The bars are light weight and easy to install: they come with base plate that can be mounted on any XUV7OO variant and needs just 13mm Spanner to install when the base mounting plates are already fitted
BHPian abirnale recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
The Roof Cross Bars – noisy proposition!
Ever since I read this thread, I thought of this accessory as a good to have addition for two reasons: first, it’s simple to use and helpful in those rare instances when I want to carry the bicycles (the rear hatch door being fibre, I don’t have much confidence on using carrier on it) and secondly, the roof mounted carrier would protect the Skyroof from getting shattered in mountains due to falling rocks. (Yes, it happened to me on my old XUV5OO and lost the sunroof!).
So when a fellow TORC member was parting away with his car’s cross bars that was procured as official accessory from M&M, I decided to pick it up. Later I figured out that this accessory is now obsolete and not available with any dealer/ website as official accessory – reasons unknown.
The bars are light weight and easy to install: they come with base plate that can be mounted on any XUV7OO variant and needs just 13mm Spanner to install when the base mounting plates are already fitted. To fit the mounting plates, you would need 10mm spanner and some skills/ time to DIY it.
Here is what I did in the sequential order:
- You need to remove the roof/skirack rails from car. There are two pieces – the top push-down piece and the actual skirack/ rails.
- The rack needs to have a notch cut on them where the mounting plates fit.
- Then fit back all ski racks and mounting plates with appropriate washers.
- The cross bars can be mounted on these plates in less than 5 mins!
To fit, you will have to be careful – there are some clips that can break easily and its good to have spare clips handy – bodomo has them in stock if you want to order in advance!
You will need below tools:
- 10mm Spanner
- 13mm spanner
- Plastic cutting knife/ hacksaw
- Spare clips (white ones)
- Some black tape to wind upon the cross bars overlapping the aluminium piece and black fibre portion – to avoid rainwater seeping into the bars
- The prying tool to open the ski-rack top panel
The lower base of the racks (black portion) has three places to mount the plates: one in the front, one in middle and one at the rear portion of the roof. Depending on the places where you want to install the bars, the panel needs to be cut open to let base plates fit on the bolts.
Once the plates are in position, rest is all easy: simply mount the bars on the top of the plates and you are all set. Can use the bars to mount cycle carrier or a roof top box – choice is yours.
If you observe the bars and plates don’t exactly fit plush on the rails – leaving a slight gap that causes hissing air noise at higher speeds. The bars are also ata height such that the skyroof operation is not hindered. Even though the M&M official accessory did not mention compatibility with AX7L, I can confirm that they work on all models of XUV7OO so far!
The white clips are prone to breaking if you exert pressure or open in wrong way:
It’s a good idea to have the spare clips handy: procure them on bodomo or get from the ASC.
When you remove the clamps/ mounting plates, and put the top portion of the ski-rack rails back, this is how the cutout notches will be visible: it would be worth taping this using a wrap to avoid water and dust seepage in them.
Here is the final look of the car with bars on them:
As a conclusion to this experiment, I would like to call it as a failed experiment: mainly because of the noise it makes while driving – this car generally will be driven at speeds of about 100kmph and the noise at that speed is unbearable for me. So now, I have taken it off and stowed away. The flip side is that the notches that were carved on the base ski-rack rails will stay open and is prone to water seepage that may lead to rusting of the bolts/ mount positions of the ski rack in a long run. I have the wrap on the roof and I have to make it a point to keep an eye on these parts to void rust issues in the future.
Other than noise and looks (subjective), there is no other issues: for someone who is desperately in need of the space, can go for this setup. Oh, if you mount the bars on the middle and rear positions, the noise will be lesser – no silent ride anymore still
Stay tuned as I summarise my three years with #TheRedSparkle in upcoming post.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
