the official post your roof rack setup

[empivw]

Empivw: how much clearance do you have between the towers and the opensky when it is opening? My barely scrape by the towers, with maybe less than 1mm clearance. It makes me have a heart attack when I tested it.

If you installed it right and put the foot packs in the groove that is between paint and black portion, I have about 1/4" clearance maybe a bit more.

When I first put this on I nearly hit the tower then I realize you can twist the feet so it fits perfectly inside the groove.


here are some pictures, you can see the rubber portion are in the groove





Here is a video of the roof opening

http://youtu.be/Vf-VOhSCQ2k


Hope this Helps

Thornton

[slowandlow]

Thank you for posting that video Thornton! That's exactly what I needed to see.

[Fellow Gaucho]

Thornton coming up in the clutch!

[empivw]

No problem, glad to help


Originally I bought a brand new Whispbar set up with Yakima bike racks. I took it all home and installed it. I could not open the sunroof and the Yakima bike rack "Font Loader" was too long that it hit my hatch when opened.

I returned it all and got the Thule setup. Honestly comparing the two and installing them both I think the Thule is a way better product for nearly the same price

[krazyboi]

[neu318]

Looks good, would look even better without the RAI Motorsports sticker though. Do you have to keep that on the car indefinitely cause of the work they did?

[krazyboi]

Looks good, would look even better without the RAI Motorsports sticker though. Do you have to keep that on the car indefinitely cause of the work they did?

Sticker will be gone. They're trying to get a magazine thing going for the car.

[neu318]

Sticker will be gone. They're trying to get a magazine thing going for the car.

Gotcha, magazine deal would be cool. keep us posted.

[audiguy773]

If you installed it right and put the foot packs in the groove that is between paint and black portion, I have about 1/4" clearance maybe a bit more.

When I first put this on I nearly hit the tower then I realize you can twist the feet so it fits perfectly inside the groove.

You say that the feet can twist? I just received the 480 towers with the 1417 fit kit for a 2009 A3. The rear setup fits snug and tight in the groove but the front sit awkwardly and not secure in the lip, despite using the exact measurements from the manual. Did you have the same problem?

[empivw]

You say that the feet can twist? I just received the 480 towers with the 1417 fit kit for a 2009 A3. The rear setup fits snug and tight in the groove but the front sit awkwardly and not secure in the lip, despite using the exact measurements from the manual. Did you have the same problem?

What bars are you running?

on the Aeroblade the towers go inside underneath the bar. With the measurements from the manual i set the rack on the car. you can twis the feet so the foot sits in the groove.

I do not know if this will work with traditional square Thule bars though because I do not know how they attach. the aeroblades are like a channel and allow slight movement if you twist hard enough

[Maitre Absolut]

looks good krazy

need to figure out how to reduce wind noise with the oem bars...thule fairing won't fit right

[krazyboi]

looks good krazy

need to figure out how to reduce wind noise with the oem bars...thule fairing won't fit right

But if tiptronic can do it...

[tiptronic]

But if tiptronic can do it...

Black straps (velcro type). Only downside, they're sensitive to truck or high profile vehicle turbulence. They didnt 'flip over because the fairings did come with 4 extended 'clamps. but since it was 2nd hand, i only got 2 of the 4 thingys- which is then held down by a twist bolt (not sure what you call it) I will take a picture of what Im talking about. So yes, there is something out there that can hold the fairings properly.
Lately, I have not been using the fairings, and I seem to have gotten used to the wind-noise (although i've just got new tires, and all i hear now is the wind-noise )

[Maitre Absolut]

Problem with ^^ is with open sky, the fairing doesn't clear the net that pops out from the front of the roof, it rests on it. At high speeds the fairing is pushed down on it and it will eventually break it.

[audiguy773]

What bars are you running?

on the Aeroblade the towers go inside underneath the bar. With the measurements from the manual i set the rack on the car. you can twis the feet so the foot sits in the groove.

I do not know if this will work with traditional square Thule bars though because I do not know how they attach. the aeroblades are like a channel and allow slight movement if you twist hard enough

That must be the difference.

I have the square bars and there doesn't seem to be any play in the feet. As such, the lip on the feet will not follow the groove as it widens towards the windshield. I eventually got the rack to feel secure, but it is definitely not a snug fit. I'm curious if anybody has a solution for this?

Pic 1

Pic 2

[tiptronic]

Problem with ^^ is with open sky, the fairing does clear the net that pops out from the front of the roof, it rests on it. At high speeds the fairing is pushed down on it and it will eventually break it.

oic

[krazyboi]

Problem with ^^ is with open sky, the fairing doesn't clear the net that pops out from the front of the roof, it rests on it. At high speeds the fairing is pushed down on it and it will eventually break it.

So you are saying I need some imagination...

[mattA3]

Problem with ^^ is with open sky, the fairing doesn't clear the net that pops out from the front of the roof, it rests on it. At high speeds the fairing is pushed down on it and it will eventually break it.

Not a problem with Thule rack and fairing using the stock location for the front bar.

[Maitre Absolut]

So you are saying I need some imagination...

i'm sure theres something that can be done, there isn't much to clear.

Theres another problem though. When attaching the fairing to the OEM bar with the mechanism normaly used to tighten the real attachement (that goes around the square or aero bar), the fairing sits much more vertical then when properly attached, therefore more drag and noise.

3rd prooblem, you also have the real clips which will sit behind the bars which will look dumb unless you cut them off.

Not a problem with Thule rack and fairing using the stock location for the front bar.

we are talking about OEM bar with thule fairing

[yowzaa]

i'm sure theres something that can be done, there isn't much to clear.

Theres another problem though. When attaching the fairing to the OEM bar with the mechanism normaly used to tighten the real attachement (that goes around the square or aero bar), the fairing sits much more vertical then when properly attached, therefore more drag and noise.

3rd prooblem, you also have the real clips which will sit behind the bars which will look dumb unless you cut them off.


we are talking about OEM bar with thule fairing

None of these turned out to be a problem for me. I trimmed the plastic loops, then attached to t-bolt with a nylon insert lock nut instead of the plastic thumb screws.

The fairing sits at approx 45deg instead of 30. It still offers a considerable reduction of wind noise. This is possibly because the gap between the top of the fairing and my two bike holders is not much at all. I'll post pics asap.

Also, the cloth part of the open sky does not touch the fairing at all. I might tweek the install a bit later, but over all, I'm very satisfied with the look and functionality.

[krazyboi]

^^ Up close pics?

[yowzaa]

[Maitre Absolut]

Looks more like 60 degrees.

Also your fairing does not clear the front of the sunroof. It isn't resting on the glass part of the roof.

If you say it's just as stable and that there's significant wind noise reduction when open, then ill consider it. Though I do find it looks a bit funny sitting so vertical.

[krazyboi]

I can probably do w/o the fairing and will only install the rack when needed (which isn't too often yet).

In hindsight, I kind of wish I didn't get this used OEM rack and went with something like Thule that has more options/accessories. But I did get a pretty decent deal out of mine.

[VWAddict]

Also your fairing does not clear the front of the sunroof. It isn't resting on the glass part of the roof.

Not sure what you mean exactly, but it sounds as if you're under the impression that the front part isn't glass...

It is.

The only roof section which isn't glass is the bit with the shark-fin antenna mounted on it.

All the rest is glass.

[neu318]

Not sure what you mean exactly, but it sounds as if you're under the impression that the front part isn't glass...

It is.

The only roof section which isn't glass is the bit with the shark-fin antenna mounted on it.

All the rest is glass.

I thought the very front part wasn't glass. I'll have to check it out closely.

[Maitre Absolut]

Not sure what you mean exactly, but it sounds as if you're under the impression that the front part isn't glass...

It is.

The only roof section which isn't glass is the bit with the shark-fin antenna mounted on it.

All the rest is glass.

I meant its still resting on the "mesh" portion of the sunroof and not the solid glass. At speed the fairing is held in place by being pressed down. We (myself and the local thule retailer/installer) were under the impression that the "mesh" would not support the fairing being pressed down on it at high speed, though we never tried it.

[asal]

I can probably do w/o the fairing and will only install the rack when needed (which isn't too often yet).

In hindsight, I kind of wish I didn't get this used OEM rack and went with something like Thule that has more options/accessories. But I did get a pretty decent deal out of mine.

hey if its a good enough deal i would've as well. But aesthetically i think the OEM sits a little too high.

As another option, the INNO fairing has been known to fit many more applications easier and sit nice on the car. Best places to get one are rackattack.com and orsracksdirect.com I have an extra 10% off code right now for ORSracks if anyone wants it. PM me.

The INNOs are also cheaper than the THule/yakima fairings which is a plus. ORSRACKSDIRECT INNO FAIRING LINK

[VWAddict]

I meant its still resting on the "mesh" portion of the sunroof and not the solid glass. At speed the fairing is held in place by being pressed down. We (myself and the local thule retailer/installer) were under the impression that the "mesh" would not support the fairing being pressed down on it at high speed, though we never tried it.

Ah, got it.

Yes the mesh will tear, for sure.

[Maitre Absolut]

gonna buy thule bike attachments today

which will fit on OEM fat bars and which do you recommend?

518 - echelon 255$
513 - domestic 200$
517 - Peloton 195$
516 - Prologue 140$

[yowzaa]

Looks more like 60 degrees.

Actually, it is precisely 54º.

Also your fairing does not clear the front of the sunroof. It isn't resting on the glass part of the roof.

As seen in two of the photos, only the middle feet contact the glass, albeit slightly. The outers are about an inch behind. Still, in this position, the fairing doesn't come into contact with the cloth.

If you say it's just as stable and that there's significant wind noise reduction when open, then ill consider it. Though I do find it looks a bit funny sitting so vertical.

Admittedly, the aesthetics aren't dialed in. I'll eventually fab four extensions of the required length to fix the positioning.
As it stands now, it does the job and is a welcome improvement over driving without the fairing.

I think anyone concerned about wind noise, (like myself) wouldn't be driving at highway speeds with the opensky open -- with or without a roof rack. So, in a way, the position of the fairing at speed, with the sunroof open is sort of a moot point. IME, the sunroof gets shut once I start rolling.

[Maitre Absolut]

so i bought bike supports

[tiptronic]

134k

[dfischer1]

I would be posting my setup here, but someone stole the Yakima rack right off my car in broad daylight yesterday afternoon. Despite being locked down, it looks like you can steal Yakima's without even opening the doors. Not even sure if insurance will cover it as it wasn't "inside" the car.

Same setup as this:

[Fellow Gaucho]

I would be posting my setup here, but someone stole the Yakima rack right off my car in broad daylight yesterday afternoon. Despite being locked down, it looks like you can steal Yakima's without even opening the doors. Not even sure if insurance will cover it as it wasn't "inside" the car.

Same setup as this:

Sorry to hear that

did it damage your car?