BMW / Thule Rack Carrier
 

Got this installed last week, thought I'd share it with you.

BMW OEM cross bars
Thule bike racks (Criterion 598?)
Thule fairing (wind deflector)

:thumbup:

how much did they cost u ?

I got them over period of time, I believe all on ebay

Cross Bars - $170
Bike Racks - ~$120 each
Wind Deflector ~ $70 ?? (dont remember the exact number)

One note - the wind deflector had to be custom-fitted to the front tips of the bike racks, kind of DIY job :)

[ATTACH]I love it. I was trying to choose between a Thule fairing and the OEM Sun/Wind Deflector but I wasn't sure how it would look. Seeing your X with the cool Thule fairing help with my decision.:thumbup:
Does it reduce wind noise when you have your panoramic roof open? I was also wondering if the E70 BMW OEM Base Support System (part# 82-71-0-404-320 - shown on the right) would fit a E53. I like the looks of the E70's Base Support System much better what's offered for E53's (part# 82-71-0-415-053 - shown on the left):


Attachment 31546 Attachment 31547

I cant tell you if it will on e53. There is not much play in the width adjustments of the cross bars.

Keep in mind that this was a DYI job - fitting Thule wind deflector. It involved getting a thick 3ft 1/4" stell bar, drilling holes, painting, etc.

Can you take some closer pics on how you have your cross bars & Thule fairing attached so I can try to replicate your set up. A write up on the specifics would be ideal.:confused:

BTW, I have another set of cross bars for sale:

eBay Motors: BMW 07+ X5 E70 OEM CROSS BARS USED 82-71-0-404-320 (item 180346616445 end time Apr-21-09 09:15:10 PDT)

Part # for E53 (82-71-0-415-053)

Part # for E70 (82-71-0-404-320)

AS X5 Meister mentioned, the photo of the 053 is outdated. Just had a friend at dealer parts counter, confirm. They basically look the same, just different base fitments onto the OEM roof rails.

Are you sure about that? They have different part numbers and different prices. BTW, the photo of the -053 kit is not accurate. That photo is of the older style kit. The new kit with p/n -053 looks like this:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...-question.html

The kit on JT///MC's X5 is what i was referring to...

That's not the E70 kit. They may look similar, but they are not the same.

They must look alike then, 'cause there's a 4.8i in my parking garage and his kit looks exactly like mine. Unless he's using the 053.

Yes the style is the same across the board, but the fitment is different for the different models BMW makes. Your reply to the poster was that the kits are the same (at least that is how I read it) which is not a correct statement. If he buys the E53 kit for his E70 or vice versa expecting it to fit he might be in for a surprise. You should correct your reply and make it more clear.

As much as I like to stick to OEM, I still think that Thule's 450R Rapid Crossroad is superior to the "tall and huge" BMW rack attachment. But that's just my opinion :)
http://secure.actionsportsct.com/act...ucts/79328.jpg

I don't know for certain who currently makes the racks for BMW, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Thule. They already make some parts for them... such as.

Yakima or Thule bars look better than OE (imho of course)

I also have Thule 450R cross bars. They are 0.5" lower (yes, just 0.5" !), stick out on the sides, and have whistling noise now matter what kind of fairing you use. BMW OEM have much cleaner look.

IMO, I would get rid of the Thule wind defector. Iit sort of degrade the premium class of the X5.

I would recommend the hitch rack carrier from Yakama.
Easy mount, unmount and secure.
I found that the roof carries are way too much work to mount and unmount plus the height limitations.

Yakima DoubleDown 4 Bike Rack from Backcountry.com

I found the customer support and service at Backcountry top notch (worldclass service) at the same worldclass service as Invision Industries (rear DVD entertainment systems), they will never stop until you are totally happy with the product.

I believe Atera makes the BMW racks.

Interesting info. :thumbup: I've actually never heard of that brand before.

Looking at their web site at the vehicle specific fitment BMW X5 rack, it sort of looks like the old style X5 rack and not the new style rack. Do you have a BMW rack that is stamped Atera somewhere or that came with documentation that says Atera? Just wondering.

No I don't have the BMW rack. I have the Thule 450R. However, I was talking to a BMW rep/factory Tech at one point and we were talking about the racks. He mentioned that they use a German manufacture that was Atera he thought.

I just realized, why do you say that the one on the left is the E53 and the one on the right is an E70? They are both E53's.

So....? Are you Happy yet? ;)

Yes, the kids are very happy with the Yakama rack, they love swing on it... :D Just kidding! I don't let them swing on it...
The only thing the kids like about the X5 are their Dual DVD screens.
http://accessories.bmwusa.com/Assets...ystem_1102.jpg
Thanks Lawrence - INViSiON Industries,

Oh' for those who have the money, this the best bike carrier money can buy.
Yakama Swingdaddy
YouTube - Yakima SwingDaddy Hitch Bike Rack Review-Demo Video 8002422

Watched the video, wow that is a cool rack.

I guess if preserving the bikes isn't important, and the main thing is access to the rear hatch, but the guy in the video put a Madone on that rack. Sacrilege. The front fork was swinging around freely, the wheels can spin freely in the wind, and there was just a rubber band to stop the bike from swinging fore and aft. Their idea of a lock was a cable around the frame. A hitch rack is a good idea for those who can't easily reach the roof rack, and for mountain or cross-country bikes that are already dirty from riding offroad, but the racks that hold the bikes in wheel trays are much more solid. This is Walmart stuff.

JCL - Do you think the BMW hitch rack is better?

I wouldn't buy a rack from BMW, whether for the hitch or the roof rails.

If I had to have a hitch rack for some reason, I would buy the Thule Doubletree or T2, or maybe the Saris. Nothing wrong with Yakima, I just don't know their models, but it would at least be a design like the Doubletree. A design that has the bicycle frame hanging free is suitable for kid's sidewalk bicycles, if you don't mind marking up your paint job. In other words, a last resort.

All of the above would only be an option if for example I had a convertible and no place to mount a roof rack.

Understood. What's wrong with the BMW roof racks in your opinion?

No, the bike will not sway at all, the rack has anti-sway support harness.
We have high-end bikes so I care a lot about our bike.
I have a Felt Virtue3 mountain bike and Wife has Scott mountain bike along with kids bikes and they never touch each other regardless how rough the roads are.
Before We bought the bike carrier racks, I w did a lot of research/reviews and also
asked the retailers what is the best, they all said Yakama doubledown and the Swingdaddy.
They also said not to go with Thule for bike carriers, they have issues with product design and returns. Thule are great for roof ski/luggage carriers but not for carrying bikes. Thule is a cheaper quality product in the opinion of retailers and experience cyclist.
You will never find a Yakama at Wal-mart, only at high-end outdoor sporting stores. However I have seen Thule rack/carrier lines at Canadian Tire stores and did consider buying Thule but that's when I didn't know anything about bike carries/racks and before I asked experts and people that have great deal of experience.
There is nothing worst than buying a product and regreting the decision that you didn't get the best, I'm a guy, I got to have the best tools!.

Also the disadvantage of a hitch or roof tiremount houldup bike carrier is the limitation of only 2 bikes it can carry (Although I seen 3 bikes on a roof before but tight.
With the roof carrier, if you travel through or to locations with hieght limitations like covered bridges, trunnels, parking areas with hieght limits or trails then you will have to unmount.

Oh' I wouldn't buy a bike carrier/rack from BMW either but nothing wrong with the BMW roof support rack.

But As long as the product fits your requirements, budget and protential growth, it's fine.

I use the Thule swing away hitch rack similiar to the Yakima in the video. With the arm folded down, the hatch on the car opens clearing the main rack bar. I put two S-works road bikes on my rack and just wrap a small microfiber cloth around the frame where the straps go. Have been doing this for years without any issues.

The rails seem fine, but many aftermarket attachments don't fit them due to the profile. I don't like the BMW bike carriers for the roof rails. So, I would select either Thule or Yakikma attachments first, and then I would select Thule or Yakima rails to support them.

hhhm3:

I have used a few hitch mounted racks where the bikes hung down; all of them had some sway when accelerating or braking. I thought the wheel tray versions would be more stable, but I don't own one. In the video that was linked, the bike fork was swinging free and the wheels were spinning. Do you tie both of those down? With four bikes, that would be eight additional tie-downs.

I have had great luck with Thule for the past 14 years. I like Yakima as well, but I have never seen a quality difference between the two. I think each brand has some better and also some cheaper versions. My current supplier (Rack Attack) told me that they didn't see any quality difference between the two. My tandem bike carrier is an Atoc Tandem Topper, and now Thule is selling that same carrier (they either bought the design, or licensed it). It is the best bike carrier I have used, for single or tandem bikes (fork mount).

I have had four bikes on a roof, but I agree that three is easier (especially when you have fork-mount wheel holders up there as well). Never had a problem with height limits (I know not to back into the garage). The flip side is that you never run into length limitations in the parking stall. More importantly for me, I found that hitch mounted racks held the bikes in a low pressure zone that tended to collect road grit (just like a rear window). That situation was improved with a roof mount. If I rode a mountain bike, particularly one that was dirty after riding offroad, that would not be an issue at all. With high-end road bikes, it matters to me. I also understand that for many people, the height makes it difficult to load. I am 6'4", so that isn't an issue in my case.

Agree that whatever works for you is fine.

I think the anti-sway harness only came out a couple/few year ago so if you have a hanging bike rack that is older, yes it will sway, it was a common complaint. The anti-sway harness is pretty solid. The wheels will spin if wind catches it but not an issue.
Most people use a cross bar attachment ($30) that connect to the seat stem to the handle bar stem, this is used to mount on the bike rack so it don't interfere with the bike brake/gear cabling or women bike if your bike is configure that way. That cross bar would also prevent any fork movement but if you mount the bike on the bike frame with out crossbar there can be fork movement, so yes an extra band around the wheel and frame would stop that movement.

Four bikes on the roof! I guess if you are 6'4" it would be easier but still quite a task.
But after riding in dirt/mud and not able to hose it off, I wouldn't want to mount the bike on the roof of my new X5.

Oh' the reason I like the hitch hanging bike racks is because the convenience of mount and unmount the bikes, folding the rack arms down and go on you normal business during the week with minimum obstruction until the the weekend to be used again.

If park in the garage, the roof rack bike carrier would not fit, at lease not in my standard size garage with X5 or SUV.

I do like the hitch tiremount carriers style too, it seem more secure but its limited to 2 bikes, a little more obstructive when folded up during the weekday business.
Check out this thread pictures.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-35d-pics.html

enjoy.