BMW X3 F25 with a Menabo towbar bike rack for 2 bikes, the Menabo Altair

We fitted a Menabo towbar-mounted bike rack for 2 bikes on a BMW X3, and below we present the Menabo Altair, designed for regular and electric bikes. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom, which you can now find at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: BMW X3 (F25)

Judging by the tail lights and tailgate, the car in the main photo is a BMW X3 F25, the second generation of the X3, presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2010 and built from September 2010 to August 2017 on the BMW L7 platform. In 2014 it received the LCI facelift, for the 2015 model year. It is a 5-door, 5-seat SUV.

For a towbar-mounted rack, the vertical load on the towbar is what matters. According to the BMW data sheet valid from April 2014, the X3 F25 sDrive18d and xDrive20d allow 100 kg on the towbar and 100 kg on the roof. The Menabo Altair weighs 21.3 kg, and with two bikes at the 50 kg limit it reaches 71.3 kg, so it stays within the 100 kg. Compared with a rack on roof bars, a towbar rack needs no bars on the roof, and the bikes do not have to be lifted up to roof height.

What we fitted on this BMW X3

The model we present for this fitting is the Menabo Altair towbar-mounted bike rack for 2 bikes. It is made of aluminium, holds the bikes on a platform, secures them by the frame with special clamps, and carries a maximum of 50 kg, with no more than 25 kg on one bike. It takes e-bikes, but not fat bikes.

The Altair attaches to the towbar with a special lever, using the Rapid-Lock system, and has a tail light board, a 13/7-pin electrical plug and is extendable. It has a lock for the rack and for the bikes, so the bikes stay secured when you park, and the tilting function makes it easy to reach the boot. The rack itself weighs 21.3 kg.

Video: Fitting the Menabo Altair rack on the towbar

Calculations and tips for the Menabo Altair on the BMW X3

• Towbar calculation: 21.3 kg of rack plus 50 kg of bikes makes 71.3 kg, below the 100 kg the BMW X3 F25 allows on the towbar (BMW data sheet, 2014).
• E-bikes: two e-bikes of 25 kg each reach exactly the 50 kg limit of the Altair; do not add other luggage to the rack.
• Fat bikes: the Menabo Altair is not compatible with fat bikes; you need a different model for those.
• Rear lights: the rack has its own tail lights, powered through the 13/7-pin plug, so before you set off check that all the lights work and the number plate is visible.
• Storage: the packaging measures 136 x 26.5 x 55 cm, a useful reference for where you will keep it when you are not using it.
• Roof box: according to the data sheet, the Menabo Altair is not compatible with a roof box.

Frequently asked questions

Which towbar bike rack fits the BMW X3 F25?

On a BMW X3 F25 we fitted a Menabo towbar-mounted rack for 2 bikes. A suitable model is the Menabo Altair, with the Rapid-Lock fitting, a 50 kg load capacity and its own tail lights. Before fitting, check that the BMW X3 has a towbar with working electrics.

Can the Menabo Altair carry e-bikes?

Yes, the Menabo Altair towbar rack is suitable for e-bikes, with a maximum of 25 kg per bike and 50 kg in total for 2 bikes. The Menabo Altair is not suitable for fat bikes.

How much weight can the towbar on a BMW X3 F25 take?

According to the BMW data sheet valid from April 2014, the BMW X3 F25 sDrive18d and xDrive20d allow a vertical load of 100 kg on the towbar. The 21.3 kg Menabo Altair with 50 kg of bikes comes to 71.3 kg, below this limit.

What socket must the towbar have for the Menabo Altair?

The Menabo Altair has a 13/7-pin electrical plug and its own tail lights, so it connects to the 13-pin or 7-pin towbar electrics on the BMW X3. You can find more about tail lights and 7-pin or 13-pin plugs in the guide Bike racks: on roof bars or on the towbar.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Do you want to see the Menabo Altair or another towbar rack on your own car? We are waiting for you in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where we fit it and show you how it tilts. Before you come, you can compare towbar bike racks from the shop, and for questions 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 (F25) · BMW Media information 02/2014, The new BMW X3, specifications sDrive18d / xDrive20d · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: Bike racks: on roof bars or on the towbar · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro