Bastian's P5 on a college budget

[Bastian]

I dropped the car off at the shop this afternoon, we'll be hearing from them in the late morning tomorrow.

When I get it back I'm going to take measurements to figure out what size fairing I need. I'm looking at the Inno fairings since they seem to be the only fairing I can find that is compatible with factory racks.

 

[Bastian]

car's out of the shop. Problem turned out to be that the front passenger side caliper was seized (hand) fixed now though, nice shiny new caliper and rotor

ordering the fairing tomorrow. I tried shopping around online today to find another universal fairing, but to no avail.

oh, also changed another headlight bulb out. I'm getting good at dealing with that stupid retaining spring (boom03)

 

[31N007]

good on the shop glad it wasn't too serious. I have yet to experience a seized caliper but I'm sure it'll happen at least once.

Can't wait to see the fairing when you pick one up I would suggest, if you have the time and tools, to try and maybe fab up your own?? But I dont know how exactly they're built so I cant offer any input.

Im kinda glad I got HIDs in mine. But they were something I've wanted for a while so I picked them up. I still have sedan bulbs have in case my kit decides to spontaneously blow up on me- perks of not having to drill/ cut anything I guess How many bulbs do you think you've been through now? And how is that retaining spring difficult?

 

[Bastian]

I'm sure I could fab a fairing, I just don't think it would look... errr.... beautiful (rolleyes)

I've been through three low beam bulbs on my driver's side headlight in two years. The retaining spring was just annoying really the first time. I didn't look at how it was installed before I took it out, and I spent an hour and a half trying to figure out how to get the damn thing back in. At this point I've mastered it (2thumbs)

 

[31N007]

Third times the charm I suppose? Thats crazy. I've never seen a bulb go out in any of the cara my parents have had except one in the brake light on my dads G6. other than that, its been smooth sailing

Its all in the eye of the beholder as far as the fairing goes but i suppose a more professionally built fairing would look more appealing. I dont have racks on mine so if anything, I'd be using the boot. But i dont have any gear to haul and i dont have a road bike yet. I wanna pick one up this summer...

 

[Bastian]

yeah the bulb thing is strange... And I'm always very careful to not touch the glass of the bulb. I guess I just had bad luck (shrug)

 

[31N007]

Or it's the climate?? Either way, it's an easy fix I suppose... Just carry a spare all the time. If the high beam bulb is the same one and it goes out on you, can't you just swap those? If you're ever in a worst-case scenario.

 

[Bastian]

the car was in its uniform for work tonight...

today may be the last day I run the sign for work, as the fairing is (supposedly) arriving tomorrow and it will interfere with the car topper

 

[Bastian]

fairing came in today

I'm a bit disappointed... firstly because this fairing comes in small, medium, and large sizes. The medium is just a bit too big, and the feet would interfere with the plastic on the bottom of the roof racks, while the small is just... well, small

Also, I checked and double checked the dimensions this fairing was compatible with, and my racks were within those parameters. However, installing it today, I found that the nuts on the back of each of the three arms that attaches the fairing to the crossbar are too long, and hit the roof. They are designed to be threaded in by thumb, but this does not allow the two middle feet of the fairing to make contact with the roof. I took the whole thing off for now. I'm hoping I can find some nuts at the hardware store that aren't stupid...

I wish my car didn't have factory roof racks. Trying to get my hands on all the stupid adapters and pieces to make things compatible has proven to a complete pain in the ass. What I would do for a full Yakima or Thule system...

 

[31N007]

Can I ask, do Thule or Yakima offer fairings that are compatible with the P5 rack? Im sure thats a stupid question, but I would have though they offer or offered a compatible fairing at one point in time...

I wish I could offer more help. Thats kind of odd that there isn't a company that offers a fairing for the P5...

(Sorry, im a little tired right now so I don't expect that to make much sense!)

 

[Bastian]

Nah, Yakima only makes fairings that are compatible with their round crossbars and Thule only makes fairings compatible with their square bars. At least, according to my research that's the case.

 

[timuhai]

Can I ask, do Thule or Yakima offer fairings that are compatible with the P5 rack? Im sure thats a stupid question, but I would have though they offer or offered a compatible fairing at one point in time...

well, I just posted a comment about inno fairings, because my phone didn't load the rest of the thread. whoops.

Yeah I just ordered an inno fairing as well. I have a rockymount bike mount as well...all I need really.

 

[Bastian]

lol I got the Inno fairing... Read the post above with the picture. I'm having fitment problems

 

[Bastian]

No worries man, my phone doesn't load pics either when I use the app unless I click a post. (2thumbs)

Also what size did you order?

 

[timuhai]

No worries man, my phone doesn't load pics either when I use the app unless I click a post. (2thumbs)

Also what size did you order?

I got the small. I noticed the space between the rack is roughly 37 inches or so....just a bit too short for the medium, sadly. I thought about buying it and then trimming it down, but I found a brand new small one on ebay for dirt cheap. I'll have to see what is up with the bolts. I have a slew of extra hardware, I'm sure I have something that will work...I'll let you know if I get that figured out... What attachments are you using now?

 

[Bastian]

well I simply used the hardware that Inno sent me to (attempt to) install it. I'm hoping I can hit the hardware store tomorrow and get nuts that fit. If not, I'll be sending it right back to Inno. I just don't understand why the small size is so SMALL. There is literally no car that would have the roof filled up by it... but the damn medium is just barely a centimeter too big. (hand)

 

[timuhai]

well I simply used the hardware that Inno sent me to (attempt to) install it. I'm hoping I can hit the hardware store tomorrow and get nuts that fit. If not, I'll be sending it right back to Inno. I just don't understand why the small size is so SMALL. There is literally no car that would have the roof filled up by it... but the damn medium is just barely a centimeter too big. (hand)

you could try making your own piece to fit...I've seen a couple threads on various car forums where people have done that. Some type of ABS plastic, or something. Then maybe you could just cut it like plexiglass and get a perfect fit. The small at least covers the bars decently, should help with the noise...

I had the same issue on my last car. It was a nissan sentra spec v. The only size that would fit my bars correctly was a a dinky one. It helped, though.

 

[hat1018]

My plan is to make my own fairing out of lexan. I need to figure out brackets and feet though. The noise is crazy!

 

[timuhai]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123768777-Beginning-of-a-DIY-Roof-Rack-Fairing

one thing I found. Maybe worth a shot?

 

[NemosMP5]

I had just found out about the inno faring two days ago and was excited about it. The small doesn't look to bad but maybe some how you can make extenders so the medium could fit. You should take more pics maybe itll grow on you, plus it looks like it'll do the job. And why don't you just cut the bolts to size? Easy and free solution