[djcowlin]

Hi all. Am thinking about changing my M140i for a 330e Touring and see that BMW offer a rear-mounted bike carrier as an accessory. Does anybody have this, and is it any good? Does it require the electric towbar as a factory-fitted option?

[thomashunt1]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Hi all. Am thinking about changing my M140i for a 330e Touring and see that BMW offer a rear-mounted bike carrier as an accessory. Does anybody have this, and is it any good? Does it require the electric towbar as a factory-fitted option?

Ive got the electric towbar on mine and then purchased a Thule towbar bike carrier.

i think thats the best way.

[thomashunt1]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Hi all. Am thinking about changing my M140i for a 330e Touring and see that BMW offer a rear-mounted bike carrier as an accessory. Does anybody have this, and is it any good? Does it require the electric towbar as a factory-fitted option?

I have just looked into this. yes the bike carrier fixes to the tow bar.

hope that helps

[djcowlin]

Thanks a lot for that. I'm assuming that the bike carrier comes with the lights and number plate board ready to plug into the tow bar electrics.

From the BMW info it seems that their carrier hinges to allow access to the boot while the carrier is still on. Do they all do this I wonder?

[Bmwnewbie2]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Thanks a lot for that. I'm assuming that the bike carrier comes with the lights and number plate board ready to plug into the tow bar electrics.

From the BMW info it seems that their carrier hinges to allow access to the boot while the carrier is still on. Do they all do this I wonder?

Plenty of other bike carriers on the market. Try www.roofbox.co.uk or www.roofracks.co.uk. We got ours from there. And yes number plate, lights and 13pin plug all included. Good ones will hinge back to allow access to the boot when fully loaded with bikes.

[RichardM]

Towbar mounted carriers are definitely good but the cost is huge when you include the towbar. I went for the rood mounted option

[thomashunt1]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Thanks a lot for that. I'm assuming that the bike carrier comes with the lights and number plate board ready to plug into the tow bar electrics.

From the BMW info it seems that their carrier hinges to allow access to the boot while the carrier is still on. Do they all do this I wonder?

the bmw one is £499! bit of a rip off.

you can get a top of the range thule one for less than £300 new. and yes they all should have the tilt function. its a pretty standard feature nowadays