What's the best way to affix a bicycle to the outside of a 6

euro24 · Post by **euro24** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:34 am

I have seen the pictures people post of the frame in the trunk and the wheels in the back seat, but I'm curious about exterior solutions.

Presumably, the rain gutters are too flimsy (and expensive) to mount a roof rack to. I don't see any way to mount a trailer hitch from under the rear skirt. Do any of you use one of those racks that hang off the trunk lid?

GripGreg · Post by **GripGreg** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:20 am

For my MOM, I used a bike rack.
There were two straps hooked to the forward edge of the trunk from the top:
two straps with hooks under the rear bumper from the bottom,
with some sorta bumper holding it away from the body.
Rubber bungee cords held the wheelchair to the rack.
There was a way to hang the wheelchair higher or lower.
Lower would possibly drag on the street while entering a driveway. Guess what I did?

A bike shop just may help? I think I got mine from Target`?
You have to have a picture in mind.
It seemed to catch everyones eye.
If I remember four people driving by approved.
Please post a picture of what you come up with?
My Grip rig,,,,Greg

Ps,,,,If I could post a picture I would. I still have the rig,,but.

sansouci · Post by **sansouci** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:13 pm

I have successfully used Thule racks for years clamped to the rain gutter. Lumber, bikes, canoes, all on the rack. Buy the specialized holders. I carry two
bikes with the front fork clamped to the carrier and the front wheel in the trunk.
The rubber pieces that go between the clamp and the gutter fall apart so get an old tire innertube and cut some pieces.
After many years, I have to repaint the black gutter trim as the clamp caused it to flake off. Also, keep the gutter clean as it collects road crud.

--Ken

sansouci · Post by **sansouci** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:26 pm

Look in the Gallery for "My Garage Queen" that I posted which shows the basic Thule rack w/o the bike holders. But you get the idea.
--Ken

Hefeweizen · Post by **Hefeweizen** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 5:14 am

Why do you want to ride a bike when you have a 6er?

///Moe · Post by **///Moe** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:35 pm

Hefeweizen wrote:Why do you want to ride a bike when you have a 6er?

I often question the same.

slofut · Post by **slofut** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:22 pm

Hasn't the poor 6 paid enough dues already?

You can put a class 3 trailer hitch on though, from what I've seen a pretty robust setup that uses the rear frame rails. Then plug in your bike rack.

nick88highline · Post by **nick88highline** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:10 am

I personally wouldn't use a roof rack as the gutters on the 6er are not strong enough which is a real shame. After some research I discovered these boot racks made by La Prealpina:

<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/163 ... 451f_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="XG4U0189_XVIII">

It clamps to the edge of the boot lid, the covers have a key so it can't be removed with un-locking it:

<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/165 ... 0638_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="XG4U0190_XVIII">

You can put up to 30kg on the rack, which I guess assumes your boot lid can take that. If you don't have a spoiler on your boot lid you can get a slightly bigger one that covers most of the lid.

ron · Post by **ron** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:31 am

http://www.laprealpina.net/en/cat32.html

A friend has just bought one for an E-type (XKE). About Â£200.00.

Pod · Post by **Pod** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:24 pm

I guess if you're driving fast enough, air pressure will keep it in place, but as soon as you slow down/stop, it'll fall off. Then you'll have to contend with the angry cyclist......

euro24 · Post by **euro24** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:14 am

nick88highline wrote:I personally wouldn't use a roof rack as the gutters on the 6er are not strong enough which is a real shame. After some research I discovered these boot racks made by La Prealpina:

<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/163 ... 451f_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="XG4U0189_XVIII">

It clamps to the edge of the boot lid, the covers have a key so it can't be removed with un-locking it:

<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/165 ... 0638_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="XG4U0190_XVIII">

You can put up to 30kg on the rack, which I guess assumes your boot lid can take that. If you don't have a spoiler on your boot lid you can get a slightly bigger one that covers most of the lid.

Now this is closer to what I'm looking for!

Are you able to open the trunk lid fully with the rack installed?

euro24 · Post by **euro24** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:15 am

slofut wrote:Hasn't the poor 6 paid enough dues already?
You can put a class 3 trailer hitch on though, from what I've seen a pretty robust setup that uses the rear frame rails. Then plug in your bike rack.

Is this a BMW original part or just an aftermarket one that is available?

nick88highline · Post by **nick88highline** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:08 am

euro24 wrote:
Are you able to open the trunk lid fully with the rack installed?

Yes, you can still open the lid with the rack in place and it will stay open. You have to be sure the rack is positioned correctly otherwise the rack will go through the rear window!
Of course once anything is on the rack you can't really open the lid

euro24 · Post by **euro24** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:17 pm

nick88highline wrote:
euro24 wrote:
Are you able to open the trunk lid fully with the rack installed?
Yes, you can still open the lid with the rack in place and it will stay open. You have to be sure the rack is positioned correctly otherwise the rack will go through the rear window!
Of course once anything is on the rack you can't really open the lid

That's great. Where did you get yours? Did you order it online or get it at a shop? What model are you using?

nick88highline · Post by **nick88highline** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:00 pm

euro24 wrote:
nick88highline wrote:
euro24 wrote:
Are you able to open the trunk lid fully with the rack installed?
Yes, you can still open the lid with the rack in place and it will stay open. You have to be sure the rack is positioned correctly otherwise the rack will go through the rear window!
Of course once anything is on the rack you can't really open the lid
That's great. Where did you get yours? Did you order it online or get it at a shop? What model are you using?

I got mine from ebay (brand new) at a very good price of around GBP160 from a place called Mick's Garage based in the UK. The La Prealpina model code for the one I have is 10156. I have to say they are quite hard to find here in the UK, with suppliers only having sporadic stock of them.

euro24 · Post by **euro24** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 6:29 pm

nick88highline wrote:
euro24 wrote:
nick88highline wrote: Yes, you can still open the lid with the rack in place and it will stay open. You have to be sure the rack is positioned correctly otherwise the rack will go through the rear window!
Of course once anything is on the rack you can't really open the lid
That's great. Where did you get yours? Did you order it online or get it at a shop? What model are you using?
I got mine from ebay (brand new) at a very good price of around GBP160 from a place called Mick's Garage based in the UK. The La Prealpina model code for the one I have is 10156. I have to say they are quite hard to find here in the UK, with suppliers only having sporadic stock of them.

I wonder if I could find one locally (Portland, OR USA). Worth a shot I suppose.

sansouci · Post by **sansouci** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:19 am

See my post above - the rain gutters ARE strong enough, plus you have free access to the trunk.
--Ken

challenger · Post by **challenger** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:35 am

I inherited this Thule rack from my dad's 1980 Audi 100, while I got my first E30 in 1996. While riding alone I've always clipped both Wheels away and put the frame in the trunk under the Wheels. That's ok in both E30ies and later in the E24. Anyway, two years ago, my girlfriend said she was also going to bring her bike and I blew the dust from this old Thule rack and customized the Width to fit E24 roof. I also believe the roof is Shorter on E24 than E30, but I've never been afraid of the rain gutters strength. We drove 1000 km (600 miles) high speed roads.

sansouci · Post by **sansouci** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:15 am

Sweet Trek! Nice color.....

Brucey · Post by **Brucey** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 5:49 pm

FWIW I don't think the Gutters are really strong enough. The roof rack loads the aluminium/rubber trims and the trims are just held on with a few really skinny screws. The tighter the clamps are done up the more the roof rack is trying to peel the trims off the car.

I'm sure it can work for a while ( a long while even) and I have done it myself (Thule). But I just plain don't fancy it for regular use...

cheers

sansouci · Post by **sansouci** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:32 pm

Brucy,
I've done it for over 10 years with two bikes on the rack with no problems. I drive about 100 miles each way on the weekends...The best strategy is to clamp the front fork onto the rack and put the front tire into the truck/back seat. FWIW. Experience.
Plus trunk access is never a problem.
--Ken

Brucey · Post by **Brucey** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:48 pm

I've had a roof rack (with bikes on) come off a car before now. And it was on the roof far better than any 6er gutter mount ever could be.

Experience!

Since my bike would presently cost more to replace than my 6er I don't especially want it coming off....

cheers

Pod · Post by **Pod** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:37 pm

Brucey wrote:Since my bike would presently cost more to replace than my 6er I don't especially want it coming off....

Is it one of those Aston Martin - designed models?

Brucey · Post by **Brucey** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 8:10 pm

Pod wrote:
Brucey wrote:Since my bike would presently cost more to replace than my 6er I don't especially want it coming off....
Is it one of those Aston Martin - designed models?

No, it is just that my bike is quite nice and my 6er is probably worth sod-all.....

cheers

Noct · Post by **Noct** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:37 am

PUTTING A BIKE RACK ON A BMW E24 IS SACRILEGE!!!

bigcoupe.com

What's the best way to affix a bicycle to the outside of a 6

What's the best way to affix a bicycle to the outside of a 6

How about a boot rack?

Re: How about a boot rack?

Re: How about a boot rack?

Re: How about a boot rack?

Re: How about a boot rack?

Re: How about a boot rack?