Opel Astra J saloon with Menabo Tema roof bars and a Menabo Marathon Dark 460 roof box

On a 4-door Opel Astra J saloon, after the facelift, we fitted roof bars Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and a roof box, Menabo Marathon Dark, with a volume of 460 litres. We did the fitting in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Opel Astra J (P09) saloon

The Astra J, code P09, is the fourth-generation Astra and uses the GM Delta II platform; it made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009. The 4-door saloon was presented in 2012 in Moscow and was built until 2018, like the GTC, and the facelift announced in June 2012 came for the 2013 model year. The car in this fitting is a facelift saloon.

The Astra J saloon has no roof rails. The Opel manual for the saloon and GTC shows fixing points hidden under covers, which are removed with a coin, so the bars are chosen with a fitting kit for the body. The permitted roof load is 75 kg, with the weight of the bars included, and with a load on the roof the manual asks you not to exceed 120 km/h.

What we fitted on this Astra J Saloon

The Menabo Tema Aluminium are made for cars without roof rails and attach directly to the body, with vehicle-specific fittings. They have an aerodynamic oval profile, are 1120 mm long and 48 mm wide, have metal parts with anti-corrosion rubberised paint, a 20 mm track for T-track fitting and a capacity of 75 kg. The linked page is the version for the 5-door Opel Astra (H); for the Astra J saloon the fitting kit is chosen according to generation and body, so we confirm the exact version before you order.

On the roof bars we placed the Menabo Marathon Dark 460 roof box, made of matt black ABS plastic, with a volume of 460 litres and a length in the 180-200 cm class. It comes with 60 mm U-bolt and 20 mm T-track fittings included, the 80 mm U-bolt fitting being optional, has a lock and opens on one side. The product sheet lists it as compatible with Menabo Tema Aluminium bars.

Video: Fitting the Menabo Tema roof bar fittings

Video: Menabo Marathon roof box, presentation

Useful details

• Menabo Tema Aluminium bars: 1120 mm long, 30 mm high, 48 mm wide, 75 kg capacity; the set on the linked sheet (Astra H version) weighs 4.9 kg.
• Roof calculation: from the 75 kg allowed by Opel you deduct the weight of the bars (4.9 kg for the Tema set on the sheet), which leaves around 70 kg for the box and luggage; the own weight of the Marathon box is deducted from that as well.
• With the box on the roof do not exceed 120 km/h, the limit in the Opel Astra J manual for a load on the roof.
• The Marathon box is about 36 cm high, so the car becomes taller; watch out for garages and underground car parks.
• The Tema bars come with the instruction manual in the package, and for the Marathon box the product sheet has the fitting instructions and specifications in PDF.

Instructions and documents

• MENABO MANIA MARATHON 400 460 fitting instructions (PDF)
• Menabo Marathon 400 L 460 L specifications (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which roof bars fit the Opel Astra J saloon?

The Opel Astra J saloon (P09) has no roof rails, so it needs bars that fix to the body and a vehicle-specific kit, fixed at the fixing points under the roof covers. We fitted Menabo Tema Aluminium; we confirm the exact kit for the Astra J saloon when you contact us through our contact page or at [email protected] contact us through our contact page or at [email protected] before you order.

How much weight can the roof of an Opel Astra J carry?

For the Opel Astra J saloon and hatchback the Opel manual gives a permitted roof load of 75 kg, with the weight of the bars included, and the MY12 manual gives 100 kg for the Astra J Sports Tourer. With a load on the roof, Opel asks for a maximum of 120 km/h.

How many litres does the Menabo Marathon Dark roof box have?

The Menabo Marathon Dark roof box has 460 litres, is made of matt black ABS plastic and is in the 180-200 cm length class. It fixes on the bars with 60 mm U-bolt or 20 mm T-track fittings, both included. We explain why a roof box is worth having in the guide to roof boxes.

Does the Menabo Marathon box fit on Menabo Tema bars?

Yes. The data sheet of the Menabo Marathon Dark 460 lists it as compatible with Menabo Tema aluminium and steel bars, and also with Menabo Delta, Menabo Lince, Thule WingBar or Yakima ThruBar.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Do you have an Opel Astra J and want more luggage space? We are waiting for you in the showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where we check the right bar kit and choose the box together. See roof boxes and roof bars in our shop, and for questions you can reach us through contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

You can also message us on WhatsApp.

Sources: Wikipedia, Opel Astra (G, H and J generations) · Opel Astra J Owner's Manual 2017, saloon and GTC (en-GB), p. 71-72 · Opel Astra J Owner's Manual MY12 (en-GB), pp. 88, 90 · Guide: 6 reasons to buy a roof box · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro