Developed by BMW, a multinational vehicle manufacturer, the “BMW PR 11737514 Roof Rail / Roof Rail Connections” standard forms the basis for the functional and reliability verification of roof systems. The test specification is an integral part of the requirements specification. This specification applies under the following conditions:
To prove suitability for series production, all tests outlined in this test specification must be passed. Depending on the relevant concept, additional tests not described here may be required based on findings from the development process or feedback from the field. These will be defined and agreed upon by the responsible BMW testing department or supplier and will become part of this test specification or requirements for the affected project.
The tests carried out as part of the initial sample review are agreed upon with the responsible BMW Quality departments. All roof variants must be subjected to testing. If an alternative material is used in the force path, this must be clearly stated.
This test specification is subject to the BMW Group's safety directive.
The target characteristics/target values for the project are described in the requirements specification; generally applicable characteristics/values are components of this test specification. The target values in the test specification are substitute values and are only valid if no other values are specified in the requirements specification. The information in the requirements specification takes precedence over the information in the test specification.
Individual target characteristics/target values may not be clearly defined at the time of contract signing/specification preparation. These values are determined through testing during development and become valid at that time. Until then, experimental/comparative values obtained from ongoing projects are valid. In the case of subjective assessments of target characteristics/requirements, the assessment is carried out by the responsible BMW expert.
In BMW terminology, roof rails are longitudinal bars that are factory-fitted or retrofitted to the sides of the roof of many SUV and station wagon models. They serve as a base for attaching crossbars (roof rack carriers) that support loads such as roof luggage boxes, bike carriers, ski carriers, or kayaks.
Roof rail mounting refers to the mounting points, brackets, clips, supports, or hardware that secure the rails to the roof of a vehicle. These include concealed brackets, bolts, clips, and gaskets that provide a watertight and secure fit without damaging the roof.
BMW vehicles feature roof rails (roof rack side rails) and crossbars (transverse bars connecting them or mounted directly to the roof) designed to high engineering standards for safety, aerodynamics, and compatibility. These systems vary by model and generation, but BMW generally adheres to rigorous internal specifications, often compliant with European automotive standards, for load carrying capacity, collision safety, and accessory integration.
BMW uses three main roof configurations for mounting roof racks and accessories:
The basic standards for ceiling rails and rail connections are as follows:
The test methods described under the BMW PR 11737514 standard are as follows:
For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the BMW PR 11737514 standard.
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