Anyone own an BMW 5 series E39 salooning beforehand woul???

[digger_R]

If so will a mountain bike fit in the boot? Assuming the front wheel is taken off.

I'm assuming it will go in with the rear seats flipped down regardless of whether the front wheel is off or not.


I need to get a car asap and don't have a bike to try out - in fact I won't even be looking at the car myself so I need to know asap

Thanks.

Edited by digger_R on Friday 18th April 15:45

[digger_R]

the title is what happens when you type without looking at the screen

[nervous]

yes.

[tjdixon911]

I had an old E30 3 Series and used to get 2 bikes in the back of that, From memory we only used to take the front wheels off! Did have to tie the boot down though.

I would think this car would have a bigger boot!

[JPJ]

A frame and fork will fit in an E39 boot, and the wheel will go on top, assuming it's not a massive frame size. If you've got the fold through seat option then you'll do it easily.

[mat205125]

depends on the bike to be honest. Long travel suspension bikes take up a lot of space when you try and get them into a car

[Mark V8]

Most have no drop down seat. Buy a Touring.

[mat205125]

Get onto the web and sort yourself out with some Thule roof bars and carriers.

Best thing I ever bought. Keeps the mud out of the interior, and meant my choice of car wasn't limited to barges that weren't as economical or fun as a hatch.

E39 is a great car though, and the saloon will be a great daily driver.

[digger_R]

Certainly don't want a touring, I could live with a rear mounted rack if need be.

The E39 choice is a compromise as the last poster mentioned, I need something reasonably comfy at autobahn speeds as my DC2 Integra was simply too raw to be a cruiser.

I wouldn't mind a hatch but a 528 with a rear mounted rack seems like a happy middle ground.

Edited by digger_R on Sunday 20th April 10:25

[mat205125]

Not a fan of rear racks to be honest. They move about, scratch your car and bike, don't fit many full sus designs, cover lights and numberplates, act like a wind brake on the back of the car, and aren't as secure as a roof system.

If a rear rack is the way you want to go, at least get one that fits on a tow bar, and not just strapped to the bootlid itself.

[digger_R]

mat205125 said:

Not a fan of rear racks to be honest. They move about, scratch your car and bike, don't fit many full sus designs, cover lights and numberplates, act like a wind brake on the back of the car, and aren't as secure as a roof system.

If a rear rack is the way you want to go, at least get one that fits on a tow bar, and not just strapped to the bootlid itself.

Can you recommend a specific rear mounted rack? I'm looking at a an E39 this afternoon that has a tow bar on the back of it. I assumed that the rear mounted rack would be less of a wind break than a roof mounted system. Also my gf's bike is a little heavy so that was the other issue of loading bikes on and off the roof of the car.

My bike isn't the most special or expensive, so I'm not too bothered about any damage to the bikes more so the car

[mat205125]

Not from experience, but definitely think you get what you pay for. My Thule roof kit is excellent and stable, and expect their boot mount stuff is too.

A rear mount rack that has a tow mount and a rail for the bike to sit on rather than frame supported. If the car you're looking at has a toe bar then electric for plates and lights should be fine if the bikes block their "vision" - easy fine for plod