anyone in the chicagoland have either the roof mount or the rear bumper mount? from what i've read these are the only 2 alternatives to mounting and transporting bikes on a MINI. also, i've read that both options are quite difficult to install and need drilling/cutting into the body panels. i'd like to take a look at either of these 2 if anyone has already done them. i'd like to see what the finished product looks like in person and also ask where they had the install done.

thanks,
nirmit

 

Love my Yakima for bikes, skis and windsurfer.

 

Check out the new mount from

http://www.miniaturetrailer.com

The hitch mount comes out through the center light opening at the
bottom of the bumper.

MiniFini has been resurrected (just in time for Easter) with the original
similar mount that requires two holes to be cut in the rear bumper.

http://www.minifini.com/Default.aspx

 

I am not very close by but this is my second MCS and I have the factory rack installed on both. Other than the drilling of holes in the roof it is a great rack ..... OK, maybe the rack isn't as nice as Dolly Parton's, but it a very nice rack.

It has double the capacity of any of the others, like the Yakama or Thule, at 165lbs. It is solid and quiet at any legal speed, as long as there is something mounted on it. If you run with just the cross bars they will start to hum at approx 25mph and just get louder and louder. Just wrapping a strap tightly around both bars will quiet the noise or keeping the bike carriers mounted to the cross bars. Actually, anything mounted between both cross bars will quiet them.

See here for some photos: http://www.mini2.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/704

There are some close-up photos of the actual mounting bolts. At first I kept the plastic covers on all the time but now I run with them uncoverd when the rack is off. If people ask I tell them they are the "Frankenstein Bolts" that brought it alive.

You can see the bike carrier and cargo box that I have. I also have kayak carriers for it and carry 2 - 15' ocean kayaks. ( someday I'll post photos )

It is a very strudy rack system. There has never been any issues about leaking on my '02 during 37,000 smiles or my '06 with 4,500 smiles.

 

I have the factory rack on top and I have tried without success to keep the Frankenstein bolts covered but the plastic covers keep falling off...... the system is solid when on but I like the sunroof unencumbered and it is quieter when it is off....... I have had racks on every car I have owned for the past 20 years..... this is another compromise

 

I have the mini-fini version (SportLink), purchased the parts from Classic (with NAM discount!) and had Chad at Detroit tuned install it (I helped). Very nice, even though the bike rack is the single post type, it's very stable/anti rotation as long as the bike is attached at the balance point.

This route requires 2 holes to be drilled (well, sawed with a hole saw) in the bumper cover - but the bumper cover is a relatively inexpensive plastic body part to replace.

John

 

Try the Saris Bones rack... I've got one, it's nice.

http://www.saris.com/products/bones.htm

 

We use a Bones rack, too. Do you notice compression spots from the bottom feet on your bumper? We use a pad/towel to avoid scratches when the rack is on, but after removal I can see two little faint depressions. They go away after a few hours (self healing bumpers? magic?) and there is no permanent damage that I can see, but I wonder. But those racks are cheap, work well, there are no holes to dril, and there seems to be no lasting marks.

 

so you can ignore if you'd like. I use the Thule roof rack. Works great and if you can read instructions and follow directions then it is easy to install. When you're not using you just remove it from the roof.

 

I had the dealer install the Sportlink since I needed a rack and was ordering the convertible. I am up in Lake County if you want to take a look

 

I have the Thule roof rack and love it, have two bikes on it, and may also add my thule box at the same time for long road trips.

 

thanks everyone. i ended up getting the saris bones system price was right and no drilling

 

So what do you think of it? Any issues with it moving around, scratching paint? etc?

 

nope no issues as of yet, but like ladidah shows above, I am using a cloth for the bottom legs just in case.

 

I have a Thule Easy Rider for the back of my S. It easy to install each time I use it and leaves no marks. I do have a strip of clear vinyl on the top of my rear bumper from my clear bra that probably helps. Drill holes in a MINI to carry a bike? I think not. Good luck.

 

Hi ChicagoMini,

I have a Thule rack from my previous car. I see a fit kit listed for the Mini Cooper S - Kit 2145. From the looks of your photos, you are using this kit?

The MCS rain gutters look like plastic so I'm a bit concerned about potential damage to the car and of course to the bikes if the rack were to fail at freeway speeds.

What's been your experience carrying two bikes with the Thule rack?

 

Hey Gary Klee, rack up and go, the thule fit kit is great, and I use it alot with two bikes, would be happy to meet you somewhere for a look see at mine.

just send an email, is your roof white or black? I understand from others the the black will show any marks that the fit kit may leave.

I also put shocks on my bike rack to help the ride and reduce the wear on the car and whole system. A must See!

Later Dustin

 

Hey Dustin,

Thanks for the reply. My Mini is the same color scheme and by the looks of your pictures, my Thule rack is about the same age. I have the older style aero foot. What kind of shocks did you put on the bike rack? I wasn't aware this could be done. I'll look into it.

Thanks Gary

 

Gary, I'll try to load some pics, feel free to call me for appt, I'm all over the chicago area for work, in my Mini, on any day I could be just min from you.

Dustin 312-388-4263

 

Dustin,
I took a look at your photos. That's a pretty ingenious setup - I'm impressed. You've got an incredible idea there. Thanks for taking the time to add those to your gallery. I'm going to get the Mini fit kit for my Thule rack and build it up. There's nothing like a Mini with two bikes on the roof!

By-the-way, I'm in Southern California...

 

So Cal, I lived in Newport Beach for years. WOW, small world. The other thing I was thinking about was to mount your rack as far back as you can, the rain gutters are better there, the Thule kit will tell you to mount them at the front edge of the gutter, and thats a WEAK spot. My front bar sits right over the middle of my door, I can put the window down and hold the bar, while driving. Later Dustin

 

Thanks, another good tip. I was concerned about how strong the MCS rain gutters are. The look like plastic, But I suppose the clamp goes far enough under the gutter lip so that it is under the steel portion of the roof.

How did you determine the front part of the gutter was weak? My theory is that Thule's instructions are intended to have the aero feet of the rack squarely above the roof's reinforced cross-beams in order to support the extra weight.

I have a sunroof so when I look at the dimensions of the hole, it's pretty clear there the cross beams would be in front and in back of the sunroof. However, I'm not sure this matters much for a couple of bicycles.

 

How did I determine the placement, well thats a funny one. LOL

I placed an oversized shipping case on the rack and used ratchet tie downs and one ratchet too far and the gutter began to lift, the plastic part lifted.

I dont think I did any long term damage, and it "fell" right back in place, but thats when I moved the whole system back.

For bikes I dont think it matters, and with the springs I have on the bike rack, I can leave the "feet" of the thule rack less tight.

Hope that helps, Safe Motoring to the biking, Dustin

 

Dustin,

I finally cleaned up my old Thule rack, installled the MCS fit kit and put the whole thing together. Attached are some photos of the finished work.

I moved the front cross bar back about 1.5 inches and expanded the distance between the cross bars to 25 inches with the rear cross bar behind the front door jamb to give extra clearance for my sunroof in the tilt-up vent position.

By-the-way, I was pleased to find my sunroof is fully functional with the Thule roof rack clamped in place and holding two bikes.

Thanks for your pointers.

Gary

 

I had the factory system and ended up removing it and respraying the top..... your Thule looks good .......
FWIW "Moskito" (Herbert) is like the sales manager, or general manager of Litespeed.... he gave me a complete tour of the factory (near Chattanooga)..... very nice guy and even though we have not heard from him lately, is really into his Mini