Bike rack for an ep3?

[Squidward]

Anybody use a bike rack on their ep3 that works well without messing up the paint? I have a Graber carrier that goes on the back of the car and hangs onto the edges of the hatch, but I'm not super crazy about using it on my beloved car. It worked fine when I had my POS '94 DX, but now I'm looking for something better. Something that can handle two mountain bikes.

[2k3hatchie]

I use a Hollywood Sport Rider 2 Hitch rack, Holds two bikes mint. Has next to no effect on fuel economy too. The price is pretty good compared to most other hitch racks of the style as well as most roof racks I've seen. You can get a hitch from Uhaul or Etrailer for like $100. Uhaul does installs too, but I forget what they charge cause I put mine in. Just need to drill two holes in the spare tire well and the rest bolts up.

The Best Feature is that it never touches the car, that's the main reason I bought mine. One thing to note is that you can't open the hatch with a bike on the rack (It opens fine if there's nothing on the rack though). I used a much more expensive Thule that had the same problem so mehh.

http://hollywoodracks.com/hitch-racks/sportrider-hitch-rack.htm

[shanewdude]

I've got my bike rack on the roof. I also use the racks for windsurfing gear and a cargo box, so it's worth it for me to have the roof mount style. It does create a lot of noise and drag with bikes on the roof, so if you can go hitch-mount you may be better off.

[Squidward]

I use a Hollywood Sport Rider 2 Hitch rack, Holds two bikes mint. Has next to no effect on fuel economy too. The price is pretty good compared to most other hitch racks of the style as well as most roof racks I've seen. You can get a hitch from Uhaul or Etrailer for like $100. Uhaul does installs too, but I forget what they charge cause I put mine in. Just need to drill two holes in the spare tire well and the rest bolts up.

The Best Feature is that it never touches the car, that's the main reason I bought mine. One thing to note is that you can't open the hatch with a bike on the rack (It opens fine if there's nothing on the rack though). I used a much more expensive Thule that had the same problem so mehh.

http://hollywoodracks.com/hitch-racks/sportrider-hitch-rack.htm

You put a hitch on your Eg? My gut reaction to that is "Hell No!" but maybe I'm being premature. Got any pics of your hitch? Is it a 2"?

[Dbl-Htch]

I have a Graber carrier that goes on the back of the car and hangs onto the edges of the hatch, but I'm not super crazy about using it on my beloved car. It worked fine when I had my POS '94 DX, but now I'm looking for something better.

...exact same situation here, I also have a Graber back-of-the-car rack that I've used on my other (beater) cars, but now that the EP is my beater, I'm a little hesitant. As a "stop-gap" solution last week I figured out that if I take the front wheel off of my bike it fits quite snugly in the hatch. :mredface:

Not sure yet if I wanna spend the ~$300 for a hitch/hitch rack, although it does definitely seem like the best solution that I've come across so far...

[SHHEP3@UB]

I have the Saris Bones rack that I bought for $120. I have a friend who works at a bike shop and he rates the Saris Bones as t eh best trunk mounted rack you can get. It has four legs with large rubber pads, so I just keep them clean and they don't scratch the paint. Not as convenient as a roof rack because you pretty much can't get into the hatch when you have a bike on it, but roof racks can go past $700 for two bikes, and I have had three mountain bikes on the EP cruising at highway speeds without a problem. Really good sturdy rack.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v330/184/84/626397266/n626397266_1193043_898.jpg

[2k3hatchie]

You put a hitch on your Eg? My gut reaction to that is "Hell No!" but maybe I'm being premature. Got any pics of your hitch? Is it a 2"?

I've got a 1&1/4'' Hitch, that's really all anyone sells for our car that I had seen.

Here's a pic of the rack on on my car.. crummy phone pic
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu42/dv71316/NewImage1.jpg

I juust took a couple pics of the hitch after you asked but I'm having trouble uploading to photobucket for some reason. I'll keep trying.

Its pretty low key, I mean you can see it but it doesn't glare out at you like some hitches do. I'm sure diehard car guys will scoff at you though heh.

[StraightEP3]

Im rockin a hitch w/ a yakima 4 bike rack.....it works great no issues....easy on and off....plus w/ a hitch you have many options to tow small stuff.

[ericl244]

where can someone pick up a set of the roof mount ones?

[Kac-A-Lac724]

rockin the yakima roof rack

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac218/Kac_A_Lac724/l_7afdeebb1aa94df399cf0d2aa0cb604e.jpg

[Johnny]

I also have the Yakima roof rack. Kills your mpg by about 2 miles per gallon. Also a bit of a pain to get your bike on and off the car. If I had to do it over again, I'd buy a hitch and rack. I'd go with the one 2k3hatchie has. Probably cheaper in price then the one I have and works better.


Maybe someone wants to trade?

[ericl244]

I also have the Yakima roof rack. Kills your mpg by about 2 miles per gallon. Also a bit of a pain to get your bike on and off the car. If I had to do it over again, I'd buy a hitch and rack. I'd go with the one 2k3hatchie has. Probably cheaper in price then the one I have and works better.


Maybe someone wants to trade?


Don't care abot loss in MPG, i just need someway to get my bike around without using a trailer hitch or anything that attatches to the back of the hatch (i have the type r wing and i am not willing to sacrafice it, haha)

[oneglory]

I have a 1 1/4" hitch with a Graber rack...works great...it scrapes on big drive ways though.

[2k3hatchie]

Got a better pic of the rack setup on my car. It never scrapes, even now that its lower 1''

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu42/dv71316/IMG_0269.jpg

[DomoEP3]

how much did u get the yakima roof rack for?

[doubledouble]

Bump for more pics of EPs with roof rack. (I"m getting tired of folding the seats down and taking off the front tire on my bike to haul it around). Got pics? Please do post! Tanks.

[dyeownsme]

I'll post mine tmw, it was 10$ off craigslist :) only holds two bikes.

sits on window and under licence plate light :/
and I use a dish towel to protect my paint from the upper hooks

[lucky7]

if anyone comes across any, i need a Thule 400xt foot pack and/or 2121 fit kit.

i have everything for a gutter mount car, but i no longer have the car with gutters. :lol:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4716108372_9c1e17fff0_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3759083551_81c3d8253b_z.jpg

i've PM'd like 10 people on different forums and haven't gotten a single response.... i want to buy used because new, the fit kit and foot pack alone cost more than what i paid for my rack (feet, fit kit, bars, fairing, shipped)...

but a roof mounted rack is really the way to go. very useable.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/37340_409586422413_500292413_4946163_5646130_n.jpg

i know most people just put them on to look at, but i use the shit out of mine.
75lb boxes!
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/14359_181114337413_500292413_3411877_5562467_n.jpg

so if anyone comes across anything, please let me know. because they are like legos, i just need to swap out the feet and i'm golden.

[doubledouble]

I got dibs first jerk. j/p

sweet e30.

[lucky7]

they're all yours man, i just found a set for $80 shipped. :D
now to track down a 2121 fit kit.

[ace of spades]

a little bmx bike warning for any potential Saris Bones buyers...

I rented one of these to use on a recent bmx trip from PA to FL on my EP. because of the size and shape of the posts, it was hard to figure out how to fit bmx bikes onto the rack. it took me about 30 minutes to make it work with the first bike once I realized that I needed to push the posts together, then mount the bikes on the rack, then spread the posts. if you have a newer compact bmx frame, you will be in worse shape and I'm not sure they will fit.

mtbs and road bikes wouldn't be a problem with this rack.

[doubledouble]

Good deal. Cost prolly half that to ship!

[lucky7]

nah, just 4 of these little things. no bars or anything else.
http://www.clavey.com/images/products/RoofRacks/Thule/AeroFoot400XT.jpg

[doubledouble]

More info needed on the E30. 5 speed? How's the maintenance? I heard they're nightmares. Any truth to that? Looking sweet. A vert 5-speed will be in my future one day..

[PatrickJamesYu]

More info needed on the E30. 5 speed? How's the maintenance? I heard they're nightmares. Any truth to that? Looking sweet. A vert 5-speed will be in my future one day..

They're fun
LOTS

me and 2 friends just swapped an s52 into an e30
Working on them is pretty darn easy in my opinion.

The car is fully stripped and being prepped for track.

[02TWSI]

E30s just got a jdm tight tax added to most of their price tags thanks to fan boys and their hellaflush ways.

You can probably get away with a cheap late 80s vert cause no one wants a convertible LOL

[ToingToing]

Here's my setup when I had it... I sold it to a member here (I forgot his name, he's from AZ) couple months ago for $250+/- for the whole thing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v674/rndbar9/IMAG0394.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v674/rndbar9/IMAG0646.jpg

I want to get a hitch rack next.

[02TWSI]

care to straight trade me your wheels, please, with sugar on top?
:]

[Tougeep3]

Have a hitch mounted thule. It's able to fold down, so i can get in the hatch with it loaded or not.. Didn't like the trunk mount for reasons mentioned. Don't like roof rack, search a bike forum and you'll find the "forgot to remove bike before entering garage" threads and just a hint, bikes dont win.. So hitch mounted for me..

[lucky7]

More info needed on the E30. 5 speed? How's the maintenance? I heard they're nightmares. Any truth to that? Looking sweet. A vert 5-speed will be in my future one day..

they're super cheap. i'm really pissed that they've gained popularity in the last couple of years. i bought my first one when i was 15, from my next door neighbor. so like 1999, lol. after that i had an E32 ('88 750il, 5L V12), now that was a nightmare. my fist E30 was an '86 325 5 speed. before the I and IS came out, so the larger, less powerful 2.7L (M20B27). the one pictured above is an '87 325is, so it had the 2.5L (M20B25).

parts are cheap, I6's are reliable, etc. i don't particularly like working on cars, so i have "a guy" that i take all my cars to when i either can't do something, or don't want to. :lol:

i had to replace a transmission. it didn't really fry, but something in the linkage was messed up, so i couldn't put it into gear.
120k mile Getrag 260, $300 shipped to my door. clutch, like $220 shipped. PLPD, $16.00 a month.

cheap cars overall. they're old, electronics don't last forever. i changed the oil in mine maybe twice in 30k miles. i just made sure it was topped off. it had 170k on it when i crashed it.

i could honestly go on forever and ever about these cars, but i'll refrain. :lol:
r3vlimited.com
e30tech.com

[doubledouble]

E30s just got a jdm tight tax added to most of their price tags thanks to fan boys and their hellaflush ways.

You can probably get away with a cheap late 80s vert cause no one wants a convertible LOL



I hate that they're popular too. I've always wanted one sine the late 90's. It'd be a weekend whip for me hence the top down nature of just cruisin' I saw one on CL white, vert, but it had some engine problems and it was an auto. :(

[lucky7]

i really want a 92 Mtech vert. white on white, Mtech 2 kit, auto only though. i've seen them FS swapped to 5 speed though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/BimmerDawg/M%20Tech%20Vert/Finished/DSC03321.jpg

[Mikebuen]

[QUOTE=ToingToing;881466]Here's my setup when I had it... I sold it to a member here (I forgot his name, he's from AZ) couple months ago for $250+/- for the whole thing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v674/rndbar9/IMAG0394.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v674/rndbar9/IMAG0646.jpg

Where did you buy this rack from and how much was it?? I've been looking every where and I can't find it any where and I don't want a hatch rack

[lucky7]

if you want to use the square bars (Thule), you'll need the following:
-400xt foot pack. ($175)
-2121 fit kit. ($75) *discontinued* i bought one yesterday, but the first two places i tried to buy from said it was discontinued.
-square bars. (i think they're $75)

that's basic. you're looking at another $100 or so for a fairing if you want one. i paid just over $100 for my thule big mouth bike attachment, and $100 for my basket (off brand). if you want to haul around larger things, you'll need to get the Thule short roof kit (part 477 i believe it is), and it's roughly $140.

i should have all my parts sitting at home waiting for me on monday. so i buy my EP on sunday night. after exam on monday, i plate and register it. from there, i take a bunch of shit home with me. at home i'll get my parking pass off my brothers car (long story), throw my rack on and drive back to school. i needed a way to get my bike home from school, and i needed to get my parking pass anyways. now i don't have to put gas in a 5.7 ram to get all my shit home. :lol:

i don't know much about Yakima racks, but i believe the EP uses the Q towers with the round bars. i'm sure you'll also need to get a car specific fit kit.

[lucky7]

bam.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/dane240/c6eb45b6.jpg

[G-MaC!]

Bike racks actually look legit! I'm surprised how decent they look.

[doubledouble]

bam.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/dane240/c6eb45b6.jpg



Get the short roof adapter (thule). Or the Stretch kit (yakima) for more stability and a wide stance on the bars. Having them so close to each other isn't safe and IMO looks kinda wack.

[lucky7]

isn't safe? lol, it's fine. i was looking at the short roof kit, however, i see no reason for it unless i was going to put a kyak or something up there. i still may get one before i use my basket, because i think it would look funny hanging over the windshield.

[Ep3crazy]

I like em nd there is nothing bad bout them. But would make sense if u used it to have it cuz for a dd might b a lil to much

[lucky7]

i had better quote the previous page then. this is the SAME rack that i put on my silver EP yesterday. i use the shit out of it. :)


if anyone comes across any, i need a Thule 400xt foot pack and/or 2121 fit kit.

i have everything for a gutter mount car, but i no longer have the car with gutters. :lol:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4716108372_9c1e17fff0_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3759083551_81c3d8253b_z.jpg

i've PM'd like 10 people on different forums and haven't gotten a single response.... i want to buy used because new, the fit kit and foot pack alone cost more than what i paid for my rack (feet, fit kit, bars, fairing, shipped)...

but a roof mounted rack is really the way to go. very useable.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/37340_409586422413_500292413_4946163_5646130_n.jpg

i know most people just put them on to look at, but i use the shit out of mine.
75lb boxes!
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/14359_181114337413_500292413_3411877_5562467_n.jpg

so if anyone comes across anything, please let me know. because they are like legos, i just need to swap out the feet and i'm golden.

i put it on earlier than anticipated because i need to bring my bike home from school on friday.

[lucky7]

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/229553_10150174943737414_500292413_7230834_3519870 _n.jpg

i'm telling you, you can fit a ton of shit in this thing. in the picture, my 27" imac is in there, microwave, boxes, tools, clothes, shoes, suit case, etc, etc. haha, i can't believe how much shit is in there.

[dyeownsme]

http://i.imgur.com/VlTBn.jpg

cheapo but it works

[AKAahlecks]

damn.. i want a bike rack. i could use one, but i dont think they look so great on round cars like ours. haha i think they look better on boxy cars like that e30

EDIT: roof rack