Roof Box - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

NB · 18th July 2007, 00:49

I've done something that I never thought I would do...

I needed a way to get extra luggage space and decided to buy a "ROOF BOX"

I did lots of looking around for something aerodynamic that looked ok and the best I found was this

I got it from
www.surfbox.de

I've just got back from France, west coast, had a great time, travelled around 2000 miles in just over a couple of weeks and was able to bring back lots of goodies...

including
5 bottles of Cognac
64 Bottles of Wine

14 Bottles of beer

2 booties (bead spreads)
2 lamp shades
1 antique mirror
lots of food,

also
2 weeks holiday stuff
our toddler
me.... SH*T I forgot the wife...

Before I left I also installed a roadpilot Micro (GPS speed camera locations), installed it myself just above the rear view mirror (the unit is very small), looks great, I'll take some pics of that soon, but that saved me a few times on unfamiliar roads, especially in France.

The roof box was great, I kept it on the car all the time, wind noise was ok though it did get louder over 80mph but was still able to drive >90mph without the wife complaining...

I did see an "M5" black/onyx blue?"Ashok" on the M25 on my way back, I though it was going to catch me up, but he pulled off, anyone on here? roadpilot was going potty due to the variable speed limit cameras, so I just set the cruise control to 70mph till I was past them. Are there really speed cameras on the gantries, it was really annoying...

Ashok Arora · 18th July 2007, 01:33

Looks like you could do with a "touring" version mate

When did you get back? I was at the Alpina factory last week so it probably wasn't me on the M25 - common as muck these things are around London

Sounds like a great trip - hope to see you again soon.

BTW, all the GPS detectors go bonkers on the M25 (especially in Surrey) - I think they vary the locations of the active Gatsos and the databases can't be 100% certain. Fitting a radar detector/radar head will allow you to know which ones are 'live'.

JoeClothing · 18th July 2007, 04:36

Love Sepia Metallic! Great color and I do like the roof box. Looks very sporty.

unfoundhorsepower · 18th July 2007, 09:04

In My opinion, it looks like POOP !!!!! Totally ruins the car... I'm with Ashok, get a wagon. Get some class............................sorry.

Ashok Arora · 18th July 2007, 09:06

Subtle as always Greg

unfoundhorsepower · 18th July 2007, 09:07

I said sorry !!!!!!!!!!!!

NB · 18th July 2007, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfoundhorsepower

In My opinion, it looks like POOP !!!!! Totally ruins the car... I'm with Ashok, get a wagon. Get some class............................sorry.

Like my first line says..

I've done something that I never thought I would do...

I think they look terrible, but I think I found the best looking one out there... still spoils the car though, but I can't deny, I managed to bring back half of France. My wife went bonkers buying all kinds of French stuff, linnen, food etc etc. The booze is mine, all mine, wife is expecting

Funny thing, another thing I said I would never do, was buy an estate car,,, Though I do like the look of the M5 wagon, so who knows.

We got back on the 12th July, traffic was not too bad, we went by boat from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth, so we missed Surrey...

M5Wagon · 18th July 2007, 12:43

You KNOW you want a Sepia Touring!!!

unfoundhorsepower · 18th July 2007, 13:51

I would have sent the stuff home Via UPS....

NB · 18th July 2007, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Wagon

You KNOW you want a Sepia Touring!!!

Very tempting indeed...

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfoundhorsepower

I would have sent the stuff home Via UPS....

Did that last year from Corsica, cost as much to post than the contents... The French have special boxes for wine, not cheap but break proof and expensive.

Not only that, you should have seen some of the expressions on peoples faces as I past them, roof box and all, either that or the French generally look really peculiar, some even tried to catch me

I've also convinced myself now that the profile is similar to a cruise missile... makes me feel so much better...

Just a thought, I wonder what the land speed record is for a car with a roof box?

unfoundhorsepower · 18th July 2007, 16:04

I wonder what the company rates the box for....175 mph ???

NB · 18th July 2007, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeClothing

Love Sepia Metallic! Great color and I do like the roof box. Looks very sporty.

Thanks... Sepia is great, though looks its best in sun and we've had no sun this summer, even in France they were complaining that it has just rained.

The company do the roof boxes for surfing and skiing etc and it was the only one I could find that looked good, Thule do an aerodynamic box, but it was quite small, also the box I have is pretty unique, so I thought it was the only suitable box to go with an M5...

There are loads of pics on their website at

http://www.surfbox.de/Bildergalerie.asp

Anyway,

Isn't this just the thing that SANTA needs this Christmas ???

NB · 18th July 2007, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfoundhorsepower

I wonder what the company rates the box for....175 mph ???

It used to say in their website that it was tested to 200kph which I think is around 120+mph can't find it on their website now, but I think it said it was tested in a wind tunnel

I did accidentally exceed that somewhere and the car seemed stable, it was the noise that reminded me I had a missile on the roof.

BMW say not to exceed 85mph...

legal dept...