Does anyone else with a roof rack have a whistle noise coming from their roof rack?

 

I just read a post where someone mentioned it is noisy. Where can I purchase a fairing or something that can stop the wind whistling noise? I will check ebay.

 

I am assuming you have the factory rack. If you do how long have you had it and have you had any problems with leaks?

 

I bought it used so I've only had it like 2 weeks. I haven't seen any leaks and it has rained most of the last 2 weeks. I just want to reduce the whistling noise.

 

If you have the rubber strips in the channels, pull em out. No more whistling

I've had the factory rack for 5 years, no leaks. I don't think I've heard of anyone with a leak, but I would suppose with an improper installation, it would be possible

 

I pulled the strips out so when I drive tomorrow hopefully it will be nice and quiet. Thanx for the advice JCWGrover=)

 

I've had a factory roof rack on both of my R53s. In both cases, I have Thule bicycle mounts on top of the rack and I have no problems with whistling. However, I do recall it whistling on my first drive home from the dealership (before the bike attachments were installed).

I have had NO ISSUES whatsoever with my rack. I love it and obviously had such success with the first one that I continued with the same rack with my second MINI. I don't keep mine on unless I'm using it frequently, as it scrubs off mpg and does make more noise at highway speeds (not whistling, though). It takes all of 5 minutes to install or remove and its light enough that I can do it without a second person.

 

[quote=JCWGrover;2023056]If you have the rubber strips in the channels, pull em out. No more whistling


It worked . But now I am thinking since I don't use them I should take them off for now since Dimini mentioned we lose a lil mpg with them on. Do I need to use a torx wrench and take the whole thing off or just the bars?

 

My rack came supplied with a T-handled wrench (it might be torx, actually) and I remove the whole unit, which literally takes one person 5 minutes. If you have just the risers and cross bars, your's will come off in two pieces. There are plastic MINI "tupperware" covers that attach over the mounting hardware if you don't like the Frankenstein look. They're about 1"x4" in size and its not uncommon to lose one or two a year.

 

A dab of RTV adhesive does wonders!!

 

RTV adhesive? Not familiar. Does it merely tack things down and easily lets go for easy (or should I say, manageable?) removal?

BTW, JCGrover, your sig is great.

 

If I don't have the plastic mini covers I wonder where I can buy them? Probably mini, but I will check ebay just incase.

 

The MINI covers are definitely a dealership item. Expect $2.00 each and they come in white or black (maybe silver nowdays?). They're paintable, too. Truthfully, I haven't lost any from my 2006 MCS. I lost a few during the three years while driving my '03.

 

RTV= silicone adhesive. I put a dab on the backside of the covers where they meet the stainless bolt heads when attached. keeps them from disappearing on me, yet they are still easily removeable when I want to put the rack on. trick of it is, don't use alot. If you do use too much, you can still get the covers off, but then you'll be spending time peeling it off when it dries

 

the bolts are torx i think, but at least mine is a hollow torx t-wrench. The bolt head is torx but has a little cylinder in teh middle so a standard torx wouldnt work. I'm guessing it's to make it harder to steal?

If you're looking at a fairing I made a yakima fairing fit the factory rack. Here's a thread I posted about it a while back

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=92855

 

That was a sweet mod. Do they sell just the fairing?

 

Yep, anywhere that sells yakima stuff. I got mine at REI. They are like 40-50 bucks

 

You should have gotten 4 covers with your roof rack, along with the wrench. It's funny...I actually went back to my dealer becuase I thought they forgot to give me the rubber cover strip (also part of the set). The parts department told me that they stop including it during the install because there were many complaints about the whistling. I thought they were full of it, but I drive only about 2 blocks and I hear the whistle at about 30 mph.

I have actually gotten used to it. It's like a harmonic signature, so I can actually identify my MINI when blinfolded! Most often my music usually drowns it out. When I ask my passengers, they claim not to notice until I bring it to their attention. This is only an issue during the winter because I take the rubber strips off the rest of the year.

 

Maybe I missed it in your thread, but can you clarify the connection locations? Does the fairing only attach at the channel of the roof rack? Is there any vibration that may cause the faring to hit the roof?

 

yep it attaches at the channel. There are four straps that you attach to the channel. The plastic of the strap is much stiffer/stronger than it looks in the pictures. Also, the strap supports the faring itself and you put foam stops on the bottom. The faring points at an angle and presses the foam into the roof of the car (very lightly). It actually comes with 4 clear plastic "clear bra" type sitckies that you can stick to the roof so that the paint does not scratch. I never experienced any rattles, and after putting about 15k miles on over the summer there wasn't a scratch on the roof after i took it off.