BIke rack for 3 series touring?

[hedders]

My sister is trying to decide which new company car to get and it has come down to whether she can attatch a bike rack to the back or not.

There is a rear mounted bikerack for the C class merc estate, andyone know if there is something similar for The BMW?

Cheers!

[Trooper2]

If she gets a trailer hitch receiver installed on it there are at least 10 companies world wide that make bike racks that slide into the receivers. Thule and Yakima being the most notable.

I checked BMW U.K.'s website and they offer a swing down bike rack for the roof that gets rid of the loading height issue.


[url]www.yakima.com/home.html[/url]


[url]www.thuleracks.com/thule/default.asp[/url]

[hedders]

Wierd, I can not find any mention of a bike rack on the BMW page!

The links you have provided do not sell their products in Europe, can you actually point me in the right direction on the BMW site?

[hedders]

actually, never mind

She has found the roof rack ones at BMW, but she wants the toher type...

[agent006]

www.thule.com/templates/THULE_ProductGroupPage.asp?id=61807

Thule sell their stuff through halfords.

[Trooper2]

hedders said:

Wierd, I can not find any mention of a bike rack on the BMW page! The links you have provided do not sell their products in Europe, can you actually point me in the right direction on the BMW site?

Sorry I didn't provide a link to the BMW accessories page, as I figured you had already looked at it.


Not sure about the U.K. but car dealers in the U.S. usually stock either Yakima or Thule. I suspect you will find them allot less expensive at Halfords, Etc.


Other retailers that would carry Yakima and Thule products would be: Bike and ski shops, Large sporting good retailers and dealerships that sell caravans (camping trailers). You will get the best advice if you go to a bike shop, but the best prices would be on the INTERNET.

Be aware that the racks that plug into a trailer hitch receiver come in either 2" or 1 1/4" sizes so you will have to match the racks bottom end to the size of receiver that gets installed.

She will have the option of carrying 2 to 5 bikes if she goes with the stronger 2" receiver.

All of the tech information I have provided comes from my 15+ years of selling Yakima and Thule in the U.S. so please adapt sizes and so on for your needs in the U.K.

Tell your sis to enjoy her new car!

[rlk500]

Ok. Been down this road. I have an e46 tourer. I had a tow bar fitted and went to Pendle for a bike rack. It clamps to the ball and you have two posts that drop into the bracket. It comes with straps and has a nice welded loop for a chain and lock. The rack will take 4 bikes securely.

www.pendle-bike.co.uk/

HTH

PS no affiliation with Pendle etc etc.

[hedders]

Thats great, have forwarded her your links and tips , thanks all