Mini-Cooper bike rack?

[kenyonchris]

Well, as if we didn't have enough bike racks in the family...
I have a 2006 Mini Cooper S checkerboard edition...two sunroofs (pretty much the whole roof is glass) I want to add a Yakima bike rack to it but no one can tell me for sure if it will fit or not with the dual sunroof setup.
I am using a Saris trunk thing that I hate having to take on and off. On the big car we have a Yakima hitch mount and a roof mount so that we can take both road bikes and MTBs on a trip. But I drive my bike around enough that a permanant rack is a worthwhile investment.
Anyone, anyone?

BTW, the bike will fit in a mini, front wheel off. But, problematically, the bike is the ONLY thing that will fit in there when it is in there...and I have to drive with my knees in my chest!!

[Nokomis]

I recently had to research this same question for my 2007 mini. A yakima would fit, tho they'd have to cut in to the roof to make it work. By the time I would order all the parts & labor, it was pretty expensive. Plus, I didn't like the idea of drilling in to the roof (I also have the sunroof option.)

That, plus the fact that my husband and I both managed to attempt to drive the car in to the garage with bikes on top and we had enough. The MINI brand bike rack was thrashed, my roof was banged up, and we were thru with even having the possibility of a 3rd wreck.

The solution we went with, and have been VERY happy with, is a sportlink plus the custom bike rack. They do have a 1 1/4" hitch option, but that is a third and heavy item by the time you add up the weight of the hitch + typical 1 1/4" bike rack system. http://www.minifini.com/Default.aspx

Happy Motoring!

[atombessy]

I asked my husband to write up a response to this, we have a Mini and have tried a few rack options, but it's been a boy job per the hubby:

Roof rack options for 2002-2006 MINIs are limited to the factory drill holes in your roof type, or clamp on types from Thule, Yakima, or Mont Blanc. Clamp-on type racks are limited pretty severely by the weight they can carry, due to the plastic roof rails used on these generation MINIs. My salesman (MINI advisor ) had a Mont Blanc, which he claimed was the most secure clamp-on type solution. Personally, I decided to have the dealer install (and drill for) a factory-type rack. We regularly carry 2 bikes, and occasionally 3 bikes and I appreciate the extra solid mount the factory rack provides. I believe the weight limits are 165lbs for the factory rack, 115lbs for the Mont Blanc, and 60-80lbs for Thule and Yakima.

That said, a roof rack might not be the best option if you have a garage and are worried about driving into the garage with your bikes still on the rack. I'd probably pull that stunt myself if we had a garage! In that case I've heard good things about the rear sportlink system Nokomis mentioned.

We live in the city and park on the street, and I've had a bad experience hitting a fixed object while parking with our bikes on a rear-mounted rack. So I've sworn off that style rack for now, and stick to roof racks.

There's a good thread on Motoringfile about roof racks here: http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/...-mf-roof-rack/

[TrekTheKaty]

Can you put a hitch on the Mini? I leave my hitch-mount on all the time--that's why I chose it--easy to load bikes on and off.

[atombessy]

Can you put a hitch on the Mini? I leave my hitch-mount on all the time--that's why I chose it--easy to load bikes on and off.

Yup! Check out http://www.minidomore.com/

[kenyonchris]

Thanks so much, everyone! My mini has the exhaust in the center, I am not sure (and can't tell from the pics) if the hitch will work even with the exhaust there (I know the mini - non - s models don't have the exhaust there).
My mini has to live outside, our garage is now a bedroom for the teens.
Having said that, we went biking in Austin recently with both sets of bikes...roadies on top, mtbs on back...and pulled into a hamburger place and nearly took both bikes off the top on the awning.
University Cycles came to our aid and repaired my husband's bike's shifters and my computer that was torn off...saving the day (and the trip).