[mottati]

I never have understood the bike rack thing.
With the fold down seats, you can put either your mountain or rode bike in the trunk and only have to remove the front wheel, which most roof racks require anyway. Why do you want your bike up there in plain view for thieves, wind, rain, low overhangs, etc?
In the trunk it's out of sight and out of mind. No wind noise or aerodynamic drag. Plus here in Georgia I can ride my rode bike in the mountains and get in a fun drive at the same time.:hihi: Wouldn't do that with a bike up on the roof!

i don't have fold down seats (nor did i want them), besides, where would my kids sit if the bikes where back there. For me, the only time i'm taking my bike anywhere is when my kids and their bikes are coming too, which is why the rack is handy. I put 2 bikes on the rack, and a small bike in the trunk. I could buy a third attatchment and put all 3 on the roof, there is space with the thule rack.
Also with the thule rack i have, you do not need to remove the wheel. As for exposure, i think my bike is weatherproof, if it gets wet or dirty, i don't really care, in 5 years, i've never washed it! The rack locks, so i think it's pretty secure, and even then, my car is generally moving when the bikes are there, i'm either going to the destination or coming home, then the bikes come off and do their thing. I've never had a low overhang issue, but you're right there, i should measure my height so when i go under a bridge or overpass, i'm sure not to loose anything. Then again, it's not that tall, if a truck can fit, i'm pretty confident i can with the bikes on the roof. WInd noise isn't too bad, if you want the sunroof open, it is for sure, but with everything closed up, it's pretty quiet. In a hyundai i suppose you might need to worry about the drag, but i saw an indicated 120mph on my way to monterey to meet up with my family a couple weeks ago late at night on an empty highway with the bikes on the roof, and i think i had plenty in reserve. I guess it does mess up the center of gravity just a bit though! :1:

 

[lwebb12]

I never have understood the bike rack thing.
With the fold down seats, you can put either your mountain or rode bike in the trunk and only have to remove the front wheel, which most roof racks require anyway. Why do you want your bike up there in plain view for thieves, wind, rain, low overhangs, etc?
In the trunk it's out of sight and out of mind. No wind noise or aerodynamic drag. Plus here in Georgia I can ride my rode bike in the mountains and get in a fun drive at the same time.:hihi: Wouldn't do that with a bike up on the roof!

I have a 13W7 in my trunk. I do not have to take my front wheel off.

When I get to my destination, I take my bike off and ride away. Then I ride back to my car, put it on the rack and drive away worry free.

 

[cohenfive]

i don't have the fold down seats either, and would like the option to take my son with me which means the seats would need to be up in any case. it sounds like the car will drive pretty much the same with bikes up there...you are ony talking about 60-70 pounds on the roof with 2 mtn bikes and the rack. a couple more questions:

1. do you have to take anything off to expose the mounting bolts on the car and is that difficult?
2. do any of you have the fairing which supposedly reduces wind noise?

thanks, if it's only a 10 minute job to take on and off i'm warming to the idea..especially as i have 2 more trips up to the sierra before the snow flies!! for skiing i'll just have to beg my wife to take the subi lgt wagon.... :biggrin:

thanks...

 

[lwebb12]

i don't have the fold down seats either, and would like the option to take my son with me which means the seats would need to be up in any case. it sounds like the car will drive pretty much the same with bikes up there...you are ony talking about 60-70 pounds on the roof with 2 mtn bikes and the rack. a couple more questions:

1. do you have to take anything off to expose the mounting bolts on the car and is that difficult?
2. do any of you have the fairing which supposedly reduces wind noise?

thanks, if it's only a 10 minute job to take on and off i'm warming to the idea..especially as i have 2 more trips up to the sierra before the snow flies!! for skiing i'll just have to beg my wife to take the subi lgt wagon.... :biggrin:

thanks...

There is a flap above each door in the rain channel. You raise those upwards towards the middle of the car. There is one nutplate fastner under each flap and the roof rack kit bolts screw into those holes.

It is easy as pie. I don't have the fairing but then again I am not bothered by wind noise.

 

[mottati]

There is a flap above each door in the rain channel. You raise those upwards towards the middle of the car. There is one nutplate fastner under each flap and the roof rack kit bolts screw into those holes.

It is easy as pie. I don't have the fairing but then again I am not bothered by wind noise.

Those little trap doors in the roof rail area, pop one open and you'll see it.

It's really a nice set up. I originally got my rack for my e46, the e39 uses the same fasteners, you just need to adjust the thules feet out wider and it works like a charm. I do not have the fairing either, if i left the rack on, say for a season, i'd do it, but for the half dozen times a year that i put the rack on for a couple of days, it just didn't seem like an issue. If i were taking a long road trip with the bikes, or a cargo box, i'd consider it, they don't cost much and i'd imagine it doesn't add to the complexity of the install by more than a couple of minutes.
Mike

 

[mottati]

There is a flap above each door in the rain channel. You raise those upwards towards the middle of the car. There is one nutplate fastner under each flap and the roof rack kit bolts screw into those holes.

It is easy as pie. I don't have the fairing but then again I am not bothered by wind noise.

Those little trap doors in the roof rail area, pop one open and you'll see it.

It's really a nice set up. I originally got my rack for my e46, the e39 uses the same fasteners, you just need to adjust the thules feet out wider and it works like a charm. I do not have the fairing either, if i left the rack on, say for a season, i'd do it, but for the half dozen times a year that i put the rack on for a couple of days, it just didn't seem like an issue. If i were taking a long road trip with the bikes, or a cargo box, i'd consider it, they don't cost much and i'd imagine it doesn't add to the complexity of the install by more than a couple of minutes.

You could always borrow mine for a couple of days and try it out, since you're nearby!
Mike

 

[cohenfive]

thanks for all the advice gang...just ordered the thule 753 (bmw specific) rack as well as 2 597 super g bike carriers (wheel on, no frame contact carrier for any kind of bike)....

i'll let you know how i get on with it, can't wait to take the setup to tahoe and the cannel plunge next month!!

 

[cohenfive]

pix of the rack with 2 mtn bikes...

just thought i'd share a pic of the m5 with 2 mtn bikes on top. went for a short ride with my son out in walnut creek late yesterday afternoon--nice day, nice to get out with him...only issue being the 4 foot rattlesnake that was blocking the trail at one point.

the rack is pretty easy to use and the bike carriers i got are very sturdy for mtn bikes...plus i don't have to take off the front wheels and the rack doesn't touch the car anywhere. only issue is wind noise..i'm going to get the fairing thule makes for it to hopefully cut that down.

 

[mottati]

keep us posting regarding the fairing. It'd be nice to have less wind noise when the bikes are on!
Mike

 

[cohenfive]

keep us posting regarding the fairing. It'd be nice to have less wind noise when the bikes are on!
Mike

apologies for not getting back to you guys on the fairing. i found the wind noise without it to be pretty bad, even at reasonably slow speeds around town. i bought the thule fairing and it does help quite a bit, but there is still a decent amount of noise. at least i can drive around with the sunroof open now, without the fairing the noise got pretty bad even at 30mph....so i'd say it's worth the $$ if you use the rack a lot like i do. plus i can put some stickers on it and really feel like i'm driving an suv!!