Bikes for the weekend, a ski box, or gear that doesn't belong in a clean trunk. BMW is better prepared for cargo on the roof than one might expect, though the rack attaches differently than on most cars. Choose your model and generation to see the setups tailored to your car.
1, 3, and 5 Series sedans and hatchbacks, as well as 4 Series coupés, mount via fixed points in our range. Nothing is visible on the roof. The points are under plastic covers where the roof meets the door frame; the cover is carefully flipped open and the foot is bolted directly into the thread. It holds more firmly and is quieter than mounting under the door frame, but the kit must be specific to the given series and generation.
Touring estate versions and X Series SUVs have roof rails, and the selection changes there. Newer cars, such as the 3 Series Touring from 2012 onwards or the X1 and X2, use flush roof rails running flat against the roof. Older Tourings and large X5, X6, or X7 models have raised roof rails that you can slide your fingers under. Switching from a sedan to a Touring is the most common reason a ordered kit doesn't fit on a BMW, so verify your body style before you start comparing setups.
Sedans, hatchbacks, and coupés: 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 4 Series Coupé, 4 Series Gran Coupé, i4, i5.
Touring estates: 3 Series Touring, 5 Series Touring.
Family cars: 2 Series Active Tourer, 2 Series Gran Tourer.
Skis and bikes most frequently on the 3 and 5 Series, roof boxes on Tourings and X Series SUVs. Since these cars do a lot of highway driving, it's worth looking at the crossbar shape: an aerodynamic wing-shaped aluminum profile is noticeably quieter and has less impact on fuel consumption, while the steel one is cheaper and can handle more weight. If you leave the crossbars on the car all year round, you will appreciate the quieter profile sooner rather than later.
Select the series and body style and proceed to the generation according to the production year.
