Any Chance Q5 Crossbars fit A4 Avant ?

**rcprato** · 04-30-2018 05:44 PM

Seems to be a lot of Crossbars for sale from Q5’s and I noticed the Q5 has same style roof rails as my Avant so the question is has anyone ever tried them on a B8 Avant ?
Local Craigslist has a listing for brand new in the box Q5 Crossbars for $50, I guess they came with vehicle and never used and traded car without them

**A4B8 2.0tfsi** · 04-30-2018 11:47 PM

Yes they do.

**BeerBrent** · 05-01-2018 07:34 AM

Good to know. Anyone else used them on their avant to further confirm? Are there certain years of Q5's that will only fit? I may search for some myself on Craigslist.

**pierreb** · 05-01-2018 07:51 AM

I don’t remember them fitting, actually. I believe the q5 ones have an extra protrusion that will damage an avant’s rails. I believe the extra protrusion is to disable the q5 stability control when the rack is in use.

This was on B8s. I traded my q5 over a year ago and I’m not 100% Sure.

**BeerBrent** · 05-01-2018 08:39 AM

Some info

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...A4-Avant-Sorta

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...an-A4-B8-Avant

**rcprato** · 05-01-2018 10:09 AM

For $40 I am going to give it a shot, very good info above and will make the process of figuring it all out a lot easier.
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Audi Q5 Crossbars_2 by Robert Prato, on Flickr[/IMG]
Three feet are like right one, left one will need modification
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Audi Q5 Crossbars_1 by Robert Prato, on Flickr[/IMG]
Remove bolts and feet come off cross bar
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Audi Q5 Crossbars_3 by Robert Prato, on Flickr[/IMG]

Fortunately for me my brother has a machine shop in his garage that will make doing modifications easily done, I may have to cut grass around the garage and house to get his help on a Saturday afternoon ( he hates mowing and would rather play in the shop).

**BeerBrent** · 05-01-2018 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by rcprato

For $40 I am going to give it a shot, very good info above and will make the process of figuring it all out a lot easier.

Please take pics and let us know how it goes.

**A4B8 2.0tfsi** · 05-01-2018 10:38 AM

Crazy. I've bought a complete set for my car, and he said that they were from a Q5. They fit my car, but I guess they were rectified already. My bad. Had to check it out on Thules site, and it is the same bars and mounts 753, but kit 4002 for Q5 and kit 4007 for A4.

**rcprato** · 05-01-2018 11:08 AM

The info share in this thread is great, I think if you can change plugs on your 2.0T you can make the Q5 bars work and there are way more Q5 crossbars for sale than B8 A4 crossbars and modifying to fit should be worth the savings.

Ones I got today were still in original box from Audi, asking $50 and I offered her $40 and she didn't even hesitate to take the $40 !

**BeerBrent** · 05-08-2018 08:45 AM

Any update? Did you mod them and install them on your Avant?

**rcprato** · 05-08-2018 12:49 PM

I have not completed the modifications but have determined it is doable without too much effort.

One foot has 3 dimples, will grind off middle and one of the outside to make it attach to roof rails. Other 3 have correct configuration.

Plan is to mount cross bars to roof rails with passenger side feet attached to crossbars and put the other feet on driver side roof rails but not attached to crossbars.

We can then mark where to cut Q5 cross bars to match passenger side dimensions and where to drill new holes to attach feet to crossbar.

**Novarider** · 05-09-2018 02:57 AM

What year Q5? I see some that say 2009-2012 and others that say 2013-2017. Are they the same?

**rcprato** · 05-09-2018 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Novarider

What year Q5? I see some that say 2009-2012 and others that say 2013-2017. Are they the same?

Not sure, I threw box away without looking at P/N

My guess is a 2013+, person returned vehicle which I would think means a Lease and did not include the Crossbars and they were on Craigslist because she was cleaning out the garage.

**Novarider** · 05-09-2018 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by BeerBrent

I'm getting a set of Q5 bars via Craiglist today and gonna give it a shot.

Please let us know how it works out and if possible the part number.

**BeerBrent** · 05-23-2018 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Novarider

What year Q5? I see some that say 2009-2012 and others that say 2013-2017. Are they the same?

Looking at pictures on Craigslist, they look the same, 2009-2016.

**BeerBrent** · 08-08-2018 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by rcprato

I have not completed the modifications but have determined it is doable without too much effort.

One foot has 3 dimples, will grind off middle and one of the outside to make it attach to roof rails. Other 3 have correct configuration.

Plan is to mount cross bars to roof rails with passenger side feet attached to crossbars and put the other feet on driver side roof rails but not attached to crossbars.

We can then mark where to cut Q5 cross bars to match passenger side dimensions and where to drill new holes to attach feet to crossbar.

Any update?

**rcprato** · 08-08-2018 09:29 AM

Not yet, I see no reason I can not adapt to fit my Avant, problem has been finding time with my brother to shorten bars and retrofit.

FWIW, a few brand new Q5 cross bars have popped on local craigslist for under a $100. Q5's that were leased and owners forgot they had the cross bars I guess ?

The end of bar is cut at an angle so that is first challenge to duplicate angle and then need to drill new holes to get access to allen bolts holding end on.

**BeerBrent** · 10-02-2018 07:24 AM

I got some Q5 crossbars yesterday. I'll post an update on getting them to fit my avant soon.

**rcprato** · 10-02-2018 09:57 AM

I am hoping to get my brother to help me with this project in next couple of weeks, getting the one side of crossbar cut to match other side is probably the most challenging aspect of the retrofit (end cut is at an angle).

**2slow2race** · 10-02-2018 09:11 PM

I converted a set of Q5 crossbars, but left them the same length. When you drill the new holes, the end caps don't "lock" on the bolts. Use the empty existing hole, it has just enough space to clear the tower foot. Secure it with some spare license plate hardware to keep it from falling off. I used a stainless button head screw mounted from the bottom and plastic square "nut"

**BeerBrent** · 10-08-2018 07:01 AM

Went over to my dads (he's got a lot more tools than I do) yesterday and modded the Q5 roof bars to fit on my B8 Avant. It was pretty easy, took about 2 hours. You only need to mod one side of each bar.
I didn't have any issues with the end caps not locking like the person above said. You need to put the bolt that's towards the middle of the car on first, then put the end cap on, then put the other bolt on thru the slot on the end cap bracket.
The bars are different lengths, the rear bar is a little longer than the front, so obviously do different measurements for each. Glad I checked before we cut the end off the rear (angled). We almost assumed they were the same.

We used a C clamp and a nut to push the extra middle dimple out on the front left foot. See below. As others have said above, the other 3 feet dont need any modification to fit.

I didnt know that the other two dimples on the front left foot also dont match up with the holes on the rails, so I wasnt expecting to have to drill a new hole, but it was easy, especially after opening the sunroof so you can get a the drill flat/level. I probably could of pushed in one of the other dimples and only had 1 and not had to drill the new hole, but I wanted to it be as secure as possible and the extra hole isnt that noticeable with the rack off.

I'd suggest having someone help when you put the end you cut back together, reconnect the bar to the foot. One person needs to hold the bracket/plate with the threads (right in pic below) in the foot, while the other person lines up the other bracket/plate that's in the rail and feeds the bolt thru the new holes you drill and screws it in. It'd be real tough with only 1 set of hands. With two people, it's easy.

All done!

**rcprato** · 10-08-2018 01:09 PM

Nice Job !
I saw a set of Q5 cross bars on Craigslist this morning for $10, guy just wanted out of his garage.

**Novarider** · 10-08-2018 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by rcprato

Nice Job !
I saw a set of Q5 cross bars on Craigslist this morning for $10, guy just wanted out of his garage.

Buy them and ship them to me!

**BeerBrent** · 10-08-2018 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by rcprato

Nice Job !
I saw a set of Q5 cross bars on Craigslist this morning for $10, guy just wanted out of his garage.

That's a steal! I paid $80.
You should buy them, mod them, then sell for $150.

**rcprato** · 10-08-2018 05:11 PM

$10 set might be sold, just saw these
https://rochester.craigslist.org/pts...717809499.html

**rcprato** · 10-08-2018 05:13 PM

Found them, about an hour from me
https://syracuse.craigslist.org/pts/...709310078.html

**rcprato** · 11-26-2018 08:19 AM

Finally got around to modifying my Q5 Crossbars to fit the Avant, with help of my brother took about 90 minutes and came out great. His mill made drilling new holes on the one side to move mount inward was a piece of cake. With just the cross bars on and no attachments they are pretty quiet cruising 75mph on the Interstate.
I removed the 2 dimples that didn't fit and used that for LR foot (back bar) and not worrying about only having one dimple to connect to roof rail beacuse it is the rear position and won't have lift concerns as if it was the LF foot.
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