OEM Roof Bars

[doink]

I've been told that the OEM roof bars for the MKV Golf whistle at high speeds. Has anyone else experienced this?

What bars are best for this car? OEM, Rhino, Rola, Thule? I need to carry a surfboard and mountain bike.

Thanks.

[Maverick]

Do a search, this has been discussed a few times recently and Thule I think as the answer as it has a the biggest range of accessories and is quick to fit.

[moman]

I heard this also but my OEM ones are fine. Go figure?

[Nathan_B]

I have Thule areo bars - been on for about 2 months now - there is a slight whistle above 100km/h (could also be from my bike carrier?) - slight turn of the radio disolves this whistle - i also fitted clear 3m stickers so the footings dont rub on my paint!

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/06/Picture001-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/06/Picture003-1.jpg

[mikinoz]

Where did you pick up the 3M pads Nath?

[triode12]

Where did you pick up the 3M pads Nath?

You can get them in Sydney from Universal Tints/shield in Brookvale.

[Big Yellow]

does thule sell the wind deflector thing that looks like a skateboard/snowboard that goes on the front on the racks.

i think ive seen it on golfmkv but cant remember exactly.

[doink]

Purchased a set of Thule roof bars yesterday. They are supplied with clear adhesive pads which you stick to the roof of the car (permanently). The rubber feet of the bars then sit on this pad to avoid any scratching to the paint work. I am a little concerned that if I want to remove the clear pads some time down the track that it may remove paint as well. Anyone had any experience with this?

The Thule bars are relatively simple to fit and remove without any tools required. When the bars are removed the clear pads will remain on the roof of your car, however you can hardly see them. My bars seem to make a mild low frequency noise in the wind above about 75km/h.

I would recommend Thule over Rola due to the fact they are easy to fit and remove without any tools, and the accessories (bike racks etc) just slide on and off from the side of the rack with having to remove the roof bars from the car first.

[Maverick]

Purchased a set of Thule roof bars yesterday. They are supplied with clear adhesive pads which you stick to the roof of the car (permanently). The rubber feet of the bars then sit on this pad to avoid any scratching to the paint work. I am a little concerned that if I want to remove the clear pads some time down the track that it may remove paint as well. Anyone had any experience with this?

Unless you have some serious issues with the paint the stickers will not remove any paint. I have my bumpers, headlights, a pillars, trunk opening, door strips, 1/3rd of the bonnet, badges, mirrors, 1/3rd of front fenders and so on covered in a similar product to protect the paint.

If you're really paranoid you could remove the pad every 6-12 months and put some new venture paint protection film in that location.

www.ducoscratch.com.au sells small pieces and also you can buy kits to fit PPF to the car. If you go to a local installer of Venture by 3M (don't buy the 3M film) PPF they will have offcuts that might sell to you cheaply.

[Nathan_B]

Where did you pick up the 3M pads Nath?

They came from the Thule store i got the bars from - he sent me out some more as i was a little discouraged in the way they placed them on the car (air bubbles galore!)

[gslrallysport]

I would recommend Thule over Rola due to the fact they are easy to fit and remove without any tools, and the accessories (bike racks etc) just slide on and off from the side of the rack with having to remove the roof bars from the car first.
As would I! I worked for a year at the largest roof rack supplier in Aus, and Thule is head and shoulders above Rola (and to a very lesser degree Rhino).

The Thule gear isn't always the best looking (the black square bar in facts looks hideous), but if functionality comes before looks, it's hard to go past Thule. Even though we were the QLD Rola Distributor, we still preferred to sell and fit Rhino / Thule over Rola. It was really only Repco who preferred to sell Rola...

The only good thing Rola every did was make the OEM roof rails for VT-VZ Commodore Wagon... :rolleyes:

[doink]

While on this, the Thule bars are also supplied with 4 pieces of what seems to be vacuum hose (approx 50cm). The instructions say to wedge the rubber tubes into the top of the door seals on each door. Is this necessary to create a water tight seal in wet weather when bars are fitted? I haven't fitted the tubes yet as it seems a bit dodgy...

[Bianco]

The short answer is yes, water came into my passenger side front when the tube was incorrectly installed (it was placed in the channel next to the window) rather than in the door seal.