G21 with Panoramic Sunroof and Roof Bars

SCZ4 · 01-17-2022, 04:10 AM

Morning all,

Potentially looking to sell my F11 530d and Jaguar F-Type and get a M340i touring, just not doing the miles to justify two cars, plus got a dog now so F-Type is getting the same use it deserves as we end up taking the 5 series everywhere.

For me a panoramic sunroof is a must have option and as a keen biker I need to be able to carry bikes. Towbar is an option, but was wondering if the G21 suffers from whistling with roof bars on, which would be even more noticeable with a sunroof perhaps.

I appreciate it will be noisy with the roof open, but how about closed? Also, what if I leave the roof bars on, but take the bike carriers off?

G

stanfonj · 01-17-2022, 04:46 AM

I don’t have the sunroof, but I do have the BMW roof bars. I’ve found them to be very quiet and barely noticeable.

paulockenden · 01-17-2022, 05:20 AM

I have a G21 with panoramic roof. It sounds like like a normal car when closed, no noise at all. Obviously you hear stuff with it open, not so much with it tilted, but definitely with it slid back. But that's only to be expected.

Haven't fitted my roof bars yet, but I'd expect them to be audible.

carl w · 01-17-2022, 06:21 AM

I leave mine on all the time, no issues at all !

Kindest regards
Carl.
ps. Yes I do have a sunroof.
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Riccardog · 01-17-2022, 06:55 AM

I have a pano roof and have fitted the Thule Edge Wingbar (their best model) with 2x Thule 591 bike carriers.

With the bars on their own, no noise.

With the bars and one 591 fitted the "default" way with 21" bike, some additional noise but very negligible.

With the bars and two 591 fitted one the "default" way and the other the "inverted" way (so you're facing the closing mechanism from the pax side of car), considerable whistling over 60 mph.

This is due to the poor design of the 591 carrier though, not the bars! Solution to be tested this spring: buy 598 carrier which works better when reversed. Alternatively have the 591 pointing backwards.

SCZ4 · 01-17-2022, 03:18 PM

Thanks for the responses, good to know the bars alone don't cause any noise. I'm happy to remove the bike carriers.

verysideways · 01-18-2022, 03:29 AM

I have the Thule Wingbar Edge and they're near silent until you add a bike rack to them.

Mind you, i also noticed a decent fuel consumption hit with bikes on the roof.

I now use a towbar mounted Thule bike rack and there's negligible effect on fuel consumption and it's much easier to load and unload bikes of course. That, and the electrically deployed towball is hidden when not in use so "converting" the car from bike carrier to carrier-free takes way less time than adding or removing roof bars.

Riccardog · 01-18-2022, 04:36 AM

Out of curiosity, how do rear mounted bikes fare in terms of soiling compared to mounted on the roof? I'm thinking for relatively long trips (1hr plus)?

verysideways · 01-18-2022, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riccardog

Out of curiosity, how do rear mounted bikes fare in terms of soiling compared to mounted on the roof? I'm thinking for relatively long trips (1hr plus)?

Can't say i've noticed much difference but then i'm a mountain biker - bike is clean when i leave home and filthy when i get back.

Riccardog · 01-18-2022, 05:27 AM

So am I! Where I'm going wrong is that I live in a flat so I usually wash the bike at the trails, before leaving, as I have no way of doing so at home. Couple hours later on a rainy day and they're not much better (more grime, less mud).

verysideways · 01-18-2022, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riccardog

So am I! Where I'm going wrong is that I live in a flat so I usually wash the bike at the trails, before leaving, as I have no way of doing so at home. Couple hours later on a rainy day and they're not much better (more grime, less mud).

I don't think on top or behind will make much difference i'm afraid.

P-ToK72 · 01-18-2022, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by verysideways

I don't think on top or behind will make much difference i'm afraid.

I really need to stop scrolling to the bottom of the thread and reading those comments first.

Was wondering where this conversation was going

verysideways · 01-18-2022, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-ToK72

I really need to stop scrolling to the bottom of the thread and reading those comments first.

Was wondering where this conversation was going

01-17-2022, 04:10 AM	#1
SCZ4 Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 208 Posts Drives: F11 525d M Sport & Z4M Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	G21 with Panoramic Sunroof and Roof Bars Morning all, Potentially looking to sell my F11 530d and Jaguar F-Type and get a M340i touring, just not doing the miles to justify two cars, plus got a dog now so F-Type is getting the same use it deserves as we end up taking the 5 series everywhere. For me a panoramic sunroof is a must have option and as a keen biker I need to be able to carry bikes. Towbar is an option, but was wondering if the G21 suffers from whistling with roof bars on, which would be even more noticeable with a sunroof perhaps. I appreciate it will be noisy with the roof open, but how about closed? Also, what if I leave the roof bars on, but take the bike carriers off? G
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01-17-2022, 04:46 AM	#2
stanfonj Private 14 Rep 57 Posts Drives: iX3 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (0)	I don’t have the sunroof, but I do have the BMW roof bars. I’ve found them to be very quiet and barely noticeable.
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01-17-2022, 05:20 AM	#3
paulockenden Major 572 Rep 1,215 Posts Drives: 330e xDrive Touring Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: South Coast iTrader: (0)	I have a G21 with panoramic roof. It sounds like like a normal car when closed, no noise at all. Obviously you hear stuff with it open, not so much with it tilted, but definitely with it slid back. But that's only to be expected. Haven't fitted my roof bars yet, but I'd expect them to be audible.
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01-17-2022, 06:21 AM	#4
carl w Private First Class 52 Rep 108 Posts Drives: G21 330d M Sport Pro. Join Date: May 2015 Location: Worc's iTrader: (0)	I leave mine on all the time, no issues at all ! Kindest regards Carl. ps. Yes I do have a sunroof.
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01-17-2022, 06:55 AM	#5
Riccardog Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 200 Posts Drives: G21 320i Touring MSport Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	I have a pano roof and have fitted the Thule Edge Wingbar (their best model) with 2x Thule 591 bike carriers. With the bars on their own, no noise. With the bars and one 591 fitted the "default" way with 21" bike, some additional noise but very negligible. With the bars and two 591 fitted one the "default" way and the other the "inverted" way (so you're facing the closing mechanism from the pax side of car), considerable whistling over 60 mph. This is due to the poor design of the 591 carrier though, not the bars! Solution to be tested this spring: buy 598 carrier which works better when reversed. Alternatively have the 591 pointing backwards.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2022, 03:18 PM	#6
SCZ4 Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 208 Posts Drives: F11 525d M Sport & Z4M Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the responses, good to know the bars alone don't cause any noise. I'm happy to remove the bike carriers.
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01-18-2022, 03:29 AM	#7
verysideways Lateral grip estimator 957 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: i4, M2 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cotswolds, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW i4 Individual [7.83] 2010 Porsche 997.2 ... [0.00] 2002 Morgan Aero 8 [0.00]	I have the Thule Wingbar Edge and they're near silent until you add a bike rack to them. Mind you, i also noticed a decent fuel consumption hit with bikes on the roof. I now use a towbar mounted Thule bike rack and there's negligible effect on fuel consumption and it's much easier to load and unload bikes of course. That, and the electrically deployed towball is hidden when not in use so "converting" the car from bike carrier to carrier-free takes way less time than adding or removing roof bars. __________________ '20 BMW M2 '23 BWM i4 Mora '10 Porsche 997 '02 Morgan Aero 8 http://petrolhead.tours
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01-18-2022, 04:36 AM	#8
Riccardog Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 200 Posts Drives: G21 320i Touring MSport Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Out of curiosity, how do rear mounted bikes fare in terms of soiling compared to mounted on the roof? I'm thinking for relatively long trips (1hr plus)?
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01-18-2022, 05:27 AM	#10
Riccardog Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 200 Posts Drives: G21 320i Touring MSport Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	So am I! Where I'm going wrong is that I live in a flat so I usually wash the bike at the trails, before leaving, as I have no way of doing so at home. Couple hours later on a rainy day and they're not much better (more grime, less mud).
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