Mountain bike rack

T-Bone18 · 03-19-2021, 11:32 AM

Mountain bike season is finally back.

What do you guys use for Mountain bike rack ? Thule, Rhino ?

Which bar, overhang or flush ?
Is the BMW bars any good or should I go with the Rhino bars ?

Unspec · 03-19-2021, 01:15 PM

BMW bars are best imo, don't need to mess with funky adapters to mount them. You can easily get T adapters to then mount Thule/Rhino/whoever's bike racks

cdmulders · 03-19-2021, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bone18

Mountain bike season is finally back.

What do you guys use for Mountain bike rack ? Thule, Rhino ?

Which bar, overhang or flush ?
Is the BMW bars any good or should I go with the Rhino bars ?

I have BMW roof bars and bike racks. They work very well, and easily fit both my mountain bike and road bike.

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wmg/bmw · 03-21-2021, 06:53 PM

Thule bike racks with BMW roof mounts. I painted mine to blend in found a nice fitting fairing to block some of the wind.

T-Bone18 · 03-21-2021, 07:48 PM

Looks good guys. I think I will go with your recommendation for the roof bars.

For the rack this year you have to go with what is in stock and my local bike shop recommend the Yakima Front loader but personally I was looking for a Rhino.

Also, a third one I was looking is the Rockymounts.

https://yakima.com/products/frontloa...739.1616373596

Rhino Hybrid
https://www.rhinorack.com/en-ca/prod...carrier_rbc050

Rockymounts Brassknuckles
https://rockymounts.com/brassknuckles/

ey2001 · 03-21-2021, 11:00 PM

Yea get the bmw rack with the bmw bike rack if less than 2 bikes... very easy to use... I took my bike rack out and left the roof rack on after my second son started to ride bike... now I need to use my wife's car...

trjn · 03-24-2021, 08:33 PM

I use Thule aeroblades with Thule echelon bike trays. Have been using that set up since my e46 days. I just get the adapters and the whole setup transfers to another car. Used the same setup on our e92. But had to change to 51" aeroblade bars from 47" in the e46 and e92. Have 51" aeroblades on our F15 as well. We usually take F10 everywhere unless I need more space, then we take F15. We use Thule ski racks and Bmw roof top box in both cars as required, they are also from our e46 days.
I feel the factory bars are too tall and noisy.

cdmulders · 03-25-2021, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bone18

For the rack this year you have to go with what is in stock and my local bike shop recommend the Yakima Front loader but personally I was looking for a Rhino.

Elite BMW in Ottawa used to carry the BMW bike racks, and they were quite reasonable when I purchased them back in 2013. I remember something around $120 each back then.

spielnicht · 03-26-2021, 09:39 AM

I was just doing research myself on getting a bike rack and I'm leaning toward Thule over BMW because like someone mentioned above, Thule sit much closer to the roof. Bike holder cost aside, the Thule blades would be $200 more over BMW's. Have to decide if it's worth it or not.

cdmulders · 03-26-2021, 05:16 PM

I have also read on this forum that a few people found the BMW roof racks to be noisy. That has not been my experience. I use the rubber inserts that span the rack tops, but you do need to remove the pieces of rubber for the areas were you are installing something into the slots, like the BMW bike racks. I've run the racks with full rubber when using a roof-top box, and the rack was practically silent. Even with the bike racks the system seems nearly silent, and the bikes make more noise than the racks. That's my experience with the BMW racks, but undoubtedly 'results may vary'.

T-Bone18 · 03-26-2021, 08:52 PM

I deceided to order the BMW bars and go bike rack I will go with the RockyMounts Brass Knuckles. Will follow up next month.

T-Bone18 · 03-27-2021, 04:58 PM

Here is the roof bike rack I got today.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rac...pride-_-599000

The store had a special edition, it's all black and come with the lock.

03-19-2021, 11:32 AM	#1
T-Bone18 Private 22 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2014 535i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535i xDrive [0.00]	Mountain bike rack Mountain bike season is finally back. What do you guys use for Mountain bike rack ? Thule, Rhino ? Which bar, overhang or flush ? Is the BMW bars any good or should I go with the Rhino bars ?
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03-19-2021, 01:15 PM	#2
Unspec Colonel 1301 Rep 2,591 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW 535xi Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: DMV iTrader: (1)	BMW bars are best imo, don't need to mess with funky adapters to mount them. You can easily get T adapters to then mount Thule/Rhino/whoever's bike racks __________________ 2015 BMW 535xi Bootmod3 Stage 2 \| ER charge pipe \| ER Catted DP \| Remus Exhaust \| Gplus FMIC \| KW V3 \| Turner Monoball thrust arm bushings \| Wallet regrets ISTA VM Setup/Tutorial
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03-21-2021, 06:53 PM	#4
wmg/bmw Private 23 Rep 74 Posts Drives: BMW 550i GT Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Long Island, New York iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 550i GT [0.00]	Yep I have the same Thule bike racks with BMW roof mounts. I painted mine to blend in found a nice fitting fairing to block some of the wind. Attached Images
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03-21-2021, 07:48 PM	#5
T-Bone18 Private 22 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2014 535i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535i xDrive [0.00]	Looks good guys. I think I will go with your recommendation for the roof bars. For the rack this year you have to go with what is in stock and my local bike shop recommend the Yakima Front loader but personally I was looking for a Rhino. Also, a third one I was looking is the Rockymounts. https://yakima.com/products/frontloa...739.1616373596 Rhino Hybrid https://www.rhinorack.com/en-ca/prod...carrier_rbc050 Rockymounts Brassknuckles https://rockymounts.com/brassknuckles/ Last edited by T-Bone18; 03-21-2021 at 08:22 PM..
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03-21-2021, 11:00 PM	#6
ey2001 Captain 310 Rep 716 Posts Drives: F10 535i 6spd Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: la iTrader: (0)	Yea get the bmw rack with the bmw bike rack if less than 2 bikes... very easy to use... I took my bike rack out and left the roof rack on after my second son started to ride bike... now I need to use my wife's car... Attached Images
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03-24-2021, 08:33 PM	#7
trjn Private First Class 41 Rep 164 Posts Drives: e92, F10, F15 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	I use Thule aeroblades with Thule echelon bike trays. Have been using that set up since my e46 days. I just get the adapters and the whole setup transfers to another car. Used the same setup on our e92. But had to change to 51" aeroblade bars from 47" in the e46 and e92. Have 51" aeroblades on our F15 as well. We usually take F10 everywhere unless I need more space, then we take F15. We use Thule ski racks and Bmw roof top box in both cars as required, they are also from our e46 days. I feel the factory bars are too tall and noisy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-26-2021, 09:39 AM	#9
spielnicht Petrolhead 440 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 24 X3 M40i/14 550i/08 Z4 3.0si Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Virginia iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si [9.67] 2014 BMW 550i [6.00] 2024 BMW X3 M40i [9.25]	I was just doing research myself on getting a bike rack and I'm leaning toward Thule over BMW because like someone mentioned above, Thule sit much closer to the roof. Bike holder cost aside, the Thule blades would be $200 more over BMW's. Have to decide if it's worth it or not. __________________ . 2024 X3 M40i 2014 550i 2008 Z4 3.0si 6MT 2011 Z4 35si (sold)
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03-26-2021, 05:16 PM	#10
cdmulders Captain 327 Rep 697 Posts Drives: 2013 535xi Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nanoose Bay, BC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 535i xDrive [0.00] 2010 E89 Z4 sDrive35i [8.00]	I have also read on this forum that a few people found the BMW roof racks to be noisy. That has not been my experience. I use the rubber inserts that span the rack tops, but you do need to remove the pieces of rubber for the areas were you are installing something into the slots, like the BMW bike racks. I've run the racks with full rubber when using a roof-top box, and the rack was practically silent. Even with the bike racks the system seems nearly silent, and the bikes make more noise than the racks. That's my experience with the BMW racks, but undoubtedly 'results may vary'. __________________ 2013 535xi, Carbon Black, beige interior, M Sport package, HUD, DDC & ARS, ACS springs, Kelleners wheels 2010 Z4 35i, Crimson Red, beige interior, 6sp manual, Adapative Suspension 2000 528i, Cosmo Black, beige interior, Sport package (retired)
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03-26-2021, 08:52 PM	#11
T-Bone18 Private 22 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2014 535i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535i xDrive [0.00]	I deceided to order the BMW bars and go bike rack I will go with the RockyMounts Brass Knuckles. Will follow up next month.
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03-27-2021, 04:58 PM	#12
T-Bone18 Private 22 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2014 535i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535i xDrive [0.00]	Here is the roof bike rack I got today. https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rac...pride-_-599000 The store had a special edition, it's all black and come with the lock.
	Appreciate 0 Quote