Of course..... Now to see if I can find all the discontinued parts they used...

 

here you go........ http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...26&hg=82&fg=51