14 plate Leon FR 5DR and Roof Rack / Bars

[BenN]

Hi,

I currently have a roof rack on my BMW 120d, this screws into the roof and doesnt touch the body atall.

The BMW is going back and being replaced with an Ibiza Cupra , so i'm looking to fit a roof rack (primarily used for mountain bikes) to our 14 plate Leon FR 5Dr (1.4TSI). I'm naturally concerned about the foot pack touching the body on the roof, and then once again inside the doors by the metal clamps.

The OEM roof rack from Seat, looks as though its manufactured by Thule, but comes with the squarer aero bars, and obviously I could buy the Thule rack but with the wingbar's (the newer design) - they are about the same price.

What I would like to know is, who uses a roof rack on their Leon and what (if any) damage have you sustained to the car? I've heard of some people on Golf's for example having dents put in their roof either side of the foot pack, but it was suspected they had over tightened it - and others have reported surface scuffs in the lacquer.

I know the Thule system comes with a torque wrench built in to prevent over tightening, and had read that a guy bought a Thule system for his golf and it came with clear 3M style plastic that you attach to the roof underneath the feet and wondered whether either the Seat or Thule (potentially the same kits) come with this too?

I had intended on putting the roof rack on the Ibiza, but with it being 3 door, I didnt like the idea of the clamps coming a substantial way down the rear bodywork to the windows, so the Leon is the sensible option here.

So what are your experiences, and if you have any pictures of your rack on a Leon Mk3 - please post away!

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Ssgvickers]

Hi Ben

Purchased the roof rack from Seat. Cost was £180.00. using it for bike carrying. So far no damage caused. They have rubber feet which make sure no damage is incurred. The metal clamps fit fine within the doors. Will try and get some photos. Your right about brand, it is a Thule.
Hope helps
Stephen

 

[chrisRibiza]

I had a thule rack on my ibiza, no way would I ever fit one again where the feet touch the roof.

I removed the rack and the amount if scrapes in the lacquer was awful and there was a massive rectangle on the roof where each foot sat. Only way round it that I could see is remove the roof rack every so often and clean under the pads / polish the roof but it would be a lot of effort!

Your door seals also end up wrecked as they have to sit around the metal feet which clamp to the car.

I ended up selling my bike roof racks when I bought the leon as I don't want to damage it in the same way.

 

[BenN]

Hi Ben

Purchased the roof rack from Seat. Cost was £180.00. using it for bike carrying. So far no damage caused. They have rubber feet which make sure no damage is incurred. The metal clamps fit fine within the doors. Will try and get some photos. Your right about brand, it is a Thule.
Hope helps
Stephen

Thanks Stephen, I look forward to seeing the snaps. Does the Seat rack come with any torque wrench to prevent overtightening, and of course under tightening. The Thule one has special screws inside each leg with a green indicator on, does the Seat one come like this?

If you google search 'Thule Rapid System gutterless feet 754' the video shows this (cannot post links until ive made 15 posts sadly)

Chris, did your Ibiza rack have a similar mechanism on? If you tightened your rack to specifications, and still got dents that is a little worrying and would put me off. Lacquer scratches arent ideal, but I could deal with those. Also, what did you use your rack to transport, as I had heard that overloading can cause dents - or taking the car through the dreaded car-wash as the rollers put force onto the rack. Hopefully two mountain bikes shouldn't go over the 50kg limit (i think).

Thanks for the replies guys, interesting to hear of anyone elses experiences,

Thanks,
Ben

 

[robbyd6]

Just my 2p,

I haven't got a roof rack on the leon but the ibiza I had before it did have. I bought it 2nd hand off ebay but was told it had been bought from the dealers when new. I was a little sceptical of the way it fixed but once clamped down it was rock solid. One thing I did do was order some clear vinyl off ebay and cut it into small squares and stick it where the feet sat on the roof. Then when I came to get rid of the car I just ripped these little squares off and was left with perfect paint underneath (and a little glue that was soon taken care off with bug and tar remover) but just a little idea if your worried about the paintwork.

Rob

 

[chrisRibiza]

The massive rectangle was just dirt, grime and scrapes but no dents. Mine was tightened correctly and definately not over tightened.

Most of the time I only had the bars in the roof and the bike it was used to transport the very odd time was 1 Lapierre Froggy. I had the Thule 591 bike rack. It's definately not recommended to put a car with a rack on through a car wash.

Robs solution of clear vinyl may be a good solution. The other downside is if you bring the bike back and it's dirty, you end up getting the mud dropping a over the roof.

Tow bar is definately the only way I'd ever transport a bike again but I would be very picky about my paintwork.

 

[BenN]

Could someone link to the clear vinyl please? Sounds a good idea, would you put it inside the door's too?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[chrisRibiza]

Something like Factory Effex vinyl in clear would work. I've used it on the bike to prevent cable rub

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/factory-effex-frame-protection-material/rp-prod39319

I'd do anywhere there is contact on the cars bodywork.

 

[BenN]

Hey, Sorry to bump this thread, but wondered if anyone has a rack on their Leon Mk3 - i've got a 5DR, would love to see some photos - 3 or 5DR?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[p.eco]

Thule racks looks the best on the car!