[mowflow]

Not the most technical topic but does anyone here use a roof mounted bike rack on the BMW roof bars? If so what one do you use? I've got the roof bars and plan on buying a bike rack off ebay but i'm not sure if Thule ones will fit as the BMW bars seem to be a different shape from Thule aero bars.

[M3-FAST]

Not sure how much the Thule ones are but you can get OEM BMW ones on ebay for £89 delivered.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-BMW-Bi...item1c1299abb2

[doughboy]

Just been looking myself, the Thule Pro ride 591 is the best roof mount bike rack I've seen.

It will fit onto all roof bars and gets great reviews and is only £69.

I'll be buying 2 of these bike racks and a long narrow roof box which will all fit side by side on a 3 series roof.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...O2bzgo9bQdIV6t

[Jon D]

Have a word with these people: http://www.roofracks.co.uk/main/591.html

Very helpful and reasonably priced; 1 rack £75, 2 or more £70 each. I collected mine from the shop, but they'll post them for £5 per order.

[mowflow]

Cheers for the help guys. I figured the Thule 591 would work with the BMW rack but just wanted to see if anyone else was using it. I was watching one of the 591 racks on ebay at the weekend and it went for £5 (seller must have been gutted) so i'll probably just keep a look out for a bargain even though £75 is still very reasonable.

The BMW rack in that link looks almost identical to the Thule one (probably made in the same factory). I never bothered looking at the BMW one before because the one in the brochure that came with the car involved removing the front wheel and attaching that separately. Even with quick release that's more than I can be bothered with.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Just been looking myself, the Thule Pro ride 591 is the best roof mount bike rack I've seen.

It will fit onto all roof bars and gets great reviews and is only £69.

I'll be buying 2 of these bike racks and a long narrow roof box which will all fit side by side on a 3 series roof.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...O2bzgo9bQdIV6t

Doughboy,

You got your reply in while I was writing mine. I haven't fitted my racks yet; they appear to be well made and quite sturdy. Have you seen them in use?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Jon D

Doughboy,

You got your reply in while I was writing mine. I haven't fitted my racks yet; they appear to be well made and quite sturdy. Have you seen them in use?

Nope, only seen the various pics and videos, but they look good enough for me.

I guess I'll have to put the bike racks on the opposite way round to each other to avoid a handlebar clash and keep the bikes closer together to fit the roof box on as well.

[pjs]

I got the Thule Bike Racks, they are really good imho

[_Si_]

I have a brand new Thule bike rack sitting in my garage still in the box.
Ill check what model it is tonight and offer it for sale if its of use to anyone, PM me?

[PhilL]

I use the Thule Outride racks which attach through the forks.

http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/bike/t...ke-carrier.htm

I then put the wheels in a wheel bag in the boot. Lower CoG and drag and easy to use.

Also it doesn't rely on clamping round your frame which can be more difficult if you've got a large diameter or extensive hydroforming on your downtube.

You shouldn't have any probs attaching any of the Thule racks to bars from other brands, I've got these and they stay on the car most of the time, the rail bars sit between the existing roof bars on the E91 and I think look kind of cool in a 'aren't I the active lifestyle BMW marketing cliche' way

http://www.whispbar.eu/cars/bmw/3ser...taterails-2206

[doughboy]

I looked at fork mounts, technically better I think for the reasons you stated.

But I only really want to use mine when we're going on holiday or camping etc, so the car and roof box is already bursting - no room for wheels!!

Do you have the overhanging extended cross bars or the shorter ones that fit between the fixed rails??

[PhilL]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I looked at fork mounts, technically better I think for the reasons you stated.

But I only really want to use mine when we're going on holiday or camping etc, so the car and roof box is already bursting - no room for wheels!!

Do you have the overhanging extended cross bars or the shorter ones that fit between the fixed rails??

I've got the shorter ones that fit between the fixed rails - I just leave them on most of the time as I tend to take the bikes out on them most weekends. Look better and more aerodynamic but if you want to use them more occasionally and fit a roofbox on as well I'd go for the through bars so you have more room.

If the car's already bursting then you can't go far wrong with the Thule 591 - the other option is the Halfords Advanced racks which get good reviews and fit on the Thule bars at almost half the price;

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165515

[mowflow]

When you zoom in on the image of those Halfords ones they are branded as Thule.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by mowflow

When you zoom in on the image of those Halfords ones they are branded as Thule.

Sure, halfords aren't going to make their own racks. They look like an older Thule design with the relatively small bottom tube clamp.

As said they would struggle with modern large diameter tubes or (like mine) almost rectangular hydroformed tubes.

[matt@stratford]

If you buy a Thule rack don't you need the T bar accessory pack so you don't have to clamp around the roof bar?

I am also looking a cycle rack and like the look of the ones where you bolt the forks through - my only concern is way sideward forces are put on the suspension forks!

I have seen the thule 591 on ebay for £58 + £6 postage

Matt

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Nope, only seen the various pics and videos, but they look good enough for me.

I guess I'll have to put the bike racks on the opposite way round to each other to avoid a handlebar clash and keep the bikes closer together to fit the roof box on as well.

Just fitted my Thule Aerobar + dual 591 system and noted the following:
1. The whole set-up is very well made, fits nicely and appears quite sturdy.
2. When re-handing the LH rack to face forwards with the lock wheel outboard, it is automatically positioned about 2" ahead of the RH unit, thus avoiding handlebar clash.
3. On the E92 it would appear that, with the bike racks positioned outboard, there would be enough space for one of the narrower 'Thule Pacific' roof boxes in the middle, thereby maintaining a central C of G. Granted, this would entail moderately awkward roof box access, but I consider lateral balance more important.
4. Notwithstanding the 2" offset; in the unlikely event of brake levers fouling you could very easily slacken the stem bolts and rotate the handlebars as required.
5. Max E 92 roof load is 75kg, with the combined weight of 2 bikes, the racks, bars and empty box, there's about 25kg left for bulky/lightweight stuff in the box. However, with all that on-top I think you'd have to enter 'sensible mode' through corners, regardless of stated max roof loadings.

[doughboy]

When I've got that lot on the roof I'll also have missus and child on board so any driving 'antics' will be off the menu anyway!

[jonsteele]

Originally Posted by matt@stratford

If you buy a Thule rack don't you need the T bar accessory pack so you don't have to clamp around the roof bar?

I am also looking a cycle rack and like the look of the ones where you bolt the forks through - my only concern is way sideward forces are put on the suspension forks!

I have seen the thule 591 on ebay for £58 + £6 postage

Matt

Mine came with the clamps and the T bars - you'll need the T bars for the BMW roof bars.

[PhilL]

Originally Posted by matt@stratford

I am also looking a cycle rack and like the look of the ones where you bolt the forks through - my only concern is way sideward forces are put on the suspension forks!

If you're worried about that you're not riding hard enough

[mowflow]

I noticed VW cycle racks for £35 on ebay. Says they fit with T bars so I was thinking they might well fit the BMW bars as well as I dare say they are all made by the same people. Anyone know for sure?

[chasealex]

I'd never, ever use a fork mounted rack. For starters, high end fork makers warn against them as the forces experienced on the dropouts can exceed those you can apply in normal use leading to failures.

Secondly, you're only one drop away from dropouts into your roof skin.

Thirdly, there is a general move away from 9mm QR forks and towards QR15mm and 20mm bolt thru, meaning that a 9mm QR fork mount rack is either going to have a limited lifespan, or start dictating what sort of fork you buy. And you have to put a dirty front wheel in your car.

[Carrera RSR]

Been happy with my BMW bars and fork and frame mounted racks. Fork rack for my Trek Madone. Frame mount for the run around and mtn bikes. Can fit four racks on the BMW bars or one rack with a BMW roof box. However with the Thule bars I reckon I could fit two racks and the box.