Load Space Divider - steel or mesh???
 

It appears that there are two OEM Load Space Dividers for my 03 X5. The mesh net I've found from the mid-to-upper $300 range (closer to $400). This is part # 51-47-7-126-507 or 51-47-8-259-504 depending on year.

I've also found a steel version with part number 51-47-0-004-087 for just above $220.

All of the posts appear to be about the Nylon net and this receives really positive reviews. Does anyone have any good or bad experience with the steel seperator?

Thanks.

Can't use the steel one on face lift (panoramic roof) version so that's probably one reason for less experience with it. Another is that I believe the mesh one can go to the forward set of attachment points and expand all the way down, while the steel one really only covers the area between the ceiling and the top of the seat backs.

the mesh can go in the back or the front. if you are looking to get it for your doggies, it only half works. course my dogs dont listen to me anyway so they just jump over the back seat and squeeze between the gap on the side of the mesh between the window, and wind up in the backseat anyway. :stickpoke take it with a grain of salt, the mesh works a bit, unless your dogs are retarded :D

Thanks for the input. I'm looking for something almost exclusively to keep my lab in the very back as I don't want her jumping on my two infants. I've read a few posts about the mesh working but it does allow a little too much room for the dogs to slide through on the sides.

I've used an inexpensive after market pole and slide mechanism but these aren't ideal in my opinion. There isn't a lot of storage in the rear area to begin with and with the slant of the rear seats plus the vertical positioning of the pole, you lost even more space.

Would love to hear from someone that has the steel version.

UPDATE:

I received the metal load space divider with part number 51-47-0-004-087 today. I spent $244.93 including shipping and handling. It took me just under 30 minutes to install. No drilling or reconfiguring was necessary. It was a simple installation.

The +: Easy installation. No real loss of visibility. No chance a dog or even a small rodent is going to get from the luggage compartment to the passenger seats with this divider. There is less than 2" of gap between the window and the divider. Due to the ease of installation I don't really feel like it will be difficult to remove / reinstall should I need to haul any large items in the X5.

The - : Once installed you lose the ability to incline / decline the rear seats as the divider is attached directly to the mechanism that controls this. The manual states not to use the electrical adjuster once installed. No other minuses that I can tell.

Overall I am very satisfied with choosing the metal load compartment divider and would highly recommend it.

Great info. Can you post the instructions that came with it and also some photos of the complete setup and how it works, etc?

Pics
 

Here are some pics of the installation and the PDF of the instructions.

Very nice. Thanks for posting. I wonder why they say it won't work with the panoramic roof? Maybe the shape? Also, don't forget to attach the tether for the baby seat.

When I was deciding on the steel or mesh I went with mesh because I thought the steel would somehow rattle whilst driving. So as you can see I went with mesh.

I like the way the steel closes the gaps a bit better. I don't have pets but wanted to be sure that the cargo stay where it belongs in case of an accident.

Thanks for sharing photographs.

D

Thanks for reminding me about the tether. In my haste I forgot to attach it. After looking at the pictures posted by Daveycrocket I'm very pleased that I went with the metal. My lab would certainly try and stick her head through the sides and slobber all over the kids and may even try to paw her way to the front. With the metal there is no room for her to do this.