[chaseverner]

I want a roof rack to carry kayaks on my 328i. If anyone can put a link on where to buy one, i'd appreciate it. I don't want to spend more than $300 but if i have to then i will.

[relative4]

It would help to know what kind of car you have, but basically Thule and Yakima are your go-to manufacturers.

[Schmitz]

Are you using the base support bars?

[chaseverner]

Originally Posted by relative4

It would help to know what kind of car you have, but basically Thule and Yakima are your go-to manufacturers.

I have a 2011 328i m sport sedan

[chaseverner]

Originally Posted by Schmitz

Are you using the base support bars?

I don't have them

[Schmitz]

Originally Posted by chaseverner

I don't have them

I'd get those, they're $200 on ecs I think our you can find used ones on Craigslist or ebay (like I did). Then I'd get whatever attachment you need for kayaks (or you can just use winches to hold them on.

[tlow98]

Yeah just get the bmw ones. Easy. Will always work and you can resell someday.

[chaseverner]

Originally Posted by Schmitz

I'd get those, they're $200 on ecs I think our you can find used ones on Craigslist or ebay (like I did). Then I'd get whatever attachment you need for kayaks (or you can just use winches to hold them on.

Ok, thank you, i think i'll go with those!

[Thorin]

Whispbars. Yakima bought them, but if you're lucky you can find them cheap by their prior "Whispbar" name.

[bimmerque]

Originally Posted by chaseverner

I want a roof rack to carry kayaks on my 328i. If anyone can put a link on where to buy one, i'd appreciate it. I don't want to spend more than $300 but if i have to then i will.

Inbox me. I'll sell you mines for $300. We go half for shipping if your still interested.

My rack is Original BMW.

[relative4]

BMW OEM roof racks are made by Votech, and they're garbage.

[dakine_surf]

I agree, the BMW racks are pretty terrible... I always go with Thule since I have some connections in the industry but Yakima's are great as well...

What kind of kayaks are we talking about? How far are you going with these things?

If it's just some plastic Costco jobs to and from the beach (less then an hour or so) you are probably ok with the BMW stuff. But if we are talking fiberglass or wood ocean kayaks with rudders or rapid kayaks... or you have any distance to go (or you do this often) spend a little money and get a proper Yakima or Thule setup, it will pay in the long run, give you piece of mind while driving, and be much quieter. Not to mention it all locks and can be taken off and sold piece by piece... so theoretically it will work on any car just buy the correct adaptor plates.

I have thule aero bars on my mini that used to be on my e36 years ago, just bought the new base tower pads (less than $50)

[ryan stewart]

Man I LOVE my Whispbar system but it's definitely nowhere near your price range, if you get lucky and find a used set snatch those up

[chaseverner]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

I agree, the BMW racks are pretty terrible... I always go with Thule since I have some connections in the industry but Yakima's are great as well...

What kind of kayaks are we talking about? How far are you going with these things?

If it's just some plastic Costco jobs to and from the beach (less then an hour or so) you are probably ok with the BMW stuff. But if we are talking fiberglass or wood ocean kayaks with rudders or rapid kayaks... or you have any distance to go (or you do this often) spend a little money and get a proper Yakima or Thule setup, it will pay in the long run, give you piece of mind while driving, and be much quieter. Not to mention it all locks and can be taken off and sold piece by piece... so theoretically it will work on any car just buy the correct adaptor plates.

I have thule aero bars on my mini that used to be on my e36 years ago, just bought the new base tower pads (less than $50)

I looked at the thule ones, but u went with BMW cause i found them for half the price. I'm not lifting anything too heavy, just a kayak, so i think it'll be fine.

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by ryan stewart

Man I LOVE my Whispbar system but it's definitely nowhere near your price range, if you get lucky and find a used set snatch those up

Yeah I guess that's what I was also trying to say, it's pretty easy to piece a system together on Craigslist and then just go to a store or buy on amazon the correct tower base pads (think it's the install kit??). Either way there are only a couple car specific parts on the whole system... bars are all generic lengths... just takes a little research to put a kit together that fits your car... totally feasible in your budget

[D-Ros]

The OEM bars screw into the roof, super easy to install. I would then look at Yakima or Thule for a universal fit kayak rack, like the Yakima JayHook.