04 May 2022
Suportbicicleta.ro
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BMW X3 F25 (2010-2017) with Menabo Ariete Flush roof bars and a Mania 460 roof box

Showroom: Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania

For this BMW X3 F25 we prepared a combination for long journeys: Menabo Ariete Flush roof bars and the Menabo Mania 460 roof box, gloss white. We did the fitting in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

In brief

Car: BMW X3 F25 (2010-2017), 5-door SUV, with roof rails on the roof.
Fitted: Menabo Ariete Flush bars and the Menabo Mania 460 ABS White roof box.
Capacity: the bars carry 75 kg; after the 20.2 kg of the box, 54.8 kg remain for luggage.
Fitting: bars on the roof rails, box with U-bolt fitting on the outside of the bars.

About the car: BMW X3 second generation (F25)

The BMW X3 F25 is the second generation of the model, built between September 2010 and August 2017 at Spartanburg, South Carolina. It uses the BMW L7 platform, has a 5-door SUV body and in 2014 went through the LCI facelift, with new headlights, grille and bumpers for the 2015 model year.

For a roof rack, the first thing we check on an X3 is whether it has roof rails. On the BMW UK price list from 2012 they appear as standard on the SE and M Sport. The Ariete Flush bars fit onto the car's roof rails, and the maximum accepted distance between the rails is 1,195 mm. The BMW 02/2014 data sheet gives a 100 kg roof load for the xDrive30d and xDrive35d, above the 75 kg capacity of the bars.

What we fitted on this BMW X3

Menabo Ariete Flush roof bars for the BMW X3 (F25) 2010-2017 are telescopic, made of aluminium, with a 4 cm aerodynamic section and curved ends. The bar is 1,050 mm long and 28 mm high, with a lock and TÜV and ISO/PAS 11154:2006 approval. Ariete Flush has no T-track on top, so accessories attach with U-bolts, on the outside of the bar.

On them we fitted Menabo Mania 460 ABS White roof box, made of gloss white ABS plastic, with 460 litres and a 75 kg maximum load. It comes with 60 mm U-bolts and 20 mm T-bolts included, with a lock and opening on the right-hand side. The quick fitting needs no special tools, and the product page of the box confirms compatibility with Menabo Ariete bars.

Video: Menabo Mania roof box

Video: Menabo Ariete Flush roof bars

Technical details and what to watch for

Menabo Ariete Flush: 1,050 mm long, 28 x 40 mm section, aluminium, 75 kg capacity, maximum distance between roof rails 1,195 mm.
Menabo Mania 460: 460 litres, 75 kg maximum load, own weight 20.2 kg, box in the 180-200 cm length class.
Useful calculation: 75 kg bar capacity minus 20.2 kg box weight gives a maximum of 54.8 kg of luggage in the box on this BMW X3, even though the box alone would accept 75 kg.
On the Ariete Flush the box attaches with the 60 mm U-bolts included, because the bars have no T-track.
With a long box on the roof, check after fitting that the X3 tailgate opens fully without touching the box.
The bar instructions are included in the package; for the box there are instructions and specifications as a PDF on the product page.

Instructions and documents

Frequently asked questions

Which roof bars fit the BMW X3 F25 with roof rails?

On a BMW X3 F25 2010-2017 with roof rails, for example, the Menabo Ariete Flush bars for the BMW X3 (F25) are suitable, which fit onto the car's roof rails. They have a 75 kg capacity and accept a maximum distance of 1,195 mm between the roof rails.

How many kilograms of luggage can I put in the Menabo Mania 460 box on the BMW X3?

The Menabo Mania 460 box carries 75 kg, but on Menabo Ariete Flush bars, which also carry 75 kg, the box weight of 20.2 kg is deducted. That leaves 54.8 kg of luggage on the BMW X3 F25, under the 100 kg BMW gives for the roof on the xDrive30d and xDrive35d.

Do the Menabo Ariete Flush bars have a T-track for T-bolt fitting?

No. Menabo Ariete Flush roof bars have no T-track on top, so accessories are fixed with U-bolts on the outside of the bar. The Menabo Mania 460 box has 60 mm U-bolts included, so it fits on them without an adapter.

Do roof bars make noise on the BMW X3 while driving?

Any set of roof bars on a BMW X3 can make noise, especially with accessories fitted. The aerodynamic profile and curved ends of the Menabo Ariete Flush bars help, and Menabo recommends a maximum of 130 km/h with the bars fitted. Details in the guide Why do my roof bars make noise while driving.