Roof Bars for C7 Saloon

[skibuddy]

After the simplicity of roof rails on an A4 Avant (2005) I am very nervous about fitting roof bars to a new A6 Saloon. Any views on Pro's & Con's of Audi's own versus Thule etc. What are the risks? How to avoid scratching/damaging that lovely new paint work?

[Timothy Nathan]

I have Thule on my C7 Avant if you want to have a look - I am not that far from you.

[ti rich]

Don't buy LaAlpina, I just returned mine. The designer is crap and it broke before I finished fitting it.

[5678]

I have Thule on my C7 Avant if you want to have a look - I am not that far from you.

I'd be keen to see a picture please. I will be fitting these to mine so that I can start using our Thule bike carriers again.

[ti rich]

By the way there is an audi dealer on ebay doing the genuine roof rack for about £170. I would go for this.

[5678]

By the way there is an audi dealer on ebay doing the genuine roof rack for about £170. I would go for this.

Do you have a link for this?

[skibuddy]

£217 from my local Audi Centre, but they offer to show me how to fit them.

[ti rich]

Do you have a link for this?

The seller was northhamptonaudi but they are only showing the avant roof rack at present. Sure if you contact them they will have more.

[5678]

It's actually the Avant bars I would need.

Struggling to find that seller ID though. Do you have a direct link to the ebay listing?

Thanks!

[ti rich]

It's actually the Avant bars I would need.

Struggling to find that seller ID though. Do you have a direct link to the ebay listing?

Thanks!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-Avant-Roof-bars-4G9071151-/110867806412?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item19d03c78cc#ht_784wt_692

That's the link to the avant roof rails. Can't understand why the avant would cost more as there is less too it!!!

[5678]

Right, time for me to buy some bars in preparation for a week at centre parcs!

Halfords sell the Thule wing bars for what appears to be £160 but I think I may need a fitting kit (Thule 4915) to go with it.

Audi sell them on ebay for £240!

Any better that we know of?

[neilos100]

Atera bars from roofbox.co.uk
Used them a few times (bars and company) both excellent.
Neil


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[5678]

Atera bars from roofbox.co.uk
Used them a few times (bars and company) both excellent.
Neil


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Thanks for that. How are they for noise?

I quite like the look of the Prorack bars on that site too. Nice and neat.

[neilos100]

The Atera aero ones are the set I use and there is no noticeable noise when the box is not sitting on them. They come with rubber strips to cover the grooves when not using the roofbox etc. They are very well made and this is the second set
I have purchased. First was for my previous car.
Neil
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[renmar]

Neil
can you post some photos with roof bars installed please?
I consider Thule with wingbars as they claim that it help to reduce the noise a lot.
thanks

p.s. Mont Blanc also offers a solution for a saloon but I do not like their design (Thule are not beautiful as well :))

[neilos100]

Here you go....it's an Avant and a C6 but you should get the gist!

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[neilos100]

A few more.....

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[neilos100]

And with the box fitted......


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[fernar]

Have a look at the Thule web site - they have some new roof rack that slide out to the side - so that one can load bikes, etc over on the side of the car and then slide the loaded bike back on to the roof - reducing the risk of damage to your car roof....

http://www.thule.com/en/GB/Products/Base-Racks/LoadBars/Thule-SlideBar-891_-_893

I will be going for these when I get my Avant shortly

[renmar]

Thanks a lot - great photos!
Atera looks OK - and if you say it is not a noisy choice that in IMHO a good solution!
Regards
RM

[5678]

I've just ordered up the Thule Wingbar kit from roofboxes.co.uk. I went for these in the end as I already have Thule bike racks and the ability to swap all of the locks so that they just use one key swung it for me.

[ti rich]

Let us know how you get on. Still need to buy a roofrack for my Saloon.

[5678]

Arrived today!

Will be getting the car back from Audi tomorrow or Friday so will fit and take a few pictures then.

[skibuddy]

Let us know how you get on. Still need to buy a roofrack for my Saloon.

Ditto. Really keen to understand/see pictures of how roof bars fit into the door seal recesses on a Saloon. What is the risk of damage to paintwork, chrome trim etc?

[5678]

Ah, sorry for the confusion, my car is an Avant!

[renmar]

Atera Signo ALU bars received yesterday - look good, fit easy, should be the right choice (25% cheaper than Thule!) - tried in garage only as for now :)
(skibuddy-keep your car and parts clean, follow the instruction of fitting and no chance to damage anything, I use bars mostly when going skiing :))

[5678]

I've not taken any proper pics of the Thule bars on my Avant yet, but thought I'd stick this up for now.

They fit very easily, if a little tricky to get them central over the car due to the component build of parts for each application.

Once on though they are very quiet and don't appear to impact economy. Having the bikes up there hammered it though!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558515_424893010901290_812574410_n.jpg

[Andy McDonald]

Has anyone considered the Wingbar Edge, think the wingbar is a great idea but what's the opinions on the Edge version

Andy


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[5678]

Has anyone considered the Wingbar Edge, think the wingbar is a great idea but what's the opinions on the Edge version

Andy


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Depends what width you need. You can only fit 3 591 racks on the edge bar. I'd imagine 2 and a half width roof box wouldn't fit either.

[Andy McDonald]

Well the look is important to me and so went for the wing bar edge, looks great and plenty of space for what I need...

We have a second car with a larger roof rack if required.

Thanks

Andy


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[Westyfield2]

@5678 and @Timothy Nathan.

Can you remember how the feet went together? And what model numbers did you buy? I've got Thule 753 + Thule 4001, and can't get it to fit together :(.

[Timothy Nathan]

Mine "just worked". You are welcome to come and have a look if you are anywhere near Epsom.

[Westyfield2]

Got it fitted :D. The instructions are just as rubbish as Ikea instructions :p.

[Andy McDonald]

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone is interested I have a set of wing bar edge for C7 Avant. £150 Ono


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[Rower1978]

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone is interested I have a set of wing bar edge for C7 Avant. £150 Ono


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Andy could you post a photo please?

[Andy McDonald]

I'm away until Saturday but if you know them, essentially I,agile them with a few flies attached....


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[Andy McDonald]

here you go, found these on my machine.

A27417

[johnsimcox]

here you go, found these on my machine.

A27417
If that is a photo of the bars installed on your car then you should realise that you have an Avant not a saloon!!!

[Andy McDonald]

If that is a photo of the bars installed on your car then you should realise that you have an Avant not a saloon!!!

Read my post you smart asse...it clearly states c7 Avant.


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[johnsimcox]

So why post it in a thread titled "Roof Bars for C7 Saloon"!

[Andy McDonald]

It was an old thread which talks about Avant also if you read it all and I stated Avant.... I'm assuming you're not interested would that be correct


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[pacamack]

Another thread resurrection, but I'm really interested in people's experience of fitting roof bars to the C7 Saloon as per the title (not the Avant as per the actual thread!).

The recommended fittings are a Thule 754 as the Saloon has no gutters or mounting points. However, this sort of attachment scares the life out of me as I have visions of damaged paintwork and door rubbers because you're essentially clamping directly onto your nice shiny bodywork!

Does anyone have any experience of these (or similar) and am I worrying about nothing?

My current Mercedes coupe has mounting points so this doesn't keep me awake at night at the moment but I'm switching to the A6 saloon this summer just in time for cycling season!

[Scott K]

I have the audi bars for mine. It's a bit fraught the first time but no damage yet. There is rubber on the bottom and they clamp onto a specific point which has a rubber grommet (you need to remove this before you fit the bars). They only fit one way round and it is quick and easy. Seems a bit odd when you close the door over them but doesn't seem to be too much extra noise. I only use them for a box so can't say how they are with bike fittings. Think I paid £150 for them and they come in one piece. There is a rubber strip which goes into the channel on the bars and I think you need to cut this if you are going to have cycle carriers or similar. They tighten with an allen key and are lockable (all supplied)

[Gmonster]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/6a948f9cd6ff5940fb93ca335256c4af.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/9505a914deda14c44407b7a7fcd8f3b0.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/17b670a8f27eb3669a524a4953a3332a.jpg My C7 saloon Audi roof rack and Thule Bike Racks. They go on In the spring and come off in the autumn with limited fuss. One man operation etc.


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[pacamack]

Thanks Gmonster, that's really helpful.
I'm assuming that the clamps have some sort or protection against damaging the paintwork? I can't see any sort of padding in the pictures on the "claw" component?

[Gmonster]

No worries Paca.

Both the main foot and the under side of the clamp are lined with rubber. On fitting I wipe all of these surfaces and the roof surface with a damp cloth ; in case of any grit.

The main holding point is a metal pin on the clamp (you can see on underside of clamp) which fits in a hole in the door/roof frame.

The clamps have recesses/stays which keep them in the splayed/open position ; you then lower the rack down onto the roof lining the pins up with the holes.Then wind the clamps up into the holes in the door roof frame. The supplied Audi Allen key wrench has a torque wrench type click setting so you know when it's tight enough.

The Audi rack was maybe expensive but worth it I think. If you need anymore info please just ask.




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[JamesMo]

Hi, I had the Thule aero bars on my saloon - the main contact points are rubber and they don't mark the paint at all as long as you make sure the paintwork and foot rubber are both clean before you fit the bars. As I have just changed to the Avant, I now have a set of feet and the adaptor kit for the A6 saloon which I would be happy to sell at a reasonable price - pm me if you are interested.

thanks

james

[pacamack]

Hi James,

I've sent you a PM, I'm certainly interested.

Cheers,

Scott

[J4G3D]

Apologies for digging this old thread out, but its relevant.

My friend has a 2014 saloon and hes bought compatible roof bars.

I haven't seen them yet, but hes struggling to fit them.

Firstly, the pin that sits in the door shut is large both ends and thinner in the middle. They do not fit into the hole on the roof bars. The hole is too small. Even if he drilled the hole bigger, the entire pin will fall through it. I've looked at pics and even im stumped. The only thing I can think of is, he needs to buy different plugs. But I cannot find them anywhere for sale.

Theres absolutely no videos about this that i can find on youtube or anywhere showing someone fitting them.

Could anyone kindly give some advice?

[Gmonster]

What make roof bars are they? I have the Thule Bars.

For clarity... the pin is on the clamp of the roof bars... and the hole is in the door frame. You seem to be describing the opposite arrangement?


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[Gmonster]

See circled pin position on the roof bar clamp. 35756


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[J4G3D]

I see, thanks.

There is no pin on the ones my friend bought.

Just a hole to insert your own locking pin.

No sure how to get around this.

[pvcprinting]

Hi folks

Apologies for adding to this thread but I’m considering using a Roof Box for a holiday on my 2017 A6 Saloon.

NEVER used one before and to be honest only need something for 2 weeks a year.

What would folks suggest is best to use?

As others, I’m worried about marking the paintwork and may also be changing my current A6 for a new one next year so ideally hoping to find something I can continue to use

I’m in Nottingham - Is there anywhere I could hire a set of bars and a box