C5 A6 Avant Roof Rack Fairing w/ Sunroof

[MW3Designs]

I want to get the fairing for my Yakima roof rack, but I'm curious how it will mount relative to the sunroof? The factory rails don't seem long enough to get the fairing in front of the sunroof, and if it is mounted behind the sunroof seems the rack would be too far back? Anyone have a fairing on their Avant that could shed some light on the subject for me, maybe even a pic of how it looks?

[4rings2turbos]

This is what I've got that shows placement, if you're still needing a better illustration I'd be happy to take more pics tomorrow.

My Thule fairing sits JUST in front of the sunroof and the feet are mounted pretty much as far forward as they can be. It works perfectly.

[rollerton]

OMG! What a peace of junk! Is it peace? or piece? Dammit. That's harrible. You parting hat out? BBD swap?

You're not going to win with a rack fairing, there's no real good placement/ design that makes your effort really pay off the way your brain adds it up. But it can look cool, it can help maybe a bit with wind diflection ...diflecting wind.. redirecting current... is there a word for it?
But don't listen to HIM ^ with his off road jeep type animal. Since when did jeep need a fairing? Okay, so 4 Moscow Mules in to a sunday night I'll say just make one.
IF you had a beautiful car, such as, say..a Polar White S6 (see pic below), you might consider some major expenditure of cash to procure a proper roof racking system


I really don't have much to add.
Except you're right. There's no really rack system that makes a fairing sit in the right place and accomplish any wind shear blocking noise cancelling effect. I ended up making one a while back, and trimming a section around the bike rack, and doing this or that. Honestly I don't think it helped at all but it looked pretty good.

[MW3Designs]

This is what I've got that shows placement, if you're still needing a better illustration I'd be happy to take more pics tomorrow.

My Thule fairing sits JUST in front of the sunroof and the feet are mounted pretty much as far forward as they can be. It works perfectly.

What's the width of your fairing, Yakima website lists a 44" for my car.

[PaperToast]

i personally wouldn't worry about it
i had to take the fairing off my thule moab roof basket. reason: with the sunroof open, the headliner would inflate
besides, id rather have the air going through instead of hitting the fairing.
sure it makes some wind noise at 40mph+, but if im going on an extended trip, it comes off

[Renegade5]

Kind of off topic, but can cross bars be mounted behind the sun roof? I'm going to be throwing a Thule set up soon, and it would be ideal if the front bar was behind the sunroof, so that it can remain open w/o the front bar in the sunroof opening. that possible? I've seen a lot of pics of bars on AR's, and some look like this setup is possilbe.

[happy2B5]

Mine are right behind it on c5 ar. No issues. Tips up flush to my whispbars

[MW3Designs]

Here is my C5, probably going to have to move the crossbars forward for the fairing though:

[4rings2turbos]

I really don't have much to add.

I had a Polar White S6 once. Hated it. Worst car I ever owned.

My fairing is 44"

Much quieter with fairing in place and it doesn't interfere with any of the sunroof functions.

[MW3Designs]

Well the fairing idea didn't go as well as planned. My front cross bars do not come far enough forward for the fairing to clear the sunroom, and if I set it up with the fairing behind the sunroof it looks very odd. Not to mention the fairing doesn't fit in between the factory rails. Good info on your site Yakima, saying 44". Could cut it to work, but then I'm stuck with it... Hmmm...

[iandonovan]

I have a yakima rack on my allroad. I've moved it back and fourth so many times. The yakima fairing won't sit in front of the sunroof. So for a while I had my fairing in sitting in the middle of the sunroof, because I never used it. But I recently moved the rack back so now the fairing is just behind the sunroof so I have full use of it. Much quieter. But yeah because of the side rails the yakima fairing will never sit in front of the sunroof. And actually you really don't want it to, because then your cross bars will be at an upward angle. With the crossbars back more behind the sunroof it evens the bars out so they're more level, less wind resistance.

[happy2B5]

If you search you might find an old style one that has longer extension arms. The old ones used to extend out further. Less aero and more rectangular. That said, I have had one that basically blew up and disintegrated going about 80. We have run ours further back behind the sunroof and it was still functional with bike trays on a b5 avant even, so you would have more useable roof space on c5. And ya, you are going to need a narrower one to fit between the rails.

[MW3Designs]

I have a yakima rack on my allroad. I've moved it back and fourth so many times. The yakima fairing won't sit in front of the sunroof. So for a while I had my fairing in sitting in the middle of the sunroof, because I never used it. But I recently moved the rack back so now the fairing is just behind the sunroof so I have full use of it. Much quieter. But yeah because of the side rails the yakima fairing will never sit in front of the sunroof. And actually you really don't want it to, because then your cross bars will be at an upward angle. With the crossbars back more behind the sunroof it evens the bars out so they're more level, less wind resistance.

I went with what Yakima said and used a 44", it doesn't sit inside of the factory rails. Maybe I will try to find a smaller one and sell this 44" before I cut it to shreds. Do you have a pic of yours mounted behind the roof?

[iandonovan]

I went with what Yakima said and used a 44", it doesn't sit inside of the factory rails. Maybe I will try to find a smaller one and sell this 44" before I cut it to shreds. Do you have a pic of yours mounted behind the roof?

You have an allroad? Their recommended size for a fairing is 38" and that's what I got and it fits perfect, so go with that. I do have pictures....Just don't know how to post them on here lol....

[MW3Designs]

You have an allroad? Their recommended size for a fairing is 38" and that's what I got and it fits perfect, so go with that. I do have pictures....Just don't know how to post them on here lol....

The car is a A6 Avant, going to measure between the factory rails and get a fairing that will fit between them. Took another look at cutting it, but I would have to cut thru the Yakima logo. Could always mount it backwards and put my vinyl cutter to use..... Guess I'll see what tomorrow has in store.....

[iandonovan]

The car is a A6 Avant, going to measure between the factory rails and get a fairing that will fit between them. Took another look at cutting it, but I would have to cut thru the Yakima logo. Could always mount it backwards and put my vinyl cutter to use..... Guess I'll see what tomorrow has in store.....

Bad pic (my front bags recently gave out lol)

[iandonovan]

Also, if you just go to yakimas website and put in your car info it will tell you what size. Or go to their website, bottom right of the page you can find car specifications and that will show you everything that will fit your car. super simple.