senga Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 I'd like to carry bicycles on my A3. I'm considering the tailgate mounted rack or the roof bar mounted system. I appreciate the merits of both systems but am currently swayed towards the roof option. However, I saw a Golf with roof bars at a dealer's and was not impressed with the clamping arrangement (potential paintwork damage and deformed window seals). I don't currently have the roof bars and haven't seen any on an A3. I also understand that the roof bar system changed around 03MY (deletion of locating pin into alignment hole?). Does anyone have experience of the roof bars on the current A3 - any issues with fixing to the car or potential damage? If anyone has a picture of the roof bar foot/clamp installed I'd be grateful of a copy. Also, does anyone have the bicycle carriers? If so, how secure is the clamping mechanism? By all accounts it should be fine, but the cycle is held round the tyres and a single frame clamp, all very low down on the cycle, so I'm curious how stable this is. Thanks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senga Posted February 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Ok, so maybe no-one else out there with an A3 3dr has a bike! I'm now pretty sure that the Audi roof mount cycle carriers are re-branded Mont Blanc Barracuda carriers, and think I'll go for these. I can't believe there isn't someone out there with an A3 with a roof rack!! Someone must have one - any comments on any manufacturer's products - Audi, Mont Blanc (formerly Paddy Hopkirk) or Thule, as fitted to an A3 3dr 06MY? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnamlla Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 hi i have the thule system on my A3 3 door and can say its great, the cycle carries hold the bike firm in place and you don't really notice they are there also they fit into two holes in side the front doors and hold the hole rack solid. would recomened them to anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senga Posted February 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 You have described the problem I suspected. It seems there was a body side change to the A3 roof rack mounting feature around model year 06. My car (June 06) doesn't have the two holes in the front door shut area! Yet Thule and others quote 03 onwards compatibility. Assuming your car is newer than 03, your roof rack wouldn't actually fit my car, even though Thule say it should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekker Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 I was also looking to carry bikes on the roof of my A3 3 door and posted a while back regarding the fitment of Thule roof bars. previous post The fitting kit required for the Thule system on an 2006+ A3 3 door is #1417 but I was told by Halfords that this would not be available until this summer, maybe!? I ended up getting the Audi bars which have one problem. Once secured to the roof there are plastic covers which swing down and clip into place over the clamping mechanism. These don't work as they flip back open again in the wind as you're driving. I have had to resort to using the bars with the covers removed. Looks like crap but makes less noise. I can't recommend the Audi rack. It's getting me by at the moment but I'll probably switch to Thule when available. What kind of A3 do you have? I have an S-line so the rear spoiler prevents the use of a rear mounted rack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_R32 Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I ended up getting the Audi bars which have one problem. Once secured to the roof there are plastic covers which swing down and clip into place over the clamping mechanism. These don't work as they flip back open again in the wind as you're driving. I have had to resort to using the bars with the covers removed. Looks like crap but makes less noise. I can't recommend the Audi rack. It's getting me by at the moment but I'll probably switch to Thule when available. What kind of A3 do you have? I have an S-line so the rear spoiler prevents the use of a rear mounted rack. [/ QUOTE ] The 3 door Roof Bars have been withdrawn for this very reason. Take them back to your Dealer if you can and see if you can get them refunded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekker Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an alternative at the moment so returning the bars to my dealer isn't really an option. I don't think I'd have much luck getting money back anyway as I've been using the bars for the best part of a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senga Posted April 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 Hi, just to conclude my roof bar /cycle carrier findings for the forum: I have now sourced a satisfactory system for my A3 3 door 06 MY. After acquiring a genuine Audi A3 roof bar set I was quite disappointed with the product for the reasons stated by previously by Rekker (above). So I returned these and found that Atera now make a specific product for the A3 3dr (06 MY onwards) - part number AR 5085. I sourced these from the Roofbox company (www.roofbox.co.uk) and I am very pleased with the quality and fit of the product. Furthermore, the aluminium channels do accept the genuine Audi /Mont Blanc Barracuda bike carriers. The result is a robust system which I have been using now for the past couple of weeks and can recommend this as an effective combination for transporting bicycles on the roof of an A3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekker Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Have just ordered a set for myself. Thanks for the update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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