15 Sep 2021
Suportbicicleta.ro
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Skoda Fabia III (NJ) with Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and Diamond 450 roof box

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

On a Skoda Fabia III (NJ) hatchback we fitted Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and the Menabo Diamond 450 Black roof box, in the SuportBicicleta.ro shop at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

In brief

Car: Skoda Fabia III (NJ), 5-door hatchback, without sunroof
Fitted: Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and Menabo Diamond 450 Black roof box
Capacity: the roof bars carry 50 kg, the box has 450 litres
Fitting: the box attaches with the Quick Fix T-bolt fitting in the 20 mm track of the roof bars

About the car: Skoda Fabia III (NJ)

The Skoda Fabia III, with the model code NJ, was launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 2014 and was built from August 2014 to November 2022, on the Volkswagen A06 (PQ26) platform. It received a facelift for the 2019 model year, and the hatchback went out of production in June 2021, while the Combi stayed in the range.

For roof bars the body type matters: the Fabia III Combi has roof rails, while the hatchback in this fitting does not, so the roof bars clamp onto the door frames, with a vehicle-specific kit. The Skoda Fabia manual (11.2020 edition) gives a maximum roof load of 75 kg, roof bars included, so this is the limit you start from when choosing a roof box.

What we fitted on this Skoda Fabia III

The Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars for the Skoda Fabia III (NJ) fit directly onto the roof, with 4 fittings made for the hatchback without sunroof. They have an aerodynamic oval profile, are silver, 1,120 mm long, and carry 50 kg. On top they have a 20 mm track for accessories with T-bolt fittings, and accessories without a T-bolt fitting can be fitted with U-bolts, around the outside of the bar. The set also includes 4 locks with keys.

On the bars we fitted the the Menabo Diamond 450 Black roof box, made of glossy black ABS plastic, with a volume of 450 litres and a capacity of 75 kg. It attaches in the track of the roof bars with the 20 mm T-bolt Quick Fix fitting included in the pack, has an integrated anti-theft lock and opens on one side. The Diamond 450 is TÜV and City Crash tested and is compatible with Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars without an adapter.

Video: Menabo Diamond 450 roof box presentation

Skoda Fabia III (NJ) with Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and Menabo Diamond 450 Black roof box, photo 1

Technical details and what to watch for

Calculation for this fitting: the roof bars carry 50 kg and the Diamond 450 box weighs 18 kg, so you can put at most 32 kg of luggage in the box, even though the box itself accepts 75 kg.
So the roof ends up carrying 4.9 kg roof bars + 18 kg box + 32 kg luggage = 54.9 kg, under the 75 kg limit given by Skoda for the Fabia.
The Menabo Tema Aluminium bar has a section of 48 mm wide and 30 mm high, with a 20 mm T-track; the set weighs 4.9 kg.
The Diamond 450 box can also be fitted with the Quick Fix clamp system, as an option (item no. 000082500000).
The instruction manual for the Tema roof bars is included in the pack, and the fitting instructions and specifications of the Diamond box are available below as PDFs.
With the box on the roof, the Fabia becomes taller: keep this in mind in garages and underground car parks.

Instructions and documents

Frequently asked questions

Which roof bars fit the Skoda Fabia III hatchback?

On the Skoda Fabia III (NJ) 5-door hatchback without sunroof, roof bars that fit directly onto the roof are suitable, such as the Menabo Tema Aluminium, with a vehicle-specific kit for this model. The Skoda Fabia III Combi has roof rails, so it needs a different type of roof bars.

How much weight does the roof of the Skoda Fabia III carry?

The Skoda Fabia manual (11.2020 edition) gives a maximum roof load of 75 kg, roof bars included. The Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars carry a maximum of 50 kg, so this is the effective limit for the box and the luggage.

How much weight does the Menabo Diamond 450 roof box carry?

The Menabo Diamond 450 Black roof box has 450 litres and carries a maximum of 75 kg. Fitted on Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars of 50 kg, as on this Skoda Fabia III, you can put at most 32 kg of luggage in it, because the box weighs 18 kg.

Does the Menabo Diamond 450 box fit the Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars?

Yes, the Menabo Diamond 450 Black box is compatible with the Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and attaches directly in their 20 mm track, with the Quick Fix T-bolt fitting included in the pack. We explain why a roof box is worth it in the guide 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying.