Contact us through our contact page or at [email protected]
Showroom: Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania
On this second-generation BMW X3 (F25), facelift version, with a roof without roof rails, we fitted a set of Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
In brief
- Car: BMW X3 F25 facelift (2014-2017), 5-door SUV, roof without roof rails.
- Fitted: Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars, fitted onto the body.
- Capacity: 50 kg on the roof bars, according to the product page; the X3 roof accepts 100 kg on the xDrive30d and xDrive35d.
- Fitting: the feet of the roof bars are fixed on the door frames, with fittings made for the car.
About the car: BMW X3 second generation (F25), facelift
The BMW X3 F25 is the second generation of the 5-door BMW SUV, built on the BMW L7 platform and produced between September 2010 and August 2017 at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, in the United States. In 2014, for the 2015 model year, the X3 received the LCI facelift, with modified headlights (LED optional), a new grille and new bumpers. The car in this fitting is an F25 facelift, so built between 2014 and 2017.
Our car has no roof rails on the roof, so the roof bars have nothing to rest on except the body: their feet are fixed on the door frames, with fittings made for the car. The 2014 BMW data sheet gives a maximum roof load of 100 kg for the X3 xDrive30d and xDrive35d. When fitting, though, the lower value of the roof and the roof bars is what counts, and for Menabo Tema that is 50 kg.
What we fitted on this BMW X3
We chose the Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars, designed specially for cars that have no factory roof rails. The bar has an aerodynamic oval profile, 48 mm wide and 30 mm high, with a length of 1,300 mm, and the metal components have a rubberised anti-corrosion coating.
On top, each bar has a 20 mm T-track for accessories with a T fitting: bike racks, roof boxes, ski racks or kayak racks. If the accessory has only a U-bolt fitting, it is fixed around the outside of the bar. The set comes with 4 fitting kit parts, 4 feet, 2 aluminium bars, 4 lock cylinders with keys and an Allen key, and no other tools are needed.
Technical details and what to watch for
- Bar length: 1,300 mm; profile: 48 x 30 mm; material: aluminium, silver colour.
- Maximum load on the bars: 50 kg. From this value you subtract the weight of the accessory: a bike rack or a roof box uses up part of the 50 kg before any luggage.
- The BMW X3 F25 roof accepts 100 kg according to the BMW data sheet 02/2014 for the xDrive30d and xDrive35d; for the other engines check the car's manual. The real limit remains that of the roof bars.
- The roof bars are TÜV and ISO tested, and the set includes 4 lock cylinders with keys.
- The fittings are made for the car model. For an X3 F25 without roof rails, we check the kit code together with you before you order.
- The fitting instructions are included in the box; the product has no PDF sheet on the site.
Frequently asked questions
Which roof bars fit the BMW X3 F25 without roof rails?
On a BMW X3 F25 without roof rails you use roof bars that fit onto the body, such as the Menabo Tema Aluminium, which clamp onto the door frames with fittings made for the car. Before fitting, we check together that the chosen set is the one for the BMW X3 F25.
What load do the Menabo Tema roof bars carry on the BMW X3?
The Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars have a maximum load of 50 kg. The BMW X3 F25 roof accepts 100 kg on the xDrive30d and xDrive35d, so on this X3 it is the 50 kg limit of the roof bars that matters, including the weight of the accessory fitted on them.
Can I fit a roof box with a U-bolt fitting on the Menabo Tema roof bars?
Yes. The Menabo Tema roof bars have a 20 mm T-track for T fittings, and accessories with a U-bolt fitting are fixed around the outside of the bar, which is 48 mm wide. The full box, together with its own weight, must stay under 50 kg on this BMW X3.
Why do roof bars whistle on the BMW X3 at high speed?
Any bar fitted on the roof of a BMW X3 changes the aerodynamics of the car. The oval profile of the Menabo Tema roof bars reduces drag, and Menabo recommends not exceeding 130 km/h with the roof bars fitted. You can find more tips in our guide on roof bar noise.
We are waiting for you in the showroom
If you have a BMW X3 F25 without roof rails and want roof bars or roof boxes that fit it, you are welcome at the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where we do the fitting on the spot. Contact us through our contact page or at [email protected]. contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].
You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Sources: Wikipedia, BMW X3 (code F25, production years, L7 platform, Spartanburg plant, LCI facelift 2014) · BMW Media information 02/2014, technical data BMW X3 xDrive30d / xDrive35d (roof load 100 kg) · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: Why do my roof bars make noise while driving? · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro
Comments