Quiet Roof Rack Recommendation for a 2011 BMW 550i

Question:

I purchased the factory rack for this and am very dissatisfied with the wind noise without a bike. I added a Thule wind deflector which helped but didnt eliminate the issue. Is there a Yakima or Thule solution for this car and is it quieter that the factory huge, loins, ugly rack? Ive spent my life with roof and hitch racks and this is by far the worst. Any ideas welcome...

asked by: Jim

Expert Reply:

What I recommend for your 2011 BMW 550i is to use Thule Wingbars. These bars significantly reduce drag and noise for a quieter ride. They do not require a fairing because of their design and they should be much quieter for you. The elliptical design is also more stylish than traditional round or square bars.

If your 550i is a 4-Door with no existing rails or crossbars, you would need the following parts to install the rack:

Thule 47 inch WingBars, # TH711200 in silver or # TH711220 in black
Thule Podium Foot Pack, # TH460R
Thule Fit Kit, # THKIT3089

If your 550i is the Gran Turismo model also with nothing on the roof you need these parts:

Thule 53 inch WingBars, # TH711400 in silver or # TH711420 in black
Thule Podium Foot Pack, # TH460R
Thule Fit Kit, # THKIT3039