E36 & E34 Tourings and mountain bike transporting

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:07 pm

Considering these two models but prefer the E36 really...

Is it easy to get a couple of mountain bikes in and out of the back or is the loading area on the E36 small?

I'm assuming the E34 has a larger loading area.

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:17 pm

E34 bigger load area and will find car alot cheaper ie: get more for your money

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:23 pm

Cool.

Does anyone use their touring for mountain bikes?

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:57 pm

E34's are bigger obviosley but E36 prices are rock bottom now and not alot different to E34 prices....Plus most E36's will be newer unless the E34's like a 95/96 late E34.

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:23 pm

Cant recommend it on an e30, after 100 motorway miles the bike rack which had 2 bikes on had rubbed through the paintwork to bare metal on my bootlid. Was NOT impressed!

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:32 pm

i can get a couple of 24seven bikes in my e30 touring but have to take the front wheel off and its a bit of squeeze. I'd go for a E34 touring

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:38 pm

Hes after an E34 or an E36

Post Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:12 pm

I know, was just trying to advise against the e30 route incase he decided to go that way after all.

Post Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:33 pm

Wondering how spacious the E36 Compact is now too.

Could I get a couple of bikes in one of those?

Not sure how it compares in size to an E30 touring.

Post Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:45 pm

toby wrote:Wondering how spacious the E36 Compact is now too.

Could I get a couple of bikes in one of those?

Not sure how it compares in size to an E30 touring.

Tourings are better.

Post Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:59 pm

toby wrote:Wondering how spacious the E36 Compact is now too.

Could I get a couple of bikes in one of those?

Not sure how it compares in size to an E30 touring.

depends if you need to use the rear seats or not.

the compacts boot is a decent size considering thats the bit they chopped off to make it shorter than the 2 and 4 doors, but its not huge. the opening is bigger than the std e36s, and with the rear seats folded it should be no problem getting a couple of bikes in, although i've yet to try.

Post Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:34 pm

I thought the opening looked bigger on the compact!

Not many mountain bikers on here then

Post Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:57 pm

I do MTB's and road cycling and put my bikes on the roof. I have an e39 touring now I wouldn't stick them inside after a run out as they cover the inside in crap. I have the racks that fix the forks down and then strap the rear wheel down. Front wheel goes inside the car. Safe as anything that way, plus leave loads of space inside for any luggage etc.

I also used our e30 touring a few times in France doing a couple of 600 mile race/charity event rides over a course of a couple of days and again it was perfect. We had 4 bikes on the roof whilst doing that.

If you do get a saloon, you'll soon get fed up with avoiding the trim inside with the front gears and mechs especially once they've tugged the trim on the seats etc.

Touring all the way Toby.

Post Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:14 pm

Cheers for that AndyG. I'm certainly not considering a saloon for this. Either a touring, in E36 or E34 shape, or a compact if bikes fit in it. I'm not into bike racks as I'm not bothered about getting the inside of the car dirty. I will throw some dustsheets down but that's all. I'm after a bit of a slag car for this stuff. My dad's old Audi 100 Avant would have been perfect for this but that has long gone...

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:17 am

~ Don't try fitting a bike in a e36 coupe! They are fecking useless! Had to take both wheels off.

I would have thought a e36 touring would be OK though - the actual boot opening is alright and it will use less fuel.

Landcruiser's are the best for bikes though!

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:37 pm

Cheers guys but I'm only considering a touring or a compact.

I suppose the E36 would use less fuel than an E34.
But E34s look so cool but they aren't such a huge number around for sale at the moment.

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:18 pm

Ive just picked up 2 mountain bikes, I used my E30 touring with the roof rack and 2 Thule bike carriers. Its easier than using the rear bike carriers and there's plenty of room in the back for gear.

I switch my Thule bike carriers over from the roof rack on my E30 to my E46 roof rack bars, it takes less than 2 mins putting the bikes on and securing them.

Post Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:28 pm

I used to have an e36 touring and managed to wedge a full double mattress in the boot, with the rear seats down obviously! They're pretty good on load space, just get a good one, mine died due to rust. The e34 would be bigger, but also heavier on the fuel.

Post Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:12 pm

I got a kingsize mattress in the boot of my E30 so thats not much of an achievement for an E36 touring!
My daily driver is an E34 525i touring, converted to gas its fecking great, dead handy for lugging just about anything around and if its too big for the boot ive just fitted a tow bar, westfailia removable

Looks much nicer than the E36 thing as its got proper headlamps

(round ones)

Post Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:27 pm

mpac wrote:I used to have an e36 touring and managed to wedge a full double mattress in the boot, with the rear seats down obviously! They're pretty good on load space, just get a good one, mine died due to rust. The e34 would be bigger, but also heavier on the fuel.

i managed that the other day in an e30 touring didnt bother folding the seats down