Advice on a bike rack

[AndrewO]

Changing cars next week, new one is a BMW F10 estate without a towbar.

I was thinking of buying the BMW roof bars and 4xThule 591s. Bikes are four adult sized MTBs. Will they all go on ?

[Fluffsri]

I've got 3 on the roof of a Mazda 6, not sure I could squeeze another one on to be honest. Is an F10 roof a foot wider than a Mazda 6?

[aberdeeneuan]

Personally, I'd get the Thule aerobars over the BMW ones - I priced the two up and Thule was cheaper, especially if your buying it with racks. That's what I put on my F30 touring, go on easily, quiet on the move and easily transferable to the next car with a different foot pack.

As to how many, not so sure. I know I can get three on mine but not tried four. I did see an F10 at the weekend with the Thules on it, and I think he had 4 on it, but can't be sure.

I'd give roofbox.co.uk a ring - they are really helpful and where I got mine Thule bars and a roof box. I wanted a box I could get a couple of bikes alongside and they couldn't have been more helpful.

[AndrewO]

Thanks, will give them a shout tomorrow.

Looking at a few pictures it looks like the bmw ones are a shorter bar compared to other makes.

[tridave]

fordonline parts are doing a good deal on the 591

[AndrewO]

Cheers tridave, just bought 4.

[Smartboy]

I'm sure that 4 can fit on the roof if you alternate the bikes, one facing forward, next one facing backward etc.

Might be tricky reaching to put the two middle ones on the rack though...especially if they are heavy downhill rigs?, unless you are tall, or clamber to stand on the sill when the door is open etc

[billzeebub]

Definitely the Thule, I have had 3 of them on top of my Corrado so I would have thought you could squeeze 4 on your large BMW?!

[markh1973]

I put 4 alternated on the roof of my XC90, i think you should be able to do it if you alternate them front to back.

Set of steps and it isn't too tricky so on a lower car should be achievable.

[the_lone_wolf]

Three went very easily on the roof of my V70 - OK it's a massive car but the actual roof isn't as wide as the body would have you think - could have got another on easily if I'd have enough racks

Another vote for the Thule bars, I have the 969 WingBars and they're excellent

[croyde]

I carry 2 bikes on the roof of my e36BMW saloon and it looks like I could easily fit 2 more. Get a set of those plastic steps that fold flat to help out. Cost £7.99 from TK Maxx.

[Jumpy Guy]

As a slight tangent - I'm debating roof bars or a tow bar mount
Anyone offer any pros/cons?

[Jimbo.]

Jumpy Guy said:

As a slight tangent - I'm debating roof bars or a tow bar mount
Anyone offer any pros/cons?

Roof: hammers MPG, potential height restriction "issues", no need for number/light board, access to boot, no problems reversing, no need for towbar hardware
Towbar: needs tow bar, needs nuberplate and light board, potential reversing problems, hinders access to boot, no height issues, MPG doesn't suffer as much.

[gary71]

I've had four across the roof of a TT, so I'm sure a big bimmer will be fine

[AndrewO]

Jumpy Guy said:

As a slight tangent - I'm debating roof bars or a tow bar mount
Anyone offer any pros/cons?

If its not a factory towbar I would go with the roof. Parking sensors can play up with towbars/plates for bike racks, I had this with the witter rack.

The other thing I didn't like when the merc towbar was put on was the lack of support to the rear bumper. They took out a long aluminium structure that I guess was part of the crash protection and bumper support and replaced with a lump of iron that sat 4" away from the bumper.

If its something like a Disco they are prepped already for towbars.

[Jumpy Guy]

Thanks
It's a Grand Cherokee, not sure how disruptive tow bar figment would be

[richardxjr]

Towbar for sure. Preferably the sit-on type ones with built in lights & no. plate, rather than the hanging type. They tilt for tailgate access, and still leave the roof free for a roofbox.

[Kell]

If you were going for the roof option then aerobars are effectively wider than standard ones because of the way they attach.

As they're secured underneath, the entire width of the bar is fair game to attach racks to. Go for a standard clamp arrangement and you're shortening your available width.

[Fat Albert]

We use the Thule bars/carriers and 4 fitted on my Wife's old '05 535D Touring easily, so should be no problem on the F10 which is a little wider

[Kell]

They look like Aero bars though - which kind of proves my point above.