BMW X3 F25 (2010-2017) with Menabo Tiger Black roof bars and Mania 320 roof box

A BMW X3 F25 received a complete black set on its roof: Menabo Tiger Black roof bars and the Menabo Mania 320 ABS Black roof box. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: BMW X3 second generation (F25)

The BMW X3 F25 was built between September 2010 and August 2017 at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on the BMW L7 platform. It is a 5-door SUV, and the LCI facelift of 2014, for model year 2015, brought modified headlights, a new grille and new bumpers.

For a roof box, two figures matter: how much the bars carry and how much the roof carries. On the X3 xDrive30d and xDrive35d, the BMW data sheet of 2014 gives 100 kg on the roof. The Menabo Tiger Black bars, which fix to the rail-type roof rails of the X3, have a 75 kg capacity, so they set the limit for the box and the luggage.

What we fitted on this BMW X3 F25

As a base we used the Menabo Tiger Black roof bars for the BMW X3 (F25) 2010-2017: black aluminium, 1,200 mm long, 48 x 28 mm oval profile and a 20 mm T-track along the whole length. The set comes with 4 pre-assembled feet and an Allen key and is tested to TÜV and ISO/PAS 11154:2006.

On the bars we fitted the the Menabo Mania 320 ABS Black roof box, made of glossy black ABS plastic, with 320 litres and a maximum capacity of 50 kg. It has a lock, opens on the right-hand side and fits without special keys. The 60 mm U-bolt fitting is included, and the box's product page confirms direct compatibility with Menabo Tiger bars.

Video: Menabo Tiger Silver and Tiger Black roof bars

Video: Menabo Mania roof box

Technical details and what to watch for

• Menabo Tiger Black: 1,200 mm, 48 x 28 mm, aluminium, 75 kg capacity, no lock.
• Menabo Mania 320 Black: 320 litres, 50 kg maximum load, glossy black ABS, a box in the under-140 cm length class.
• Useful calculation: a box full with 50 kg of luggage, plus its own weight, stays below the 75 kg of the Tiger Black bars.
• The 60 mm U-bolt fitting comes with the box; for an 80 mm U-bolt fitting or a 20 mm T fitting there are optional adapters (code 000065000000 for the 80 mm U-bolt, 000120100000 for the 20 mm T).
• Put heavy luggage in the middle of the box and light luggage towards the ends, so as not to load the bars unevenly.
• The instructions for the bars are included in the pack; for the box, fitting instructions and specifications are in PDF on the product page.

Instructions and documents

• MENABO MANIA MARATHON 320 Fitting instructions (PDF)
• Specifications – Menabo Mania 320L (PDF)
• Specifications 2 – Menabo Mania 320L (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which roof box fits the BMW X3 F25 with Menabo Tiger roof bars?

On a BMW X3 F25 with Menabo Tiger bars, the Menabo Mania 320 roof box fits, directly compatible with the Tiger bars through the 60 mm U-bolt fitting included. It has 320 litres and a maximum capacity of 50 kg.

How much weight does the Menabo Mania 320 box carry?

The Menabo Mania 320 ABS Black roof box has a maximum load of 50 kg and a volume of 320 litres. On a BMW X3 F25 with Menabo Tiger Black bars of 75 kg, a full box stays within the limit of the bars.

Do you need an adapter for the Menabo Mania 320 box on Menabo Tiger bars?

No. The product page of the Menabo Mania 320 box states that it is directly compatible with Menabo Tiger bars, using the 60 mm U-bolt fitting included in the pack. The adapters for the 80 mm U-bolt fitting or the 20 mm T fitting are optional and are needed only on other types of bars, for example Menabo Leopard or Lince.

Why is a roof box worth it on an SUV like the BMW X3?

Even an SUV like the BMW X3 F25 can run out of room when the luggage no longer fits in the boot, and a 320-litre box like the Menabo Mania 320 moves bulky luggage onto the roof. You will find more arguments in our guide 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

For a BMW X3 ready for a long trip, we are at the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania. We will show you in person the roof boxes and roof bars that fit, and we fit them on the spot. Contact us through our contact page or at [email protected]. contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

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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: 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro