[Shimmy23]

I'm in the market for a roof rack. It will be mainly used for my mtb and road bike.

I like the Thule 460r low profile system with aero bars, but I have a question about the OEM racks. Is there two different systems?

I like how the crossbars don't extend past the mount like the ECS rack But it doesn't look like it mounts like this OEM rack Tischer rack

Can someone verify if they do in fact mount differently?

[Shimmy23]

help me

[Tyson2busy]

I don't know the difference and I don't know if your going to get an answer here, sorry. Not a topic I've seen here often in my 4-5 years here.

I do know that the factory roof rack for our cars is the same one used for the E39 5 series. I picked up a used OEM on Ebay recently thinking that you can't beat the OEM for fit. However, if buying new there is a price difference or sure. I saved a bunch of money by buying used. Picked mine up with two bike racks and a surfboard attachment for $120. But I have been waiting and bidding patiently for a couple months now. I saw a new roof rack for $155 and a touring bike attachment for $85. Plus shipping of course.

[minh]

i ordered the one from tisher. didn't know there was another one specifically for the E46 or else I would have ordered that one. though i don't see where it bolts onto the roof like the one from tisher (E46 and E39 compatible).

though looking at the pics from ECS, it looks like the kind that clamps on where your door would open. i steered away from yakima because of that. just didn't like that type of attachment. hard to know for sure though.

oh wait... here it is from realoem.com and it looks like the clamp on type instead of the bolt on. i prefer bolt on. also, it looks like realoem says it's for cars with roof rails so that's where the bars would clamp.



here's the link where it says for cars with roof rails:

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...=82&fg=51&hl=6

really, the OEM bars aren't that bad looking. they don't extend past the "base part" too far and they're clean looking. thule 753 are bolt on too and you could get the "rapid rise aero" if you want a more modern look. i never liked their square bars. yakima round bars howl like mad but that's easily fixed. (i've owned a few bike racks in my time! Thule, yakima, rockymounts). you could even cut down the bars shorter whichever one you get. even the OEMs (which is what I have on the M3).

[minh]

and these pics from ECS looks like a perfect fit for roof rails.

[Shimmy23]

Originally Posted by Tyson2busy

I don't know the difference and I don't know if your going to get an answer here, sorry. Not a topic I've seen here often in my 4-5 years here.

I do know that the factory roof rack for our cars is the same one used for the E39 5 series. I picked up a used OEM on Ebay recently thinking that you can't beat the OEM for fit. However, if buying new there is a price difference or sure. I saved a bunch of money by buying used. Picked mine up with two bike racks and a surfboard attachment for $120. But I have been waiting and bidding patiently for a couple months now. I saw a new roof rack for $155 and a touring bike attachment for $85. Plus shipping of course.

Thanks for the feedback. I had a local OEM one for sale, but the guy was a no show and then never called me back. The search for "used" is still on.

Originally Posted by minh

i ordered the one from tisher. didn't know there was another one specifically for the E46 or else I would have ordered that one. though i don't see where it bolts onto the roof like the one from tisher (E46 and E39 compatible).

though looking at the pics from ECS, it looks like the kind that clamps on where your door would open. i steered away from yakima because of that. just didn't like that type of attachment. hard to know for sure though.

oh wait... here it is from realoem.com and it looks like the clamp on type instead of the bolt on. i prefer bolt on. also, it looks like realoem says it's for cars with roof rails so that's where the bars would clamp.



here's the link where it says for cars with roof rails:

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...=82&fg=51&hl=6

really, the OEM bars aren't that bad looking. they don't extend past the "base part" too far and they're clean looking. thule 753 are bolt on too and you could get the "rapid rise aero" if you want a more modern look. i never liked their square bars. yakima round bars howl like mad but that's easily fixed. (i've owned a few bike racks in my time! Thule, yakima, rockymounts). you could even cut down the bars shorter whichever one you get. even the OEMs (which is what I have on the M3).

I agree, I don't like the round bars, nor the thule square bars. I like the thule aero bars, which is very similar to the OEM bars.

Originally Posted by minh

and these pics from ECS looks like a perfect fit for roof rails.

Yeah, after further searching I came up with the same thing. I might just opt for the thule 460r mounts with aero bars. That seems to be the cleanest look.

Thanks for the help guys!