BMW Roof Rack for E70

[Bigtop]

Is anyone having a whistling noise problem after installing the BMW roof rack attachment for the E70? I installed mine according to the booklet that came with the racks. I put a Thule ski rack on it and the whistling noise is loud. I took the Thule ski rack off to isolate the problem, and it is the BMW rack. To attach a Thule or other rack system to the BMW bars, you have to take out the rubber strip inserts from the BMW bars so you can slide or attach your custom rack system. When these are taken out, they cause the maddening whistling noise.

I called my BMW dealer, they told me to just cut the rubber insterts and slide them in the slot in the gaps the Thule ski rack leaves. When I asked them where I could get an extra set of rubber inserts, because I have to cut the originals, they stated you cannot get them, you just have to buy a whole new rack. Seems a pretty dumb answer.

So now I am using duct tape to cover the exposed groove or slot to stop the whistling. Suprised that BMW would have such a poor design for their rack.

[brian5]

I have not seen the BMW roof rack but it sounds like the rubber inserts are the same that you would get with Thule racks. You could look at those and, if they are the same, you could probably buy them from Thule.

[Denalio]

I have the Thule Aero bars. I find if you move them back a bit the noise goes away. You might have to play around with the placement of the crossbars.