BMW X5 Crossbar Roof racks
 

Hello all, I did a search on the roof racks and found alot of people recomending the thule brand of cross bars for the roof racks. Does anyone
have the OEM or another brand they care to tell me about. I need some that can hold about 50lbs. Kind of odd the X5 didnt come with it as standard feature.

BMW sells a rebranded version of an aero bar, for more than an aftermarket one will cost. Buy it if the label is important.

I like the Thule 450 Crossroad, and have used them on 4 vehicles now, includes an X3 and an X5. They use rubber attachment feet and so don't mar the rails, and they are rectangular, and so are very functional. I don't find them noisy in the wind compared to what I mount on them (with two bikes and two wheels I do hear some wind noise). I like the rectangular load bars because any attachment mounts to them easily. I don't leave the rack on. If you do plan to do so, you may want an aero bar for lower wind noise and looks. They just give up some functionality because you have to make sure any attachments (bike holders, etc) work with the aero bar you select.

Most people never use a roof rack, but at least the X5 comes with rails that are functional. I don't like racks that have to clamp on to the roof or gutter.

Thanks JCL i'm looking for the most low profile and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb roof rack. I am just mounting the tracvison satelite no bikes or nothing.
TracVision A7

Do you even need a load bar? If so, I would go with a single aero bar. But first I would see if one attachment foot for the crossroad (or a similar universal foot) can be mounted to the rail, and the satellite mounted directly to it. It would be cleaner. You may need to build a simple bracket, but it just seems simpler.

Thule aero bars might be a good choice. Rola also makes a low profile crossbar.

JCL i know you meant well and i appreciate your post.. BUT I do not understand a word of what you said. Attachment foot? crossroad? build a bracket? uhh I'm a picture guy. Need pics to understand sorry but i do appreciate you giving me input.

thanks looking up the ROLA now.

If you go to thule website and build a roof rack you will understand what JCL is telling you. With thule there are a few components that make up the entire package. Cross bars, foot packs this is what holds the cross bars to the factory rails.

I purchased the whispbar rails - they make a low profile set, but I purchased some with higher clearance to ensure my Yakima case cleared the shark fin. They have been über quiet so far; much better than Yakima round bars I used previously.

Whispbar is owned by Yakima, and I wanted to ensure all my stuff had the same sks lock keying. That having been said, I think you would be hard pressed to find higher quality bars.

Look at the picture. This is a 450 Crossroad attachment foot. It may not be stable enough without the load bar but I would try it

Thule*-*450 Crossroad Railing Foot Pack