are they universal or what? i keep seeing them pop up and not saying what car they are for or from and the pics make them look like they adjust.. do they? or are they all specific per vehicle?

 

you need thule aero 400xt foot pack, 50 inch load bars, 44 inch fairing, and fit kit #249. there are white arrows behind the door under the weather stripping indicating where they go.

 

I think you might be talking about the cross bars.

Some cars (like some SUV's and Avants) come with pre-existing rails. In which, all you need are the cross bars that will attach to the stock rails.

 

Cross bars/load bars, towers, and attachments are universal, unless stated that its for a wagon, as they have pre existing mounting points(rails) Most used racks you'll find are for naked roofs and you just need to get different clips which are cheap. The best way to go is to buy a used rack (I bought a complete used yakima rack w/ ski, and bike acc. for $35) and just buy the Thule #249 fit kit, or if you end up with a yakima rack you just get 2 sets of Q72 clips. Dont try using the rack with the wrong clips or you'll likely mess up your door frame/jamb. Or worse end up like my friend who just threw his rack from his A6 on his 2010 impreza and ended up with the whole rack, skis and all, on the side of the expressway with huge dents in his new car.

 

I didn't know that! I just googled for pictures of B5's with roof racks and guessed when i put mine on lol. I wonder how close i got them.......?

Good info man!!

 

^ LOL!

You're too funny. You seriously never noticed those arrows when you open the doors?

 

lol well nobody told me to look there!

 

^ Didn't anyone ever tell you to look first before you put it in! (the rack attachments that is).

 

Just you wait. I'm goin outside to start my car now and i'm gonna check for these so-called "arrows" and see how close my sixth sense for Audi roof bar placement is

EDIT: Welp it seems my 6th sense is a touch off. Both roof bars are about an inch forward from the arrows. Not movin them though, you can't make me

 

oh he'll move them sometime, probably already has. He'll never tell us though