[happycow6171]

Hi all,
Just thinking about purchasing roof rails and box, do you have to go for a bmw one?.
Trying to keep the cost down but don't want to compromise on road safety.
Any suggestions!.
Cheers happy

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by happycow6171

Hi all,
Just thinking about purchasing roof rails and box, do you have to go for a bmw one?.
Trying to keep the cost down but don't want to compromise on road safety.
Any suggestions!.
Cheers happy

No you most certainly do not.

Get a decent brand like Thule and you will not be compromising safety.

In fact I'm pretty sure the BMW ones are just rebranded Thule.

[kitster]

+1 Thule

The BMW gear so I'm told is rebranded older Thule stuff but with the BMW tax added.

Got the aero bars and an Atlantis box, I didn't bother upgrading to the wing bars cos once you add on the box you can kiss any aero effect away!

Anyway picture of my car with the Thule box.

[Nick the Greek]

Roof box?

On a BMW?!

Do you own a caravan?

[kitster]

Caravan I'm not that old!

We use it for long breaks away and for Ski trips etc. Gives me an extra 480 ltrs, so it means we can pack loads of crap with us.

[JustChris]

BMW bars are indeed Thule. I have found on both my X5 and my current car though that BMW must reserve some kind of right to have slightly better/easier mounts on their own vs the Thule. Especially if its a saloon type mount, these are very annoying with Thule but quite simple with BMW ones.....which costs nearly 2x mind you.

Edit +1 for the Atlantis Box same colour and size for mine, but bikes are most often on the top these days

[Trialskings]

I have the Thule Wingbar Edge (no side projection on them) & they look pretty darn good on it.

I also have a Kamei Corvara 390s box which is a treat.

With a GSD, trips away the boot is reserved solely for her. At Christmas, a 3hr trip to our lodge returned 39mpg in the 335d, that was doing a steady 70 though.

In other uses, I've had a bath on the roof, an 80kg steel security door and 8 sheets of 8'x4' plasterboard (not all these together).

Roof bars are a great add on that increase the versatility no end.

I ordered mine from the roof box company.

[scoobeesnac]

Ditto on the wing bar edge. Looks tidy IMO. I bought the Thule dynamic 800 IIRC but from Volvo & just removed their branding - it was significantly cheaper.

[SkyJawa]

I got the BMW bars at the time of ordering so got a good deal, but bought the Thule box myself. I got the Motion 200, its a great bit of kit.

(and before anyone says - it was before you could not display a tax disc!! )

[kitster]

Originally Posted by scoobeesnac

Ditto on the wing bar edge. Looks tidy IMO. I bought the Thule dynamic 800 IIRC but from Volvo & just removed their branding - it was significantly cheaper.

Those wingbar edges look awesome, but a little too short for when I carry 4 bikes on top. We carried the bars over from the E91 so it seemed a bit OTT to buy another set.

[jimboss]

I've got thule wing bars in conjunction with a KAMEI Delphin 470 roof box. Went for standard wing bars rather than the edge variants as I wanted greater flexibility ie to carry more stuff on top. Got a great deal on roofbox.com...wingbars, box and basic ceiling storage system (for the box) for circa £440.

Very impressed with the set up and has served me well thus far

[happycow6171]

Hi all,
Decided to go for hapro roady 422, gives about 420 litres of storage
Roof bars are Atera signo german brand,ordered off roof box company on package deal!.

[degsy]

Originally Posted by scoobeesnac

Ditto on the wing bar edge. Looks tidy IMO. I bought the Thule dynamic 800 IIRC but from Volvo & just removed their branding - it was significantly cheaper.

How easy was it to remove the Volvo branding? I'm looking at the Thule Dynamic 800 and as the Volvo version is nearly £200 cheaper than the Thule-branded, I'm minded to do the same.

[Frosticles]

Just been through this dilemma myself. Already had the BMW bars as I bought them when I collected the car. Went with a Thule 200 Touring box from Halfrauds in gloss black. Looks kind of neat I think

[scoobeesnac]

Originally Posted by degsy

How easy was it to remove the Volvo branding? I'm looking at the Thule Dynamic 800 and as the Volvo version is nearly £200 cheaper than the Thule-branded, I'm minded to do the same.

The letters came off in seconds. Imagine plastic letters sprayed silver with double sided white foam underneath.

[jusdorange]

I've always wondered

What do you put inside it ?

[AP_75]

I've got a Thule Motion 200 and brilliant, definitely recommend. Mine is gloss black so only downside is it gets scratched easily.

Small amount of wind noise from the box but car still pulls like a train and aero bars on their own make no noise so tend to leave them on.

I also bought the bag kit so easy to load - brilliant for family hols.

What do I put in it? - with a toddler and a dog need to leave the back seats up and boot for the buggy so toys, extra space for Mrs P's wardrobe etc etc

[John435D]

Some really good looking motors on this page

[alpine330D]

no roof box but another vote for the wing bar edge.wrapped the cross bars in 4d carbon as they were looking a little tatty

[IMG][/IMG]

[degsy]

Originally Posted by scoobeesnac

The letters came off in seconds. Imagine plastic letters sprayed silver with double sided white foam underneath.

Thanks so much. Yours looks great on the estate but worried it might look a bit daft on the saloon with the overhangs front and rear. I've got the wing bars and just tempted to go for it.

[Bricktrix]

Where do you guys put these when not in use?
Have often considered one for when I'm pushed for space, even moreso now I have the GC over my last Volvo V70, but I'm a bit stumped as to where I would store it. My garage roof may have the space if I was to have it hanging on brackets above the bonnet, gulp!

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by Bricktrix

Where do you guys put these when not in use?
Have often considered one for when I'm pushed for space, even moreso now I have the GC over my last Volvo V70, but I'm a bit stumped as to where I would store it. My garage roof may have the space if I was to have it hanging on brackets above the bonnet, gulp!

Garden shed.