bimmerteknik
01-25-2017, 10:10 AM
Personally I don't care for the look of the e46 oem roof rack feet. And the whisp bars are much more than I care to spend.
I was able to locate an E90 rack on Craigslist for 65.00 so I figured I'd give it a shot.
I am in no way the first person to mount a set of E90 racks on an E46. However when I searched the fitment I found most users were removing the doors from the roof rails to get the proper fitment.
Instead of removing the mounting doors. I decided to cut into the rack feet to get clearance.
Time: roughly an hr.
Things needed:
1)OEM E90 roof rack and the safety torx tool and extra bolt provided with it.
2)Round file or drill bit
3)Rotary tool with plastic cutting wheel. (dremmel works great)
First open the doors and chase the holes for the mounting with the extra bolt, these are usually coated with paint and this step just makes for fitting the rack easier https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/b03e38da6f8289fce5cf9ae5d1bb0bc5.jpg
Install the protective plastic adhesive pieces if provided with the rack. You will need to trim the bridges to get these in and have the rack fit later. If the protective pieces aren't available (because it's used) don't sweat it.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/c4a20196b061a0dadc2cee2959c7c975.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/393928516bcf8b64442add068e3fc5e6.jpg
Removed the feet from the rack with the provided tool. Line each one up to see where you need to trim/cut the plastic over the feet. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/d609ddeda9f15a630733459852f9b914.jpg
I chose to make mine slightly over sized so not to risk binding up the door when taking on and off. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/eb7bdfe0f922f49b9cb76f80fa52566b.jpg
All the feet were cut on the corner closest to the center of the car. I don't imagine this will differ for anyone else. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/52d225a6844b3556a60526206785a29a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/5b3ea6f12acd85b42c493fe14c4a83ed.jpg
At this point clean up he plastic area that was cut, a small file set works great.
The rear fits without modification to the mounting in the rail.
The front requires the mounting slots to be extended by 1/4"+/- toward the center. The bottom slot must be extended as well. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/6264886b26cd2bb68e6a9adf609a894d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/331c4ed470e69e6051587a495d0a4f25.jpg I used an air saw with a round file attachment. I imagine a drill and properly sized bit will work with a little more time.
Now reattach the feet and mount the rack! Don't forget you have to trim the bridges in the mounting pad on the car. .
Enjoy!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/b7bb9dd9c87bc3668e8a2c37bb49ff89.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/c750cbe85d9913a99cab08d0ceeeb574.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/4682842d3b21eabc88092292fb81bbaa.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was able to locate an E90 rack on Craigslist for 65.00 so I figured I'd give it a shot.
I am in no way the first person to mount a set of E90 racks on an E46. However when I searched the fitment I found most users were removing the doors from the roof rails to get the proper fitment.
Instead of removing the mounting doors. I decided to cut into the rack feet to get clearance.
Time: roughly an hr.
Things needed:
1)OEM E90 roof rack and the safety torx tool and extra bolt provided with it.
2)Round file or drill bit
3)Rotary tool with plastic cutting wheel. (dremmel works great)
First open the doors and chase the holes for the mounting with the extra bolt, these are usually coated with paint and this step just makes for fitting the rack easier https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/b03e38da6f8289fce5cf9ae5d1bb0bc5.jpg
Install the protective plastic adhesive pieces if provided with the rack. You will need to trim the bridges to get these in and have the rack fit later. If the protective pieces aren't available (because it's used) don't sweat it.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/c4a20196b061a0dadc2cee2959c7c975.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/393928516bcf8b64442add068e3fc5e6.jpg
Removed the feet from the rack with the provided tool. Line each one up to see where you need to trim/cut the plastic over the feet. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/d609ddeda9f15a630733459852f9b914.jpg
I chose to make mine slightly over sized so not to risk binding up the door when taking on and off. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/eb7bdfe0f922f49b9cb76f80fa52566b.jpg
All the feet were cut on the corner closest to the center of the car. I don't imagine this will differ for anyone else. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/52d225a6844b3556a60526206785a29a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/5b3ea6f12acd85b42c493fe14c4a83ed.jpg
At this point clean up he plastic area that was cut, a small file set works great.
The rear fits without modification to the mounting in the rail.
The front requires the mounting slots to be extended by 1/4"+/- toward the center. The bottom slot must be extended as well. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/6264886b26cd2bb68e6a9adf609a894d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/331c4ed470e69e6051587a495d0a4f25.jpg I used an air saw with a round file attachment. I imagine a drill and properly sized bit will work with a little more time.
Now reattach the feet and mount the rack! Don't forget you have to trim the bridges in the mounting pad on the car. .
Enjoy!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/b7bb9dd9c87bc3668e8a2c37bb49ff89.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/c750cbe85d9913a99cab08d0ceeeb574.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170125/4682842d3b21eabc88092292fb81bbaa.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk