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Thread: Wind noise from roof rack

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    41

    Default Wind noise from roof rack

    I recently purchased a 1995 525 Touring and have noticed that at highway speeds or in windy conditions there is a whistling noise which sounds likes its coming from the roof rack. Its a factory installed roof rack with nothing attached to it. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a remedy?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    585

    Default

    in certain conditions, air current will create noise as it goes around the racks...it's inevitable...the remedy is to take the racks off if the sound becomes annoying...especially if you are not using the racks for anything. Hopefully they gave you the keys to unlock the clamps so you can access the bolts that secure the racks to the rails.

    To remove the racks just lift the rubber cover and stick the key into the lock to free the clamp that covers the bolts that hold the racks to the rail...then take the 10mm wrench from the tailgate's toolkit and loosen the bolts. This allows the racks to be slid back to the opening in the rail and taken off easily (if you have the keys).
    Attached Images Attached Images     
    Last edited by Qsilver7; 11-29-2004 at 11:44 PM. Reason: add pics
    Q
    95 525iT / 97 740iL



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    41

    Default So glad to know that...

    Thanks so much QSilver. I'm a real newbie and didn't know that the rack could be removed. I'll rarely if ever use it and I'm sure its also hurting gas mileage.
    Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Austin
    Posts
    1,087

    Default

    Take it off then, and you'll probably find the rubber insert strips in RH cargo boot where your rear window washer fluid is.

    There are great alternatives to the BMW racks. I use a modified Thule foot pack that allows me to lower, snap and go my combi box
    or my windsurfers (yeah right)


    Never use a wrench again. If you look in my sig pic, that I keep the 4 little footpacks hard mounted, and they don't make a sound, and my eye is totally used to seeing them now, so they don't look weird.

    http://www.martyscycle.com/ is who sold me my modified footpack. I'm not sure if he still does this, but it really isn't that hard a mod, basically a carefully used belt sander to skinny up the footpack to slide into the BMW rail. He sold a complete set up with perfectly cut load bars for about $160. If you get $500 for your bmw bars, you could buy the Thule evolution 1600 for about $300.

    I can't tell you how easy it was to lower the combi-box, load all the kidstuff into it, and take the wife (napigator), kid and leave the way back for the dog free to move around.
    HTH

    ~6 speed~ Rear Fogs ~ Shadowline ~ Tow Package ~ OEMMM///S38B38

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