Rola Roof Rack Installed + a few pics

[WetsuitxNinja]

So I didnt want to go the route of getting the stuff from the UK for the fixpoint, and I didnt want to go with the thule\yakima clamp ons... Ordered the Rola rack from australia. Screws into the rain gutter and looks almost OEM.

Enjoy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps013.jpg

[meha11]

i was going to go and look at roof racks yesterday but with all the xmas shopping going on i just stayed on my couch. i was thinking of yakama just because i can get it close by and it would match my bike rack. i havent looked at them yet so i dont know how they install (i did think yakima had a sliding rail that could be installed along both sides to hold the rack).
i am wondering why you decided to go with rola, are there any big benifits? i guess the thule or yakima dont install in the same way. i know i should check them out before i open my stupid mouth, but is is xmas eve and i'm not going to the mall today.
yours do look good though. congrats, i'm gona find them on the web now.


EDIT: Shit. i knew i should have looked first "i did think yakima had a sliding rail that could be installed long both sides to hold the rack"- Wrong!

[tsunami]

looking good man!!

[WetsuitxNinja]

http://www.repco.com.au/

Thats who I went through to get it. Thanks for the compliments. I chose this rack just because its different. Looks like its more oem. I didnt care for having a big square or oval bar sitting on top of a clamp or fixpoint.

Also on the freeway, I have yet to hear any whistling or excess wind noise with thie rack + board carrier on.

[WetsuitxNinja]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps016.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps015.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Nofriends/Mudflaps019.jpg

[Earful]

Clean....real clean.....

[WetsuitxNinja]

Clean....real clean.....

Thx, thats exactly what I thought after putting it on.

[ZoomVT]

ooh man that looks really good!
congratulations... i am a little pissed they didnt have this shit when i bought mine.

i had to go with the Thule (there wasnt any other options back then) and although i dont mind, looking at yours definitely shows the difference.

[WetsuitxNinja]

ooh man that looks really good!
congratulations... i am a little pissed they didnt have this shit when i bought mine.

i had to go with the Thule (there wasnt any other options back then) and although i dont mind, looking at yours definitely shows the difference.

I still sometimes think bout yak\thule, just because I could have used the bars on any other car I had in the future, now its like a write off if\when i sell the car basically.

[drumboy]

I still sometimes think bout yak\thule, just because I could have used the bars on any other car I had in the future, now its like a write off if\when i sell the car basically.

nice clean install, dude!

may i ask how much has this endeavor cost you? did you have to install new gutters with slots? thanks...

[Hikaru9]

Looks very nice!

I, too, am interested in how much something like that costs (+installation).

Now that I have an MS3 my Delta Hunchrack no longer works thanks to the wing in the rear. >_<

[WetsuitxNinja]

I opted to drill holes in the stock rain gutters. I dont plan on taking the rack off unless im selling the car, and at that point, alittle electrical tape will mask it haha.

Total cost with the rack was just shy of 500 bucks. 480 I think. Thats with the snowboard carrier + the rola rack.

Hikaru if you are worried about the wing, ill send you mine, just gotta get it painted to match lol Im thinkin about getting the speed3 spoiler if I can find one for a decent price

The rola rack alone will run you 380 usd.

[davegutz]

Looks very nice!

I, too, am interested in how much something like that costs (+installation).

Now that I have an MS3 my Delta Hunchrack no longer works thanks to the wing in the rear. >_<

I just bought a MS3 without factory roof rack. I take delivery tomorow. How did yours work out?

[MOULIN6801]

How is the wind noise with the racks?? Do you think you will need a wind deflector??
I have a 2008 M3 Hatchback, there is no place that I see to drill holes there...
Did you pick any particular spot? Did you do it yourself?
Thanks for the help
David- Nashville

[WetsuitxNinja]

Wind noise with the racks and boards is bearable. I dont even notice it anymore. Doesnt whistle or anything.

You have to take the black rails off and find the anchors that are under them. You then measure a few times, and drill a hole in the rails to match where the anchor points are so they are accessable. I did it myself.

[mazdaspeed32007]

you kooky cats and your roof racks. i see a sweet truck sitting right next to your car. use that to fit your stuff in. lol.

[WetsuitxNinja]

I would borrow it, but gas is killer in it. Not to mention the not to fun to drive on mountain roads fact. Im about 100 miles from the closest resort.

[jus2sho]

Sweet!

[mazdaspeed32007]

I would borrow it, but gas is killer in it. Not to mention the not to fun to drive on mountain roads fact. Im about 100 miles from the closest resort.

ahhhhh. while cranking on it i bet you get as good gas milage as the truck. but once again that brings us back to the funn-o factor

[slevasse]

Wind noise with the racks and boards is bearable. I dont even notice it anymore. Doesnt whistle or anything.

You have to take the black rails off and find the anchors that are under them. You then measure a few times, and drill a hole in the rails to match where the anchor points are so they are accessable. I did it myself.

How do you get the black rails off? I only looked real quick but I didn't really see anything?

[M32008]

How do you get the black rails off? I only looked real quick but I didn't really see anything?

x2 need to know how to remove the black rails

i live in germany and the mazda dealer said they need to see if the car has the fixed points to mount the oem roof rack. all they would do is remove the US black rail and replace with a Euro one and i would be able to mount it.

[WetsuitxNinja]

If I remember correctly on either end there is a head, looks like the head of a nail that fits into a hole on the rail. I pushed the rail towards the hatch, and then lifted the front (windshield side) upwards to see if that unlocked it.

Then there are little metal spring like tabs that hold it in place as well, you just pull those straight up. Dont forget about the head on the rear, I broke mine, but the rack holds it down enough so it doesnt flail in the wind.

The rails are metal on the inside, so you will need to be gentle while pushing it back in so it doesnt bend or crease.

[slevasse]

Well I managed to get them off without breaking them with some judicious wiggling. Did your car already have the holes drilled for the mounts? I see a bunch of dimples that look like they are locations for the holes to be but they aren't drilled.

crap I just realized I was in the 3 section. I have a 6 hatch. Do you think they would add the bolt holes or nuts or whatever to the 3 and not the 6?

[WetsuitxNinja]

The holes that I drilled were on the black rail pieces. The rack actually mounts to nuts that are welded to the roof.

[slevasse]

yeah my 6 doesn't have the nuts welded to the roof. damn.

[M32008]

yeah my 6 doesn't have the nuts welded to the roof. damn.

that sux, so what are you going to do now? can you put the rails back on?

this is why i am hesitant to pry them off myself.

[slevasse]

Yeah the rain gutter things snap back in no problem. I already have a thule rack at my place brand new but I'm not thrilled with the look of it. So I was searching for other options.

[jw1re]

loloolol

[WetsuitxNinja]

loloolol

Hell ya bro thanks for posting. Keep up the good work.

[Maz94Protege]

I know this is an old thread, but i am planning on ordering this rack for my '10 3 Sedan. How wel has it held up over the years?

[P729]

I know this is an old thread, but i am planning on ordering this rack for my '10 3 Sedan. How wel has it held up over the years?

I had a set of Rola racks back in the late 80s/early 90s and they were beautiful, very sleek and held up exceedingly well. I had them on an Aussie market car back then and they withstood crazy heat, dry, as well as cold climates equally well.

If you don't want an agricultural looking setup, you'd be hard-pressed to get a better looking rack on your roof, especially on you 2010, which has the removable caps for hard-mounting to your car's roof rails.

[Maz94Protege]

Awesome, thanks for the update and feedback. I saw the demo pics of the rolla on etrailer.com didnt look bad, but im still searching.

[WetsuitxNinja]

Im still 100% satisfied with the racks. When I clean them up they look like they did when new. Couldnt ask for a better product really.