So I'm researching which roof rack will best suit my needs and I'm super confused. I think my confusion lies in the different terminology for the different parts of the rack...base rack, accessories

The main thing I'm concerned about is noise while driving. I would need the roof rack for one kayak and possibly storage box/carrier. I don't really care so much about the noise when I'm carrying stuff but for when I'm driving around with just the base rack on will there be noise? I realize I can remove the base rack but that seems too troublesome to do every weekend. I plan on removing the items that I attach to the base rack.

I'm leaning towards the MINI OEM roof rack which I think I can install myself based on reading some related threads. But there doesn't appear to be faring piece to minimize noise.

 

I went with the oem mini base rack and thule bike mounts. I also installed a thule fairing to help cut down on wind noise. I really don't hear much wind noise with the windows up and air on and I drive alot of highway miles. I had to use the thule parts b/c they fit the mini rack where other makes won't.

The oem mini base rack is a little challenging to install, take your time, cover the roof with blankets or towels and carefully follow instructions.

You could always go with either thule or yakima for everything.

 

OEM for sure. Easy to insall and to take off. Then you won't have to worry about them making noise when you aren't carrying anything. Plus since they are made for the MINI they fit the best also.

 

My Mini had the OEM roof rack on it when I bought it, and I drove it around like that for months before I took the rack off. I don't recall it making any noise at all with the rack installed.

 

Mine is pretty loud...
probably have to install the Thule faring to cut down on noise.

I also think I'm loosing 2 to 3 mpg if I keep the rack on the car, but this is a whole different thread.

 

If it is installed incorrectly then it will make a lot of noise.

There are two cross bars and one of them has little rubber nubs on the bottom. If that is NOT installed at the front it WILL make a lot of noise. Those little rubber nubs make a huge difference.

 

The noises I hear are not mechanical / "banging" around noises...it is wind noise from the additional drag as my frontal cross sectional "wind" area is now bigger. Also, the rack was install at the Mini dealer.

 

the rubber nubs i am talking about have NOTHING to do with mechanical or banging noise. They are there for WIND NOISE REDUCTION.

They are three of them and are each about 3 inches long. They sit on the bottom side of the bar and break up the wind between the bar and the roof to reduce the wind noise.

If they are not on the front bar they do NO good.


Many MINI dealers do not put these on correctly, they end up not looking at the bars and put the front bar on the rear so just because it was installed by the dealer does not mean that it is on correctly.

I personally have corrected more than 30 dealer installs that were done wrong.

 

I noticed considerably more wind noise after installing the factory base system, but I'm used to it. It is installed properly, for those wondering.

I'm using Yakima forklift bike racks with it. I turned them backwards so I can open my hatch, I also noticed they're a lot quieter that way.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

*yes, my car needs a serious scrub down and waxing.

 

I have the OEM rack and it's very quiet when bikes aren't mounted (fork mount). BTW, I must have gotten a newer generation rack, mine does not have any nubs even though the manual mentioned them. It also mentioned that there would be markings to tell me which way was left or right, I do not have them either. I had to wait about 2 weeks to actually get mine from Classic MINI due to backorder.

 

Pauldo,

you can cut the bike mounts so they fit. I did it on my Thule mounts. I can open the rear hatch safely w/o the bike, but it will hit the bike rear wheel when mounted, so I just make sure I remove the bike before I open the hatch.

 

I looked into doing that, but my mtb uses up almost the entire length of the rack, so I wouldn't be cutting off that much of the rack and the spoiler would still bump into the rack.

I'm thinking of changing racks to the Yakima Raptor aero, because the next mtb I want to buy will not be compatible with fork lock roof racks. New fork design and all that...

 

I forgot that mtbs are longer than road bikes. I don't mt bike anymore, so my setup is ok. I use the thule velo vise mounts and removed about 5" to make them work.

 

I have the factory racks but no key for them as I bought the car used. Any idea how to remove these or if there's some way I can get another key?

 

I can send you one of my keys but I'm not sure if they are a universal fit. You might have to check with a local mini dealer. Also try a paper clip........sometimes they do work. I have taken them, straightened out a 2" piece and made a 1/8" bend on the end and opened simple locks.

 

I'll try this with the paperclip first. Are yours OEMs from an R53 or R56 or which?

 

R56 Just bought the base rack last month. Good luck with the paper clip.

 

there should be a number on the lock itself (like something between 0 and 20). that would be the key you need. you might be able to get this from Mini. maybe someone here can give you a spare or copy theirs if it is the right number.

 

Whispbar was just bought by Yakima so there's hope they'll offer a fitment for the Minis now.

http://www.yakima.com/whispbar/

 

I just picked my new (to me) 2006 Mini Cooper and it had the OEM roof rack on it. I plan on throwing a couple of bike racks on it and leaving it on for the long haul. It does not, however, have the 'nubs' on the front bar and it makes a hellacious bit of noise with the sunroof open (I can hear it with the sunroof closed, but with the radio and my bad hearing, not a big deal).

Where can I get the nubs or find something comparable to cut down the wind noise? I am fairly handy fixing things, so trying to do some DIY project to do it would be fine, I just need to be pointed in the right direction.

Cheers!

 

I installed the OEM Mini rack myself. there are a few tricks to make install a bit easy. I used Thule Echelon bike trays and the Thule faring. the Thule items had to be modified a bit to work with the OEM rack. a little time, research, and thought, and everything went fine. I had to cut the clamp mounts off of the faring and extend them about 4 or 5 inches to clear the sunroof. I noticed a big difference in noise reduction with the faring but you will still have noise from the rack regardless. after i installed the bike trays and faring, i took the rubber seal trim that came with the OEM rack and cut it to size to fill all the gaps in the rack. That rubber trim on the top also makes a big improvement in sound.