Roof Rack Saris

[minimc40]

Does anyone know how to install the roof rack Saris on a mini cooper?undefined

[aldini]

Quote: Originally Posted by minimc40

Does anyone know how to install the roof rack Saris on a mini cooper?undefined

Hello miniMC40.
I was about to setup a saris rack , the one I used to have on mi beetle , the setup doesnt fit very well, saris by itself does not have ( as far as I know ) a mini roof rack solution. The one that I have grabs the piece of metal which is very thin and I am afraid that you might BEND that piece of thin metal, no wonder why mini trade mark roof rack needs holes on the roof in order to mount firmly.

The only option that know about Saris is the BONES back rack. Personally I'd rather roof rack , it looks beeter and i guees is safer.

[eyapteno]

I was able to install my Saris roof rack succesfully on my MCS 2005. I used the Saris recommended #6 clips.

I could not find a way to insert the clips between the roof and the gasket that goes on the sides of the roof with the clips pre-mounted on the load bars. So with the clips off the load bars, I inserted them between the roof and the gasket. Then I placed the load bars on top of them and bolted them together. It is difficult to squeeze the bolt in from underneath but not impossible. After several attempts with a pair of long nose plier, I was succesfull.

The only problem I have is that the rear load bar is too low to accomodate the fully opened sun roof. A possible solution here is to put some thick rubber spacers (1/2" to 3/4") between the foot pads of the rear load barsand the roof. That would increase the height. As long as the spacers are dense and pliable enough, I don't think the rack or the roof will be compromised.

[aldini]

I have a saris roof rack. Did you have to bend some part of the edge in order to fit in the rain gutter? bars look fine but what about the bike rails? seems to be quite long to fit a bike... Please advice.

[eyapteno]

I didn't have to bend anything. It is difficult to insert the clips between the rubber gasket (of the roof) and the roof but no bending necessary.

Not sure what you meant about the bike rail. For mine the bars are pretty wide apart but my bike rail does fit (almost at the ends of the rail).

[aldini]

Great! so, seems like I have the same one that U have. I just wondering if the clip was outside the rain gutter but you put in inside. I will give it a try. Do you have more pics from your MC ?

[KatanaPilot]

I tried putting the clip on the outside of the plastic rain gutter, but when I tried to tighten the rack, the plastic rain gutter started "moving" a bit, which makes me very nervous.

Therefore I would definitely recommend the mounting method eyapteno showed in the pictures. That way you are grabing the solid metal part of the roof, not the soft rain gutter plastic.

[eyapteno]

Sorry for the late reply, I was travelling quite bit. Here are the pictures as requested.

The 1st one is just a side view of the car with the rack.

The 2nd one is a close-up of the front clip under the rubber strip.

The 3rd one is a close-up of the rear foot with the extra spacers I built to increase the height (see the fully open sunroof).

The 4th one is a top-front view with the sunroof fully open.

[Rally_it]

Hmmm looks like a great product, but im lost as to whats holding it on. How do the clips hold it on exactly? Just by shoving them in the gutter? Do you tighten it somehow?