Bike roof rack dented the piss out of my car!!

[DragRacer]

Got a Saris roof rack a few weeks ago and installed it on my new(to me) car(2003 P5). Used it a couple of times and decided to take it back off yesterday when we got home. Took it off and there were two big dents on the edges of my roof where the pads were sitting. (notcool) I'm not sure whether to blame the rack, or the sheetmetal on the roof being too flimsy. WHich ever it is it sucks to have a nice nearly new car with two big-ass dents in it now. Anyhow, just be forwarned that these things can srew up your car. Don't know what I'll do now. (pissed)

 

[NJP5Guy]

why didnt you use the stock rack and buy the tracks for a bike?

 

[DragRacer]

why didnt you use the stock rack and buy the tracks for a bike?

My car did not come with a factory rack but that's something I could look into.

 

[Stormtrooper77]

If they are large "rounded" dents then they can be easily pulled out for usually very little money as well.

 

[xvdarkyvx]

that sucks... my friend has the factory roofrack with some bike rails or whatever they are on them. They work and look nice. Seems simple enough to use. so i'll go ask him what type he has and post it back on here. maybe with pictures too...

 

[jonlong]

I've had my Yakima rack on there for quite some time and it hasn't done anything to the roof. The paint is flawless and there are no dents.

 

[NJP5Guy]

My car did not come with a factory rack but that's something I could look into.

i guess your car is an 2003.5 then

 

[NJP5Guy]

do you have a subwoofer in your sparetire???

 

[Mad Hatter]

I've had my Yakima rack on there for quite some time and it hasn't done anything to the roof. The paint is flawless and there are no dents.

(mswerd)

 

[MonsterB]

Yakima here as well on a 2003.5....no dents, and I tightened the piss out of it too(have a 55lb bike on there)......

Only problem I have is the mounting clips cause a little water to leak in when it rains...havent had much luck getting it to stop either....its not alot, but its landing on leather seats too, so I dont want to mess them up....might try some bigger door trim strips or something thicker...

 

[jonlong]

Yakima here as well on a 2003.5....no dents, and I tightened the piss out of it too(have a 55lb bike on there)......

Only problem I have is the mounting clips cause a little water to leak in when it rains...havent had much luck getting it to stop either....its not alot, but its landing on leather seats too, so I dont want to mess them up....might try some bigger door trim strips or something thicker...

Weird...I assume you are talking about the flat metal things that hook under the roof.

Where do you have your rack positioned? I have mine further up than they tell you to put it. My front load bar is even w/ the front of my moonroof, so the bottom of the fairing is just a few inches behind where the windshield hits the roof. I've never had any problems with rain leaking this way. A thicker door seal would probably do the trick, though.

 

[MonsterB]

Weird...I assume you are talking about the flat metal things that hook under the roof.

Where do you have your rack positioned? I have mine further up than they tell you to put it. My front load bar is even w/ the front of my moonroof, so the bottom of the fairing is just a few inches behind where the windshield hits the roof. I've never had any problems with rain leaking this way. A thicker door seal would probably do the trick, though.

Maybe I will try that...I mounted it according to the directions, and my wind fairing actually sits a few inches back from the windshield...I will try movin it forward and see if that helps....by the way its just the rear that leaks.....

 

[DragRacer]

i guess your car is an 2003.5 then

It has the provisions for a rack but I just thought the rack was optional.

No I don't think I have a sub, but I could be wrong. Where is it located?? I'm pretty sure there's no sub anywhere judging by how bad the factory stereo sounded before I replaced it. I thought it was just a "2003" but I could be wrong.

 

[Zoom03Zoom]

did you try duct tape? j/k

 

[jonlong]

the sub would be located in the spare tire. you would have seen it if you ever lifted up your trunk floor.

 

[DragRacer]

the sub would be located in the spare tire. you would have seen it if you ever lifted up your trunk floor.

Hmmm. Don't think I have ever looked under there. Duh! I'll have to check it out.

 

[DragRacer]

Hmmm. Don't think I have ever looked under there. Duh! I'll have to check it out.

Well I'll be go to hell. There IS a sub back there. I had no idea it was back there. DOH!! (hand) So I have a 2003.5 I guess. Are there any other differences between the 2003's and the 2003.5's????

 

[MonsterB]

Nope, I believe the only difference is the sub/rack thing...but I could be wrong(shrug)

 

[ottawaP5]

Better yet, is your car a Canadian P5?

 

[DragRacer]

If they are large "rounded" dents then they can be easily pulled out for usually very little money as well.

Yeah I found a paintless dent repair place that is gonna fix it tomorrow. Gotta drop it off tonight. Gonna cost me $160 though. That kinda sucks, but at least it'll be fixed. I'm glad not everyone has the same problem that I had, but I'll never use another roof rack I'll tell ya that. (pissed) Have a pickup(actually two) so I guess I'll just use that to transport bikes from now on.