Loren

Since my other money pit is racing road bikes, I may need to put a bike rack on my S4.

Does anybody have any suggestion or experience in which rack system works best. I have a Yakima rack now, but I will buy whatever bike rack that doesn't scratch the car or the bikes.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Jim De Arras

I'm getting the "stock" roof carrier, and have bought the material to place on the roof under the contact areas.

X-Pel sells it by the foot.<ul><li><a href="http://www.xpel.com/lite/bulk.html">X-Pel Bulk Scotchcal sales</a></li></ul>

RR

I strongly recommend adding a receiver hitch and buying/building a bike rack that slides into it. I did this on my T-Bird before and now have one for my S4.

I'll try and remember to take a picture tonight.

This works great! The bike is almost hidden behind the car, it's easy to put on and off, the trunk still opens, nothing every touches the car's paint, and I can even spin the cranks.

One more benefit. I once was read-ended in the T-Bird (at very low speed). Did some damage to the car in back, but the the bike rack nicely protected the T-Bird. :-)

Once upon a time, I used to race bikes too (USCF Cat 3, once had points to cat up to cat2).

RR

Another Drew

Or use patches of static-cling window film. Easy to remove and easy to reapply.<p>Andrew Lee

'00 S4
APR chip
18" Fikse FM/5
MTM exhaust
Alcon calipers/rotors (two more weeks)
Vortrag coilovers (three weeks?)
UUC shortshifter

MarkFank

It clips onto the crank just above the pedal. It is very solid for transporting and never touches any painted parts of the bike. It was made for non-standard full-susp. bike frames such as Trek "Y" frames etc.

I installed the clear bra beginning from the A-pillar to the top edge of the rear window. The rack won't scratch the car now either!

Jim Lamb

I'm using the OEM roof rack w/ bike attachment and it works OK, but is a bit of a pain to put on and take off. I had a hitch-mounted Thule rack on my RX300 that I really liked, but given the limited ground clearance of the S4, I didn't think putting a receiver on it was a practical option.

What size receiver did you put on? What hitch-mounted rack are you using? Does it have ski/snowboard attachments as well as bike mounts? How obvious is the receiver when the rack isn't mounted? Has it affected your ground clearance?

Thanks in advance.<p><a href="mailto:jim@vipmail.com?Subject=AudiWorld Post">Jim</a>, <a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3894">'00 S4</a>
<a href="http://www.meniscusdesign.com/a4/" target=_blank>Conejo Valley Audi Group</a>

MoMan

I had purchased the roof rack from Audi but haven't install it yet. It comes in black aluminum only. But the bike rack comes in brush aluminum. There are uprights and fork mounts are recently available. Check with parts dept or Clairparts.com for cheaper prices.

winder

that works. did that to fit a Barrecrafters ski rack that i have. EZ on&off. NO scratches!

S4TexTony

I have had a Yakima roof rack with door clamp style on and off my Camry (3 weeks to S4-dom!!) for 7 years, and there is nary a scratch, dent or mark on the roof. With the Yakima, Saris or Thule the trick is to scrupulously fit it right, and then cleam the roof before putting the feet down. The rack clamps tight enough you don't get roof movement. The only other scratch potential is then when you drop the bike or parts onto the roof while putting it on.

You can also get a trailer hitch rack but that requires a hitch installation pref. receiiver type and they are not always best for the bike - road dirt churns up on them and another car can misjudge and squash the bike. I had a friend who lost a Trek carbon fiber bike that way (that's waht he gets for owning an auto 4-cyl Isuzu Trooper, IMHO)

Tony

'00 Nogaro [on order]
R1000 Cannondale
Schnauzer named "tom"

leslie

See you made it over here, now be careful, or this will be your only money pit!

Did you order the APR chip? When are you picking the car up?

Best of luck...
leslie