Exterior 1st Gen Most liked posts in thread: Bike Roof Rack

Bike racks (especially with a bicycle on it) create excessive drag and high wind noise. Roof damage from a bike slipping while being mounted and from low overhead clearances are common.

Unless you are providing race support, it's best to either carry your bike inside your MINI (the safest place, and one of the reasons I bought a Clubman... extra space), or out of the airstream on a rack on the back (either a hanging rack or a receiver-hitch rack).

 

What year is your car? It makes a big difference as to what rack or whether a rack will even work with your car.

 

My understanding is the only roof racks that will work on 1st gen cars are the factory ones. You have to drill holes in the roof for the attachments and it comes with some caps to cover the attaching post when the rack is off. My buddy has it on his 2006 and loves it, you hardly notice the caps as they only sit up a little.

Other than that you're talking a hitch and a hitch mounted rack.

 

Yakima makes a Q-Tower rack for the Gen. 1.

 

For the Q-mount Yakima, send me the outside width of your moon roof, and I'll see if the mount feet will have room; no problem with height or spoiler clearance.

I've not experienced or heard of a Yakima Q-mount roof rack failing.

The majority of the time I transport my roadbike in the cabin, on its side, with the front wheel removed.

 

I have Thule racks for my 06 MCS. They work great, and I have the ski and bike attachments. I like the Aero bars; they're quieter and the silver color looks good. With skis on, you can't open the trunk. I haven't had the bike on there in a while, don't remember any trunk interference.

 

Rear trailer hitch (MiniDoMore is less expensive at about $200, or Mini Fini) and rear 1 1/4" hitch (craigslist $50-$100) and you're not touching paint anywhere, and the bike's easy to load.

The old Barrecrafters roof rails I have still work, but can "oilcan" the roof (small dents) if you use 'em a lot or tighten 'em too much. I've seen Thule and Yak racks that'll also fit, but you need clips that clear the windows in front..

 

Many folks have called wanting me to develop a roof rack system for the Minis, and I know a way to do it that will not reqiuire drilling holes in the roof. If I get some great response
I"ll get to it but I'm already working on several new development projects for MiniFini and Group 4.