 | Home > Maintenance & Mods (L405) > Roof bars |
 
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| Crasher242 Member Since: 07 Mar 2019 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 136   
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I've been looking into this recently as I have a need to cart multiple bikes around (and taking the wheels off so they can go into the boot is a faff at best).
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23rd Jul 2020 2:43pm |
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| Crasher242 Member Since: 07 Mar 2019 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 136
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In my continuing investigations into an 'affordable' roof-rail/rack solution (to carry bikes) I stumbled across this..
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13th Aug 2020 11:58am |
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| MattyEssex Member Since: 13 Jul 2020 Location: Essex Posts: 5 
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I put the rails on few weeks back and have to say I am impressed. They are not soft, I purchased the Thule bars and clamps and hold very well with no markings when removed. The bars have the width that enabled me to fit everything on top. The ones you show look quite narrow?
I keep seeing an advert on facebook for a bike carrier where the L405 has clamped roof bars pic below. This is the suppliers in the UK for the bike rack, may well know the roof bars in the pic? Eurax Ltd Gloucestershire Phone Number 0845 3303052 
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13th Aug 2020 1:04pm |
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| Crasher242 Member Since: 07 Mar 2019 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 136
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I did look them up - couldn't find a website for them, however the bars in that picture are made by Menabo - who appear to be a European company (Italy if I recall).
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17th Aug 2020 2:58pm |
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| LT Member Since: 13 Mar 2017 Location: South West Posts: 409 
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Keeping my fingers crossed for you that they’ll fit okay. I might buy a set myself if they do, so grateful for any feedback. 👍 |
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17th Aug 2020 8:04pm |
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| luxmoggy Member Since: 19 Jun 2020 Location: Trier Posts: 493  
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I found a website; DELTA XL SILVER + FEET KIT + DLKIT27G
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17th Aug 2020 9:23pm |
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| Alistair Member Since: 11 Feb 2011 Location: Peterborough / Bordeaux / Andorra Posts: 8000 
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The question that would bother me is whether they are OK with the panoramic roof.
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18th Aug 2020 7:48am |
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| Dave G Member Since: 30 Jul 2020 Location: Dorset Posts: 84 
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The panoramic roof could well be an issue!
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18th Aug 2020 8:39am |
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| pherplexed Member Since: 27 Apr 2010 Location: SC, USA Posts: 69 
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FWIW Thule works just fine on my L405 factory rails and the pano roof opens without issue. They don't 'officially' support it b/c they don't want the liability of someone's pano roof getting damaged while opening, as Dave G mentioned. That being said, it is a low profile. So whenever I put my bike rack on, the bars have to be positioned in very specific spots for the roof to open without obstruction from the bike tray brackets. So if those menabo's are anything like the Thule bars, should be enough clearance for the panoramic roof to open, just be cautious with positioning once you have something mounted. 2021 P525 | Eiger Gray |
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18th Aug 2020 6:15pm |
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| Crasher242 Member Since: 07 Mar 2019 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 136
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** Warning - photo-heavy post! **
You get instructions, 4 angular brackets that are shaped for the vehicle, and the feet come as 2 pieces - a hard plastic mount that attaches to the bracket, and a softer rubber foot that attaches to the plastic mount. These all fix into a generic carrier that is bolted to the roof bar. And a poor shot of the bars in their box too
As expected, the bars are generic and contain generic fitting instructions, so you have to follow the foot pack specifics for the kit - essentially this lays out where on the bar the feet are supposed to go Here's what an assembled foot looks like on the bar
There is a long bolt that draws through the assembly and essentially clamps the foot onto the roof, with the main contact points being the bracket in the door frame lip, and the soft foot on the roof...
I put the front bar on first, and it took a bit of fettling to get it to sit, and even more so to torque it to the required setting. As I was putting the rear bar on, the front bar 'popped' (actually it was more of an explosion) - and sprang off the roof with such force that it went spinning off into the garden (luckily missing Mrs C's car!). Closer inspection on the rear bar revealed that as I was torquing theming bolts into the brackets, the whole foot was pivoting on the rubber bit in contact with the roof, and thus slowly splaying the brackets out and away from the door lip. Difficult to show in photos, but it was clear to see when you were slowing tightening it all up. I took the whole lot off, and removed the soft rubber bits and the hard plastic feet, thinking that maybe the whole lot would just sit better clamped to the door lip. However when I mounted the bar and started to tighten up I spotted that the brackets were starting to lean into the roof line, so called and a halt. Plan B (or is it plan C) - I restored the hard plastic feet, but omitted the soft rubber bits, and then re-mounted the front bar. This time when torquing down the brackets remained firmly gripped to the door lip. The feet now sat using the harder plastic in contact with the roof, rather than the soft rubber. After mounting one, I then removed it (again) to check the roof - happy that it wasn't marking the paintwork or denting the metal - I reassembled both bars.
The kit came with some nice plastic lockable covers, that protect the assembly mechanism from tampering. Finally, I was able to bolt on 2 bike carriers.
The bars are aero in style, and come with the standard 'T' channels so will take all the standard roof-bar attachments (as you can see from my Thule bike carriers). So in conclusion...Whilst I was a bit skeptical that the kit would work, I was able to get it to fix down without causing any damage to the car itself. They are certainly not 'quick release' bars - for me, these will probably stay fitted to the car for the summer/autumn biking season, and then I'll remove them for the winter (as I'm unlikely to be travelling anywhere with the bikes). Sorry for the ramble - I'll happily take questions and/or provide more photos if you need them Cheers **EDIT To add** I haven't check with my pano roof - and now the kit is on I am reluctant to do so - If anyone can tell me how high the pano roof lifts up with it opens I can measure up to see if I am going to be in trouble  Current
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24th Aug 2020 12:36pm |
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| LT Member Since: 13 Mar 2017 Location: South West Posts: 409
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Many thanks for the write up and photos.
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24th Aug 2020 2:28pm |
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| Crasher242 Member Since: 07 Mar 2019 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 136
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I reckon I could get quicker at fitting removing them with practice.
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24th Aug 2020 3:34pm |
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| LT Member Since: 13 Mar 2017 Location: South West Posts: 409
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I have a large roofbox. Not used it for a few years, but I’m loathed to get rid off it, especially as the FFRR doesn’t have as much useable space as my previous D3/4’s. |
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24th Aug 2020 3:38pm |
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| stan Site Moderator Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation Posts: 35619
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its not natural to put all that weight on thin metal bars on top of a beloved FF....
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24th Aug 2020 3:57pm |
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