Interior/Exterior Roof Racks
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Roof Racks
Intended Use - bikes, skis, and an ocassional windsurfer. Maybe I'll strap on some sheets of plywood and run with the winged sprint cars...
Factory Bumper Rack - Rear racks are great until you drive in the rain/snow and totally coat whatever you have in the rack. However Mini's system is pretty clean when you remove the carrier. Guess it also rules out a rear fog light...
Factory Roof Rack - Yeah, I don't like holes drilled in the roof either, but I've heard that the factory rack is easily removed, leaving the mounting brackets behind.
Thule/Yakima - I don't like the pads rubbing on the roof, but we have a beater Nissan that has had a rack like this since '87 without any problems. I can only speculate that the paint is abraded under the pad. I'm leaning Thule because all my other racks are Thule.
Factory Bumper Rack - Rear racks are great until you drive in the rain/snow and totally coat whatever you have in the rack. However Mini's system is pretty clean when you remove the carrier. Guess it also rules out a rear fog light...
Factory Roof Rack - Yeah, I don't like holes drilled in the roof either, but I've heard that the factory rack is easily removed, leaving the mounting brackets behind.
Thule/Yakima - I don't like the pads rubbing on the roof, but we have a beater Nissan that has had a rack like this since '87 without any problems. I can only speculate that the paint is abraded under the pad. I'm leaning Thule because all my other racks are Thule.
Originally Posted by sambusik
I [muy_mini] originally seeded the thread with a comment about getting a roof rack.
sambusic replied:
It really depends on what you want to use the rack for, e.g. canoe, bikes, etc..
1. Factory Roof Rack
- Drills into roof ... People get nervous about this, but it actually end up being able to support much more weight than a Yakima or Thule rack setup that latches on to your weather stripping.
- I don't think you have much selection with bike mounts, since a Yakima Viper for example doesn't fit on the factory bars.
- Price is good, but installation often very $$ coz dealers charge labor to drill the holes.
2. Yakima or Thule
- Easier setup, no drilling involved
- Latches on to weather stripping, might end up leaving indentations in it
- More selection of bike mounts
I have the Yakima setup, but if I were to do it over again, I'd get the factory roof rack. It's an overall cleaner look.
sambusic replied:
It really depends on what you want to use the rack for, e.g. canoe, bikes, etc..
1. Factory Roof Rack
- Drills into roof ... People get nervous about this, but it actually end up being able to support much more weight than a Yakima or Thule rack setup that latches on to your weather stripping.
- I don't think you have much selection with bike mounts, since a Yakima Viper for example doesn't fit on the factory bars.
- Price is good, but installation often very $$ coz dealers charge labor to drill the holes.
2. Yakima or Thule
- Easier setup, no drilling involved
- Latches on to weather stripping, might end up leaving indentations in it
- More selection of bike mounts
I have the Yakima setup, but if I were to do it over again, I'd get the factory roof rack. It's an overall cleaner look.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
BuckeyeMCS,
I'm confused - Can't leave it on? Due to potential theft?
Question [to BuckeyeMCS or sambusik]: With the Yakima rack, are you required to mount the raingutter grabbers [for lack of a better name] in the door area? I'd like to spread the back mounts a bit past the back of the front door...
-B
I'm confused - Can't leave it on? Due to potential theft?
Question [to BuckeyeMCS or sambusik]: With the Yakima rack, are you required to mount the raingutter grabbers [for lack of a better name] in the door area? I'd like to spread the back mounts a bit past the back of the front door...
-B
Originally Posted by BuckeyeMCS
Only complaint I have about my Yak is that I can't leave it on. It has not done any damage to my S at all.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
I have mine installed like the directions suggest. Not worried about theft (locks).
I am worried about damage to the rain gutters.
I am worried about damage to the rain gutters.
Originally Posted by muy_mini
BuckeyeMCS,
I'm confused - Can't leave it on? Due to potential theft?
Question [to BuckeyeMCS or sambusik]: With the Yakima rack, are you required to mount the raingutter grabbers [for lack of a better name] in the door area? I'd like to spread the back mounts a bit past the back of the front door...
-B
I'm confused - Can't leave it on? Due to potential theft?
Question [to BuckeyeMCS or sambusik]: With the Yakima rack, are you required to mount the raingutter grabbers [for lack of a better name] in the door area? I'd like to spread the back mounts a bit past the back of the front door...
-B
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Yep, they have to be in the door area. You should look for the MINI specific measurements on the internet, since they might still be too new to be in the Q78 clips documentation for Yakima.
If you're thinking windsurfer, DEFINITELY get the roof rack.
Also, you generally have no trouble opening your sunroof unless your position the trays right on top of it...
If you're thinking windsurfer, DEFINITELY get the roof rack.
Also, you generally have no trouble opening your sunroof unless your position the trays right on top of it...
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
thule for me...
have had the thule on my '02 MCS for about 5 months and no degredation of the paint under the pads at all...besides, the white roof takes a compounding very well, so even if you get some shadow from the pads, it will buff out easily. i use mine for single speed mountain bikes and like all of the thule racks that i have had for the last 20 years [!] it works fine and feels as though you could lift the car w/ it...only complaint is that even w/ the thule fairing mounted to the rack i lose about 2 mpg w/ the rack on the roof...BTW it does not lock onto the weather strip but rather goes between the faux gutter and the roof itself...HTH
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Woodbury, CT
The Thule system is relatively new for the Mini. I have had Thule systems on all manner of vehicles over the years with no theft, durability, or car damage issues. If there is interest I can arrange a group buy at a discount. My brother is the President of Thule USA and I can do the group purchase and shipping through a local merchant. PM me if you are interested.
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Through my research the MontBlanc rack was the best for aftermarket racks. Unlike the thule and yakima, it goes around the glued-on plastic gutter and hooks under the metal. I bought the rack from Moss, but got the ski attachment from prolineracks as I could get the 8-ski rack for less than what moss was charging for the 6-ski one.
There's a thread on MINI2 discussing the different racks pretty well.
There's a thread on MINI2 discussing the different racks pretty well.
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