Non-OEM roof bars on B8.5 Avant?

[redrook]

So I'm looking at roof bars and I see that the Audi bars have little bits that go into the holes on the roof rails, but aftermarket/generic bars for flush roof rails don't have these. Does this matter at all? It doesn't even look like Thule fitting kits have these little bits.

 

[pelhamsdetailing]

From my understanding, these are obtainable only through the dealer. When I have looked for these on the Thule website for people's vehicles at my day job, those ones don't ever appear. They appear to simply be a roof bar and a foot pack, but the latter being a curved part that goes straight into the holes in the roof.

 

[redrook]

From my understanding, these are obtainable only through the dealer. When I have looked for these on the Thule website for people's vehicles at my day job, those ones don't ever appear. They appear to simply be a roof bar and a foot pack, but the latter being a curved part that goes straight into the holes in the roof.

Yeah the OEM ones are only available through dealerships/OEM parts dealers, but that's not what I'm asking. I'm saying that all other roof bars - including Thule - do not have the little pegs which go into the holes on the roof rails like the OEM bars, so I'm presuming this doesn't matter.

 

[ninjag]

My flush Cruz ones fit in the holes, I think it was this fitting kit I got https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?query=46672&popup=TRUE&emulate=accgen

The Thule flush adapter kit seems to be this one and looks like it will use the dimples.

Thule Evo and Edge flush rail adapter kit no. 6019

This adapter kit only fits the Thule Evo 7106 Foot Pack and the Thule Edge 7206 Foot Pack; the adapter kit (often called a fitting kit) is the part of the roof bar system that joins the roof bar feet to the flush-mounted roof rails.

www.roofbox.co.uk

 

[redrook]

My flush Cruz ones fit in the holes, I think it was this fitting kit I got https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?query=46672&popup=TRUE&emulate=accgen

The Thule flush adapter kit seems to be this one and looks like it will use the dimples.

Thule Evo and Edge flush rail adapter kit no. 6019

This adapter kit only fits the Thule Evo 7106 Foot Pack and the Thule Edge 7206 Foot Pack; the adapter kit (often called a fitting kit) is the part of the roof bar system that joins the roof bar feet to the flush-mounted roof rails.

www.roofbox.co.uk

Ah is that right! Because I'm looking at the Cruz Airo Fix bars which use that fitting kit. And that definitely goes into the holes? That's great to know!

 

[ninjag]

Ah is that right! Because I'm looking at the Cruz Airo Fix bars which use that fitting kit. And that definitely goes into the holes? That's great to know!

I'm quite positive they do. I'll double check as I need to pull mine out of storage anyway for a trip next week.

 

[redrook]

I'm quite positive they do. I'll double check as I need to pull mine out of storage anyway for a trip next week.

If you could that would be hugely appreciated! Thanks

 

[ninjag]

Ok, double apology required lol

The Cruz stuff is what I bought for the 330d I had because it was a saloon, but with the S4 I can't remember why but there was a reason why I didn't use the stuff from Roofbox, possible out of stock for the stuff that I wanted. I actually got my roof bars and extras from Halfords so first apology for that.

I've had a look at them and they don't have dimples to match up, so second apology for that. I think what I did do was use the holes in the roof rails as a guide to line the feet up for correct overall placement - which is very handy of them to be honest.

Here's everything that I got and it all fits great. What I like about this setup is that I can leave the fitting kit and foot covers attached to the roof bars at the time, so when going to fit all I have to do is place the roof bars onto the car in position, then unlock and remove the foot covers which gives access to the hex bolts. I simply tighten them up and lock the foot covers back on. Takes about 2 mins. It's just the reverse to remove. I've got to rush out now, but I'll take a photo of mine to show you what I mean.

Here's all the parts I got:

Exodus Aero Bars A120 (Pack of 2)
Exodus Foot Pack FP3 (Pack of 4)
Exodus Lock Set
Exodus Fitting Kit R007 (Pack of 4)

It cost £203 in total from Halfords last July.

 

[ninjag]

Here's one of the roof bars as I store them ready to go straight onto the car rails.

The protective rubber covered fixings are loose so that they slide on easily.

Once on the car I unlock and remove the cover to gain easy access to the two tightening bolts, then pop the locking cover back on.

That's it. Quick, easy and secure - ready for the roof box to pop on.

 

[redrook]

Here's one of the roof bars as I store them ready to go straight onto the car rails.

View attachment 256404


The protective rubber covered fixings are loose so that they slide on easily.

View attachment 256405


Once on the car I unlock and remove the cover to gain easy access to the two tightening bolts, then pop the locking cover back on.

View attachment 256406


That's it. Quick, easy and secure - ready for the roof box to pop on.

View attachment 256407

Ahh ok, I was thinking that having the pegs would be particularly good at imitating OEM!

That's great to see though, thanks for the input! And you find that it's perfectly secure? I think that's all I needed to know, really helpful. It doesn't sound like I need to worry about them being secure.

 

[ninjag]

Ahh ok, I was thinking that having the pegs would be particularly good at imitating OEM!

That's great to see though, thanks for the input! And you find that it's perfectly secure? I think that's all I needed to know, really helpful. It doesn't sound like I need to worry about them being secure.

Definitely secure, it's maybe not easy to see but they actually grip under the bar on the outside part. So you start on the outside at an angle on order to tuck them under, then lower the inside part down onto the tail and tighten up. I reckon the dimples are probably more of an alignment aid?

When I first fitted mine last year I went to Arran and there's a great straight between Lamblash and Whiting Bay. On the winding approach to this there was a guy in front with an MX-5 and we were both stuck behind a camper. When we hit the straight he overtook the camper, as did I, but I continued to manrape him as well. I was fully loaded and with the roof box on top as well for ultimate humiliation lol. Honestly, it's solid.

EDIT: I forgot to say, but I remember being told in Halfords that Exodus and Thule were made in the same factory. Hard to confirm though but it doesn't matter to me. I'm not sure about now but I think some of the older ones were actually rebadged Thule bars.

 

[ninjag]

Here's some photos to show how you can easily slide the roof box on sideways with this kind, saves risking damage or needing two people. Also tried to show how the feet clamp under the rail. The rubber and grip stops any forwards/backwards movement. Probably similar on most makes. Got two suitcases and a lot of shopping bags in this one.