VW Passat B6 Variant with Menabo Sherman Silver bars and Menabo Mania 460 roof box

On a Volkswagen Passat B6 Variant we fitted Menabo Sherman Silver roof bars and, on top of them, Menabo Mania 460 ABS White roof box. Everything was done in our shop at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Volkswagen Passat B6 Variant (2005-2010)

The Passat B6 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005 and reached Europe in the summer of the same year. It was built until 2010 on the Volkswagen Group A6 PQ46 platform, with the internal code 3C, as a 4-door saloon and as a 5-door estate called Variant. The car in this post is a white Variant with round tail lights and black raised roof rails.

The type of roof decides which bars are used. The B6 saloon has no roof rails and needs bars fixed to the car body, whereas the Variant has raised roof rails, with a gap under them. The roof bars fix directly onto these, using the fittings made for roof rails. That is why on this Passat we chose Sherman, a model for roof rails, and not a kit with feet for the door frames.

What we fitted on this Passat Variant

The Menabo Sherman Silver bars for the Volkswagen Passat (B6) Variant 2005-2010 are the improved version of the old Menabo Brio model. They have an oval aluminium profile, 1,200 mm long, 47 mm wide and 27 mm high, a rubber gasket on the underside and a 20 mm T-track along the full length. They are TÜV and ISO/PAS 11154:2006 tested and comply with DIN 75302.

On top of them we put Menabo Mania 460 ABS White roof box, made of glossy white ABS plastic, with a capacity of 460 litres and a weight of 20.2 kg. The box comes with a 60 mm U-bolt system and a 20 mm T-bolt system, so it matches the T-track of the Sherman bars, and its product page confirms compatibility with this bar model. It has a lock and opens on one side only, the right.

Video: Menabo Sherman bars on the roof rails

Video: Menabo Mania roof box presentation

Technical details and tips

• The capacity of the Menabo Sherman Silver bars is 90 kg. The Mania box weighs 20.2 kg, so the bars can take at most 69.8 kg of luggage in the box.
• The Mania 460 box is rated for a maximum of 75 kg, but on these bars the limit that counts is the 69.8 kg calculated above. In addition, observe the roof load given in the Passat manual, as the product page of the bars recommends.
• Box volume: 460 litres, ABS material, glossy white colour, lock included.
• The Sherman bars have no PDF manual on the site, but the fitting instructions are in the pack. For the Mania box, you will find the fitting instructions and specifications on the product page.
• With the box on the roof, the Passat Variant becomes noticeably taller. Check the clearance height before entering underground car parks or garages.

Instructions and documents

• MENABO MANIA MARATHON 400 460 fitting instructions (PDF)
• Menabo Mania 400L 460L specifications (PDF)
• Menabo Mania specifications 2 (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which roof bars fit the Passat B6 Variant with roof rails?

On a Volkswagen Passat B6 Variant (2005-2010), which has raised roof rails, you use roof bars that fix onto the roof rails. We fitted Menabo Sherman Silver for Passat (B6) Variant, made of aluminium, with a capacity of 90 kg.

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

The Menabo Mania 460 box weighs 20.2 kg and is rated for a maximum of 75 kg, while the Menabo Sherman Silver bars carry 90 kg. So on this Passat B6 Variant at most 69.8 kg of luggage remain for the box, unless the car manual gives a lower limit.

Is a roof box worth it on a Passat Variant?

Even though the Passat B6 Variant has an estate boot, a 460-litre box like the Menabo Mania leaves you room for the luggage that no longer fits in the car, and it can be used all year round, in rain or snow. You can find more arguments in the guide with 6 reasons for a roof box.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

We are waiting for you with your car in our showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where you can see the boxes in person and we can fit the right bars for you. You will find all the models in roof boxes and roof bars. For details or to book an appointment, 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: Volkswagen Passat (B6), production years, launch, PQ46 platform, code 3C and the Variant version · Fitting photo: white Passat B6 Variant with black roof rails · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro