[Moor]

I have just replaced my F31 with an F11 and I'm wanting to get some roof bars. I had the BMW bars on the F31 and they fitted really well and I really liked the turn wheels to fit, I appreciate that Thule make the BMW bars too but from what I can see the wing bars fit with an Allen key instead of the wheel which I'm not keen on. So I guess the question is do the wing bars make enough of a difference in wind noise/drag to be worth the, IMO, inferior fittings?

[Gordon4499]

Originally Posted by Moor

I have just replaced my F31 with an F11 and I'm wanting to get some roof bars. I had the BMW bars on the F31 and they fitted really well and I really liked the turn wheels to fit, I appreciate that Thule make the BMW bars too but from what I can see the wing bars fit with an Allen key instead of the wheel which I'm not keen on. So I guess the question is do the wing bars make enough of a difference in wind noise/drag to be worth the, IMO, inferior fittings?

I have the wing bars but still get wind noise.

[Moor]

I went with the BMW bars in the end, they were nearly £70 cheaper plus I realised I will mostly be using with my roof box which would negate and difference anyway.

[silverfox666]

I know you bought the BMW ones, but I went for the Thule branded ones (I know the BMW are Thule too), and can report they are excellent as always. Decided on these as BMW don't offer them in pure black, whereas Thule offer black wingbars and now totally black ProRide cycle carriers. Goes with my black theme you see ;-)

[Moor]

The Thule ones did look good but I was put off by the need to have an Allen key to fit, the BMW have integrated tools to fit. I did look at the black ones, which were even more of a premium, and they do look nice but not really suited to my car. Money talks too and as mine are more for practicality than anything else I chose the BMW ones as there was a £70 difference.

[silverfox666]

Originally Posted by Moor

The Thule ones did look good but I was put off by the need to have an Allen key to fit, the BMW have integrated tools to fit. I did look at the black ones, which were even more of a premium, and they do look nice but not really suited to my car. Money talks too and as mine are more for practicality than anything else I chose the BMW ones as there was a £70 difference.

Fair play, the money side of it nearly swayed me too. But still got lured by the black ones ;-)

[Moor]

The dark side is always tempting, I have silver roof bars though and space grey paint so it's much more suited to mineral grey. My F31 was mineral grey, great colour.

[Moor]

Thule had been mentioned quite a bit as the manufacturer of the BMW bars so presumed that was the case. The BMW bars do look a lot like Thule aero edge bars, I can't see any similarities in the altera bars.