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BMW Sedan Roof Racks on Touring?

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6.9K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  VpointVick  
#1 ·
I've seen threads where people remove the stock roof racks from their wagons and either cover it with tape or put in the OEM delete kit (too expensive these days, about $800 in parts).

I am looking for a wagon and have a set of OEM roof racks for my sedan. Does anyone know if those would fit the touring if I removed the stock configuration? I'd love to be able to run without anything on the roof and just install the roof racks from my sedan for special occasions.
 
#2 ·
My gut says "no" due to the slope of the rear roof section on the sedan vs the touring. Even if the mounting might work, the angle of the rear bar would wind up being wonky. Kinda like a roof wing.

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#3 ·
The only thing I would be concerned about is the width and adjustability of the rear crossbar. I run Thule Aeroblade edge crossbars on my touring. Initially I ordered 2x of the medium width (7602) per the sedan fitment guide, but the rear would not compress enough to align to the mounting holes. I swapped one of the mediums for a small (7601). I can only conclude the roof tapers inward at the rear more aggressively on the touring vs. sedan. Perhaps the BMW bars are designed to accommodate both, whereas Thule just happened to fall on the size boundary. The angle of the bars are fine...
 
#5 ·
But you're clamping crossbars to pre-existing roof rails. Sedans don't have roof rails to clamp an add on bar like that to. There must be a foot kit to mate those to for use on a sedan vs a touring. Next time my coworker drives his sedan I'll try park next to him and get some pics.

But, yes, the touring roof/rails do get narrower at the rear of the car.

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#4 ·
Hmmm that is interesting. The mounts for the sedan bars don't look like they have any adjustability built in, just rigid brackets with a single hole.

Glad to hear the angle isn't wonky though. It would be strange for them to put a non-horizontal mount there... even if the roof sloped downwards I'd think they could make it true level.

Anyway, this isn't going to bar me from buying a wagon so I will try to remember to post back once I'm able to give it a try.

Now I just need to sell this damn Subaru so I can make some room...
 
#7 ·
I just checked the Thule application guide... they must have updated it from when I did this in 2014. You can now choose the touring body style + fixed points and it will recommend 2x 7601. Still 2x 7602 for the sedan fixed points.