Just recently bought this vehicle and it’s currently on its way to me. In the meantime I was attempting to purchase thule roof rack kit. The car has one piece black mounding strips running down both sides of the roof. The thule website recommends a door clamp method kit. I also came across other forums stating that underneath the roof mounding there are 6mm fixed point mounting holes. Of course that would lead me down a different kit by thule.
my question is that if I do go with the fixed mount option I would need to drill into the plastic mounding to access the bolt holes. Would doing so compromise potential water leaking into the interior ? I guess if I remove the roof racks I’ll be left with holes in the moulding as well.. thanks for your inputs

 

The strips pull out. I have a 2016 CX-5 and it has the same things. You get long rails to mount and then pieces of the strip, or a new strip kit fill in the gap. Then you get cross bars to add to the rails to finish it off. I like the looks of the long aluminum rails better than the bulky clamp on types.

 

Have a look. ( prorack supplies Mazda the genuine racks )

https://www.prorack.com.au/cars/mazd...doorsuv-151696

 

Once you pop off the mounding can it be reused (can the clips holding the mounding in place break) ? I don’t understand why they don’t have hatch covers over the fixed point mount holes

 

If you're careful you can pop the trim up, mark the position of the mounting holes, drill them and clip it back in place.

 

Thanks Grim. Sounds like a straight forward job. Was thinking the thule 3069 fit kit +753

 

I have no experience with Thule roof racks.