Anyone with Thule experience?

inkey$

inkey$

Lifer
 Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Fitted a pair of Thule Wingbars to the 335 yesterday but the kit didn't come with gutter protectors and now I'm paranoid!

It didn't reference or specify using protectors in any of the instructions for the bars or 753 rapid fixing kit. Also told me to adjust to 6nm torque but I don't have a hand torque wrench so have nipped them up as tight as I dare. Assuming thats okay.

All in readiness for the large Kamei Husky roofbox I've also bought :cry:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?24374&gclid=CK7iv9yazLYCFfMQtAodeV8AtQ
 
Not sure what you mean as my rapid fixing kit has rubber feet? I have the same 753 kit for my E70.

I always do them hand tight and then try to yank the bars from left to right, and if they don't move - it is good.
 
pvr said:
Not sure what you mean as my rapid fixing kit has rubber feet? I have the same 753 kit for my E70.

I always do them hand tight and then try to yank the bars from left to right, and if they don't move - it is good.
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Thanks pvr. Yeah, the feet bodies themselves are rubber, but it was the plastic inserts to the actual car fix points I was more concerned about.
 
Not with you on that - the feet are the only part connected to the car? Or don't you have roof bars on the 335 ...
 
No roof bars. The feet have a large plastic section that drops into the car's lift-the-flap fix points and over the screwed in bolts. This plastic sections (below surround by white line) are attached to a metal bracket thats attached to the feet body and the whole thing is surrounded by the rubber feet.

Thule Rapid System 'Fixpoint' adapter kit no. 3028


 
Ah ok, so even though I have the same feet kit - mine are suspended from the car as I have the M-sport version of the X4, so I have integrated low roof rails for them to clamp on.

Perhaps add a bit of felt to the bottom so it does not touch the paintwork with the feet? I know what you mean as the feet even with rubber, are not something I would like to push against the paintwork.
 
pvr said:
Ah ok, so even though I have the same feet kit - mine are suspended from the car as I have the M-sport version of the X4, so I have integrated low roof rails for them to clamp on.

Perhaps add a bit of felt to the bottom so it does not touch the paintwork with the feet? I know what you mean as the feet even with rubber, are not something I would like to push against the paintwork.
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Think I might do that. Just feels wrong without anything between the plastic units and the car itself. Thanks pvr :thumbsup:
 
That does look worrisome! However, consider carefully before adding felt. Is there a slight gap between the plastic and paint? If it is not actually touching, even under load, you may want to leave it alone. Adding felt will certainly touch the paint, which is OK in itself, but if any dirt or grit should get trapped in the felt, it will quickly grind into the paint. If felt is truly required, strive for a nice firm fit so grit cannot be introduced, and of course all must be meticulously clean when installing.
 
bcworkz said:
That does look worrisome! However, consider carefully before adding felt. Is there a slight gap between the plastic and paint? If it is not actually touching, even under load, you may want to leave it alone. Adding felt will certainly touch the paint, which is OK in itself, but if any dirt or grit should get trapped in the felt, it will quickly grind into the paint. If felt is truly required, strive for a nice firm fit so grit cannot be introduced, and of course all must be meticulously clean when installing.
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Cheers. Yeah there's a gap for the feet themselves and that's also highlighted in the pictorial instructions provided (3-5mm).

The only things actually touching the car are the rubber feet surrounds and those plastic things I drew a white square around earlier. They point down from the feet unit and drop over the threaded stud and into the flipped open fix points.

The main vertical stud nut shown in the picture above is then tightened, as are the two horizontal Allen bolts on each foot.

The protector I was asking about wasn't for under the feet units themselves, it was for actually inside the flipped open fix points.
 
Ah, I think I understand now. Should be OK with no modification, but if adding felt seems like the right thing to do, then do it.

And about the 6nm torque. That's not much really, more like good and snug than actually tight. Translated to guesstimated English units, if you had a 6 inch long spanner, applying 9 pounds of force to the end would achieve roughly 6nm torque. Not critical enough to warrant an actual light torque wrench, but do make an effort to be in the proper range.
 
bcworkz said:
And about the 6nm torque. That's not much really, more like good and snug than actually tight. Translated to guesstimated English units, if you had a 6 inch long spanner, applying 9 pounds of force to the end would achieve roughly 6nm torque. Not critical enough to warrant an actual light torque wrench, but do make an effort to be in the proper range.
Click to expand...

You're a gent :thumbsup:
 
Buy the newer fitting kit as it comes with a key and correct torque indicators, at least the 754 for our old does.


Tapatalking on my iPad.......
 
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