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Bike rack to fit W212 saloon.

350cls

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E55k AMG Sold / S211 E320 CDI I6 sold W212 E63 6.2 N/A saloon. S212 e250 cdi .
I'm looking to fit a bike rack to my car W212 saloon. Is it best to have a roof mounted or to have a rear end mounted rack. I have a sunroof so unsure if this affects the roof mounted option. It's to carry my two younger sons bikes and my own. Can anyone advise on any decent racks to go with?

Cheers
 
I have Thule Free ride 532 on Thule windbars and am quite happy with the quality and how easy it is to fix bikes on them. Swivel arm is very adjustable and can accommodate different bike sizes.
Check on Thule web which fixing feet are suitable for W212 with sunroof
See here Roof racks
 
I have Thule Free ride 532 on Thule windbars and am quite happy with the quality and how easy it is to fix bikes on them. Swivel arm is very adjustable and can accommodate different bike sizes.
Check on Thule web which fixing feet are suitable for W212 with sunroof
See here Roof racks

Much appreciated, thanks for supplying the link.
 
The big issue with the roof rack is lifting the things in position without scratching the car. When lifting these things to head height, they are more clumsy to place, and this means that it will always be your job to put them up and take them down.

To demonstrate this to yourself, lift one of your bikes into position over your car, to give yourself an understanding of how you've got to do it.

Which is fine if it's only occasionally but is a faff if you're doing it regularly, and/or with muddy bikes.

And you do need to remember not to drive the bikes into height restrictors, which are more common than you'd maybe expect.

Tow bar placement is painfully expensive, at just under a grand to fit the tow bar, electrics and holder.

Remember that security is always an issue if you leave the car unattended. People will steal bikes very quickly

Final thought: The Saris Bones 3 will fit the E Class. I'd be wary about using it for a day long journey but it should be fine for short trips. Here's a photo of the Bones 2, but there's also a Bones 3.


s-l300.jpg
 
Much appreciated, thanks for supplying the link.

might as well buy a caravan and travel the country.
I've heard your e63hasn't got that much power going up the hills.
 
On a similar note, how do those tow bar mounted ones work?
Do they work simply on the tow ball?
One I had many moons ago you had to bolt onto the tow bar bracket.
 
On a similar note, how do those tow bar mounted ones work?
Do they work simply on the tow ball?
One I had many moons ago you had to bolt onto the tow bar bracket.

Just click onto the balls these days. Very simple.

They're very clever, they even fold out of the way to give you easier access to the boot


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The big issue with the roof rack is lifting the things in position without scratching the car. When lifting these things to head height, they are more clumsy to place, and this means that it will always be your job to put them up and take them down.

To demonstrate this to yourself, lift one of your bikes into position over your car, to give yourself an understanding of how you've got to do it.

Which is fine if it's only occasionally but is a faff if you're doing it regularly, and/or with muddy bikes.

And you do need to remember not to drive the bikes into height restrictors, which are more common than you'd maybe expect.

Tow bar placement is painfully expensive, at just under a grand to fit the tow bar, electrics and holder.

Remember that security is always an issue if you leave the car unattended. People will steal bikes very quickly

Final thought: The Saris Bones 3 will fit the E Class. I'd be wary about using it for a day long journey but it should be fine for short trips. Here's a photo of the Bones 2, but there's also a Bones 3.


s-l300.jpg

I'm unsure if that same law applies but when I looked into having a tow bar on my w211 AMG. I was told it against the law. I'm unsure if this also applies to the W212 E63?

Thanks for advice on the tow rack all the same.
 
Also why we are on the theme of roof racks. Can anyone confirm do the roof boxes made by Thule fit all the different roof bars made by Thule. Are the bars all universal to fit most Thule products


Cheers
 
Also why we are on the theme of roof racks. Can anyone confirm do the roof boxes made by Thule fit all the different roof bars made by Thule. Are the bars all universal to fit most Thule products


Cheers
Yes all Thule boxes fit any Thule roof bars and depending on the bars you chose which fixing pins you are going to use.
I have XL Kamei corvara roof box fixed to Thule Wingbars with the pins which are hidden and in T-slots but also have the around the bar fixings pins for square bars, so usually with the box you get at least two different sets of four fixing pins.
Edit:
If looking for a roof box my advise would be to look for boxes with both sides opening, left and right.
 
Yes all Thule boxes fit any Thule roof bars and depending on the bars you chose which fixing pins you are going to use.
I have XL Kamei corvara roof box fixed to Thule Wingbars with the pins which are hidden and in T-slots but also have the around the bar fixings pins for square bars, so usually with the box you get at least two different sets of four fixing pins.
Edit:
If looking for a roof box my advise would be to look for boxes with both sides opening, left and right.

Great advice, thanks again.

I'm definitely going for the free ride 532 set up regarding the bike rack option. The Square bars seem reasonable priced £150 on eBay including the quick fitting attachments. £196.00 for the same set up on the Thule site.

Still not made my mind up regarding which bars to go with to be honest.
 
I'm unsure if that same law applies but when I looked into having a tow bar on my w211 AMG. I was told it against the law. I'm unsure if this also applies to the W212 E63? Thanks for advice on the tow rack all the same.

Apologies, I was commenting about W212's generally. I hadn't noticed that you've got a spiffy E63.

(Cough) AMG's aren't type approved to tow things - presumably because of their performance. So MB main dealer won't fit a tow bar, for fear that you'll be clocking 155 with a caravan on the back, probably while your Nanny's feeding the children their tea.

.
 
I purchased my roof bars and box from these people and I’d recommend them - very knowledgeable and helpful. They also do bike racks; I’ve been browsing them recently and they look to have some good options.

The Roof Box Company
 
Apologies, I was commenting about W212's generally. I hadn't noticed that you've got a spiffy E63.

(Cough) AMG's aren't type approved to tow things - presumably because of their performance. So MB main dealer won't fit a tow bar, for fear that you'll be clocking 155 with a caravan on the back, probably while your Nanny's feeding the children their tea.

.[/QUOTE

It's regarded as a heap of shite on here lol. I should really get onto MB and explain to them that many members don't class the 6.2 in the W212 shell to be an (AMG) can I have a tow bar fitted :D:D:D.

:thumb:
 
I purchased my roof bars and box from these people and I’d recommend them - very knowledgeable and helpful. They also do bike racks; I’ve been browsing them recently and they look to have some good options.

The Roof Box Company

I'll take a look at there stuff. Cheers
 
I’ve always had roof mounted systems on my cars. On my estate I’ve got Mercedes roof bars with Thule carriers which work very well together. I’ve never had any issues getting the bikes on the roof even when I’ve got all four.

The only faux par was I had a total lapse in concentration one day and drove into a church car park with a low barrier. [emoji31]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I’ve been buying Thule from this company skid-1972 on eBay since 2015 for all my cars W211, Volvo and most recently for S212 and their service was always fantastic
 
Apologies, I was commenting about W212's generally. I hadn't noticed that you've got a spiffy E63.

(Cough) AMG's aren't type approved to tow things - presumably because of their performance. So MB main dealer won't fit a tow bar, for fear that you'll be clocking 155 with a caravan on the back, probably while your Nanny's feeding the children their tea.

.
You can get specific bike rack mounts , which can't be used for towing anything as the 'tow ball' is shaped slightly differently , and therefore the legality is fine .

Bike carrier towbar RMC - Specially designed for bike carriers

This video better shows the difference in the tow ball , which prevents use with trailers .

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Last edited:
Great advice, thanks again.

I'm definitely going for the free ride 532 set up regarding the bike rack option. The Square bars seem reasonable priced £150 on eBay including the quick fitting attachments. £196.00 for the same set up on the Thule site.

Still not made my mind up regarding which bars to go with to be honest.
also look at Halfords branded roof bars , which are made for them by Thule and are exactly the same products , only cheaper .
 
I’ve always had roof mounted systems on my cars. On my estate I’ve got Mercedes roof bars with Thule carriers which work very well together. I’ve never had any issues getting the bikes on the roof even when I’ve got all four.

The only faux par was I had a total lapse in concentration one day and drove into a church car park with a low barrier. [emoji31]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
A friend did that too , after returning from a holiday , forgot the bikes were there and drove under a barrier across the entrance to a supermarket car park ; he not only destroyed the four bikes but ripped the roof rails out of the roof of his Passat estate , which would have been a costly repair too .
 

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