BMW F10 5 series roof bars - how do they fit?
Discussion
I have a 2016 F10 5 series and would like to fit roof bars.
The Thule kit comes with a tap to enlarge the car's mounting points (permanently!), you then have to screw ~5cm long studs into each mounting point, and then fit the roof bars over these, which is very tricky because the studs are all angled outwards, making the correct bar width at the roofline too narrow to fit over the top of the studs. The studs screw in with an allen key, and they round off really easily. Once down, you then have to put washers and nuts on and tighten. I fit and remove the bars every time I use them, because I do a high mileage and the noise annoys me, so I'm not keen on this system because it's such a faff. Does anyone have the BMW bars? Do they fit like the 3 series? That is just a bolt on each bar so you pop the bars on, do up the bolt and that's it? No studs, no nuts, no awkwardness?
Thanks.
The Thule kit comes with a tap to enlarge the car's mounting points (permanently!), you then have to screw ~5cm long studs into each mounting point, and then fit the roof bars over these, which is very tricky because the studs are all angled outwards, making the correct bar width at the roofline too narrow to fit over the top of the studs. The studs screw in with an allen key, and they round off really easily. Once down, you then have to put washers and nuts on and tighten. I fit and remove the bars every time I use them, because I do a high mileage and the noise annoys me, so I'm not keen on this system because it's such a faff. Does anyone have the BMW bars? Do they fit like the 3 series? That is just a bolt on each bar so you pop the bars on, do up the bolt and that's it? No studs, no nuts, no awkwardness?
Thanks.
I've got the thule aero bars for my f10 but only used them a couple of times I must admit. I know what you mean about the angled bolts buy iirc you can loosen the feet to make them fit over the bolts if you see what I mean.
I put bolts on one side only in first, then bars on, then bolts on the other side.
I put bolts on one side only in first, then bars on, then bolts on the other side.
BFleming said:
They were similar on the E90. I found you attached a foot on one side, then slid the foot (along the roof bar) on the other side get the foot in position, then secure it to the roof bar again. Tighten everything down etc. Not a quick operation.
Thanks. On my E90, I had to do what you describe the first time, to set up the feet on the bars. After that I could just carry the bar out, with feet attached, put it down on the mounting points and tighten the bolts. Is that possible on the F10?My situation is that I have the F10 Thule feet from my last car, but I hated the Thule bars. If the BMW system is easier then I don't want to permanently tap out my new car's feet for the Thule system; I'll just buy the BMW bars.
Here you go, these are the genuine BMW bars... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhsUxGPd9BQ
It's a cleaner fit as the bolt goes through the foot to secure the feet to the mounting point. No stud (as per the Thule ones). That grey handled wrench he's using is a BMW product & from memory there's different patterns for security.
I'd say you only need to adjust the width once (those awkward allen key bolts on the underside of the bars. Top tip would be to get the bars mounted, get the width correct - but hand tight, then take them off & tighten them up fully.
I hope this helps.
It's a cleaner fit as the bolt goes through the foot to secure the feet to the mounting point. No stud (as per the Thule ones). That grey handled wrench he's using is a BMW product & from memory there's different patterns for security.
I'd say you only need to adjust the width once (those awkward allen key bolts on the underside of the bars. Top tip would be to get the bars mounted, get the width correct - but hand tight, then take them off & tighten them up fully.
I hope this helps.
BFleming said:
Here you go, these are the genuine BMW bars... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhsUxGPd9BQ
It's a cleaner fit as the bolt goes through the foot to secure the feet to the mounting point. No stud (as per the Thule ones). That grey handled wrench he's using is a BMW product & from memory there's different patterns for security.
I'd say you only need to adjust the width once (those awkward allen key bolts on the underside of the bars. Top tip would be to get the bars mounted, get the width correct - but hand tight, then take them off & tighten them up fully.
I hope this helps.
Thanks. I saw that video last week, but wondered what model of BMW it was. The fitting is the same as my E90s were, both Thule and BMW bars.It's a cleaner fit as the bolt goes through the foot to secure the feet to the mounting point. No stud (as per the Thule ones). That grey handled wrench he's using is a BMW product & from memory there's different patterns for security.
I'd say you only need to adjust the width once (those awkward allen key bolts on the underside of the bars. Top tip would be to get the bars mounted, get the width correct - but hand tight, then take them off & tighten them up fully.
I hope this helps.
I wonder why Thule moved to the stud system for the F10? Do you know for sure the BMW bars on the F10 are like in that video?
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