Carrying pushbikes

[Don Coffey]

On the face of it, the BMW non tow bar looks ideal, however it may be worth finding out how easy it is to fit/remove. Although you can still use the tailgate with it fitted, this I would suggest would be awkward and hardly handy. I have a tow bar and use the Thurle system. Very stable, easy to fit/remove (2 mins max) but very awkward when trying to gain access to the tailgate.

Don

[NewX5]

[quote=""dublindave""]Sorry about the quality of the picture, but you get the idea.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2edpR1FzWRk/TTl6y ... C03491.JPG

BTW it cost £258 from Bavarian Belfast, slightly more than half of the Dublin main dealer price.[/quote]


Anymore available at that price?

Thanks

[Chompers]

[quote=""Dan1502""]I take it they don't do one of those for the E53? It would save me the cost/hassle of fitting a tow bar if they do.[/quote]

Sadly it won't fit an e53 as it is mounted to the 2 tow eye mounts behind the bumper. e53 has 1 central point behind the tow cover. New X1 and I guess the new X3 have twin tow eye mounts so we may start to see more of these racks on the open market.

[StumpyPete]

clearly the rear mounted one has electrics, wonder how they integrate those without the tow bar?

[dublindave]

there is a separate part number for the wiring part of the set up. I have to say i didn't bother.

[StumpyPete]

[quote=""dublindave""]there is a separate part number for the wiring part of the set up. I have to say i didn't bother.[/quote]

Technically I think that is illegal in UK as bikes would obscure lights (not sure though).

[celica]

That looks good the non tow bar option

But as above
How does electrics work
How does it attach and come off, easy or not and time required
Access to boot

[celica]

Found this thread

Looks good

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=424818

[martin33100]

Just done a trip to Centre Parcs and used my brother in laws Thule 4 bike rack that goes on to our tow bar.

[Horizon]

Me and the wife have just been down to Sulfolk with the bikes for a riding break. I have a set of hydraulic BMW bike lifts that I had on the E53, which I fitted to my Golf's roof bars.
But decided that I didn't fancy the wind noise and resistance on a 5 hour trip each way. So I removed the wheels and put the bikes I n the back of the car instead. No noise, and better security, and averaged 58 MPG.
It takes less time and effort removing and refitting the wheels than fitting a bike rack, shame I didn't think of that before I spent a packet on the bike lifters and roof bars 

[535dboy]

That's what I do but not very useful if you need the back seats too!!

[Alski]

Hi
Sorry to drag up an old post, but I've just bought a 2010 LCI X5 and was going to fit a towbar to use my Thule bikerack, then read this thread.
Does anyone have experience of using the BMW non towbar rear rack?
Does anyone have one hidden away that they would like to sell? They seem to be pretty difficult to find unless you live in the US of A.

Cheers