Can any one of you guys who live in the Bay Area recommend a decent place to get a base carrier and BSM's installed? I'd try to do it myself but I'm a little paranoid and really don't have the time. I called a dealer for fun and their price to install a base carrier was $180. I've already bought my things thru AcuraWorld. I personally don't know of any accessory shops that are close to me. I live in Daly City but I drive pretty much everywhere. Thanks in advance.
Any recommended San Fran. accessory shops?
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Yuman: Welcome to the ORG! We love to have more Bay Area MDXs!!! 
Installing the BSMs is a slam dunk. You could do it yourself in 20 minutes, start to finish. Maybe 10. You don't need any tools, just some masking tape to hold the templates in place. Use the Search feature here on the site for 'body side moldings' and you'll find lots of discussions and pictures of the installation process.
As to the 'base carrier' you mention, I assume that you mean that you have a 'base' MDX (aka Premium) and you want to install the two-bar roof rack. That install is a bit more complicated, but still in the easy category. Heck, I'll do it for you for free, just for the fun of it! (Of course, I'd be happy to accept a bottle or two of wine, not that my cellar could hold much more...)
So if the 'pretty much everywhere' in the Bay Area that you say you're willing to travel includes crossing the Golden Gate and cruising up to lush, cosmopolitan Petaluma, come on up!
--Marne
Installing the BSMs is a slam dunk. You could do it yourself in 20 minutes, start to finish. Maybe 10. You don't need any tools, just some masking tape to hold the templates in place. Use the Search feature here on the site for 'body side moldings' and you'll find lots of discussions and pictures of the installation process.
As to the 'base carrier' you mention, I assume that you mean that you have a 'base' MDX (aka Premium) and you want to install the two-bar roof rack. That install is a bit more complicated, but still in the easy category. Heck, I'll do it for you for free, just for the fun of it! (Of course, I'd be happy to accept a bottle or two of wine, not that my cellar could hold much more...)
So if the 'pretty much everywhere' in the Bay Area that you say you're willing to travel includes crossing the Golden Gate and cruising up to lush, cosmopolitan Petaluma
, come on up!--Marne
Base Carrier Install
<B>Hi Marne</B>
Speaking of installing the Carrier kit on the base model.
I have ordered mine from Tim. While I wait for it I tried to look for Installation instructions on this site. I was surprised to find nothing at all.
So that leads me to believe either it's really simple
OR
It's so tough no one does it themselves.
My concern was, if it is simple indeed, why does it take the dealership's trained mechanics 2 hrs. to install it.
But I ramble... What I wanted to ask you is ...
Since I live too far to offer you some good wine in return for installing my carrier kit, can you please share some thoughts on that installation with me?
-vmishra
<B>Hi Marne</B>
Speaking of installing the Carrier kit on the base model.
I have ordered mine from Tim. While I wait for it I tried to look for Installation instructions on this site. I was surprised to find nothing at all.
So that leads me to believe either it's really simple
OR
It's so tough no one does it themselves.
My concern was, if it is simple indeed, why does it take the dealership's trained mechanics 2 hrs. to install it.
But I ramble... What I wanted to ask you is ...
Since I live too far to offer you some good wine in return for installing my carrier kit, can you please share some thoughts on that installation with me?
-vmishra
Instructions
You're correct. There are no accessory installation instructions on this site. That's because all of them are on Tim's site.
At the bottom of every Hondacuraworld page is a link to Installation Instructions. Click that, pick MDX as your car (Tim sells stuff for all Honda and Acura models), then choose the particular accessory you want instructions for.
As a shortcut, here's a link to the Roof Rack installation instructions on Hondacuraworld. That PDF file should tell you everything you need about installing the base carrier.
--Marne
You're correct. There are no accessory installation instructions on this site. That's because all of them are on Tim's site.
At the bottom of every Hondacuraworld page is a link to Installation Instructions. Click that, pick MDX as your car (Tim sells stuff for all Honda and Acura models), then choose the particular accessory you want instructions for.
As a shortcut, here's a link to the Roof Rack installation instructions on Hondacuraworld. That PDF file should tell you everything you need about installing the base carrier.
--Marne
Re: Base Carrier Install
Hey vmishra, I took a look at those installation instructions that marne just posted a link to above and they look very similar to the installation of the roof rack on my old 1st gen CR-V. In fact, it looks much simpler to do than on the CR-V cuz you only have to make 4 cuts per side, whereas the 'V required 6 cuts per side. I suspect that the hardest part would be cutting the trim pieces. On the CR-V (and I'm betting it's the same on the 'X), the trim pieces have some sort of metal embedded in the plastic that you won't be able to see until you remove the trim. With my old hack saw blade, it took me quite a while to make all twelve cuts through that metal. I'm not sure about the 'X, but on the 'V the measurements could be off a little cuz the gaps in the trim would be covered with a bit of overlap by the rack once it's installed, so you don't have to worry if you mess up the measurements by a few mm. The only other hard thing was finding a torx driver. I had to make a special trip to the hardware store to locate one cuz it's not someting you'll find in your typical tool set. Other than that just follow the insructions and you shouldn't have any trouble.vmishra said:
Most of the active posters on this forum choose to have touring package, so there were very few discussion on the installation of roof rack. I did look at the installation instruction from Tim's website and determined that it is not difficult to do it myslef. That why I choose to wait for either base/navi (no roof rack) or navi/touring. I believe that will let me wait on more cars and reduce my wait time (It does help).
So, take a look at the installation instructions. It is much easier than the installation of runing board (lot of screws).
So, take a look at the installation instructions. It is much easier than the installation of runing board (lot of screws).
Watch Out 2002 Owners!!!!!!
Marne and all else.
Thanks to all your encouragements. I installed the roof rack with the help of the installation instructions. No problems. Well... that's not entirely true. I did have one problem.
I want to make sure that no one else has to go through it as well.
Do you guys remember that Acura moved back the front roof rack piece (by 100mm) for the 2002 model? Well, I didn't. Not till I had already cut the left side molding !!!!!!
<B>So the installation instructions on Tim's website are for 2001, not for 2002. </B>
But not to worry, I called Tim and he is already taking care of it.
He is awesome.
He will also fix the website, but in the meantime you have been warned.
BTW, the X looks great now with the roof rack, rear flaps, and the BSM.
Marne and all else.
Thanks to all your encouragements. I installed the roof rack with the help of the installation instructions. No problems. Well... that's not entirely true. I did have one problem.
I want to make sure that no one else has to go through it as well.
Do you guys remember that Acura moved back the front roof rack piece (by 100mm) for the 2002 model? Well, I didn't. Not till I had already cut the left side molding !!!!!!
<B>So the installation instructions on Tim's website are for 2001, not for 2002. </B>
But not to worry, I called Tim and he is already taking care of it.
He is awesome.
He will also fix the website, but in the meantime you have been warned.
BTW, the X looks great now with the roof rack, rear flaps, and the BSM.
Joined
·
4,766 Posts
I have deleted the instructions for the base carrier for hte time being to avoid future hassles for the time being. Please call me if you need them.
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