charlesu

Does anyone have a set of factory roof racks for your C320 coupe installed? If so I would like to know if the installation has the potential to harm the paint finish and if you have carried anything real heavy, ie: lumber, on it???
Thanks....
Charles

greg230

i dont even think they are out yet.... and i am assuming you mean 230 coupe?

the roofrack i saw on the c 320 wagon seemed to be solid, and i dont think installation by MB dealership should do any damage to your paint. HOWEVER i dont think the rack is designed to hold lumber, or anything else real heavy. Seems mostly for the luggage, the occasional cargo holder, or maybe the x-mas tree

greg

Buellwinkle

Check the accessory catalog. In the UK they have a bunch of roof rack options for the Coupe but last time I checked with my dealer they can order them here in the US even thought they may not be in our local catalogs.

c240x

I just purchased a factory roof rack from MB because Thule hasn't come out with the fit kits for the 203 body style yet. Anyone have any luck retrofitting thule accessories, in particular the fork down bike racks, onto the factory bars? The bike racks from MB look a bit too flimsy.

Lenny

How much did you pay for the rack and installation?

c240x

I actually got the dealer to throw in the Roof Rack when I purchased the car because I knew that I couldn't get an aftermarket version for the w203 yet. Installation is basically a do it yourselfer, just throw the racks on the rook, tighten the allen bolts and you're all set. The factory racks are preset already, so no adjustments are necessary. I think they were around $300 Cdn.

jungleboy

Hello,

I know it is a shame to change the look of the car already......but.

Did anyone get a roof rack for your c-coupe? Just wondering what options are out there. If anyone has any pictures, please post them up.

Thank you.

Rick

I talked with a rep from Yakima that swears the C sedan risers will fit. He said the front fit near the front of the door and the rear go in the vent above the rear side window.
The problem will be width...a coupe will look sort of dorky with bars wider than the roof(for kayaks, bikes, surfboards) and you'll have to be really careful entering and exiting the car.

young

can you cut off the ends? i, too, think that the sedan rack will fit as i don't see a separate MB rack for the coupe.

MB-BOB

I would be surprised if the width of the roof isn't the same for the Coupe and Sedan.

jungleboy

Did anyone out there order the MB bike rack option for their C-Coupe? The pictures shown on the website are on a sedan only. If you have one.....what does it look like, and most importantly, how does it function. Pray tell.

c240x

I suggest getting an aftermarket rack from Yakima. Thule does not make fit kits for the new C yet (both coupe and sedan). I bought the factory roof racks from MB for the sedan and the quality is really nice......BUT the factory bike racks are poor in comparsion, not very robust looking. The MB roof racks have a proprietory oval c-channel so quality bike racks from Thule and Yakima won't fit easily onto them. I was able to retrofit a fork down thule velovise bike rack onto the racks by ordering some special t-bolts.

Rick

I'll need to fit a kayak rack to my C230 coupe in the spring. I currently have a Yakima "yak stacker" set up and was hoping that will fit the MB rack...
Either that, or I'll need to purchase the complete bar and riser set from Yakima....if it's available by then.

VoyagerDude

Hi edvpt, re. the bike/ski rack...

I was wondering what type of bike and ski rack did you get, from where and for how much.
I'm looking for these myself.

Thanks!

Rick

yeah...I'm looking for a kayak rack....Yakima hasn't released the uprights for the C-Coupe yet. Please post pics f you have 'em!

Steven N

I have a Yakima rack and was hoping it would fit. Will I need to buy new uprights?

Rick

My YakRack came off my Eagle Talon which had gutter clamp and hatch uprights...or risers. The round bars and the YakStackers will move over(I got extra long round bars) but the Coupe requires a different kind of upright for the front, because it doesn't have a gutter, and I don't see any way to adapt the hatch units either.
Yakima says they're working on it....

edvpt

VoyagerDude,

I purchased my C230 Tuesday and negotiated the MB Bike/Ski rack into the purchase. Unfortunaitly, It was not in inventory and was told about 2 week from my dealer. So I do not expect to recieve it for another week or so.

I went with the MB rack because of a conversation I had with one of my dealers service techs. He commented that it worked well on the coupe and looked great. I am hopefully recieving the basic carrier ($268 List) and 2 Bike Carriers ($136 each) and a Ski carrier (also $136 list).

As soon as I get it installed and tested I will post pictures and provide a brief review.

slcvr6

EDVPT, who did you work with @ Crown? I believe that is where you bought yours. Thanks.

edvpt

slcvr6,

I did purchase it at Crown, but I will not mention from which salesman. It is not someone I would recommend. And I was raised with: "if you can't say something nice, say nothing".

He wasn't terrible he just seemed to be working 3 deals every time I was in there, and I didn’t really get the information I needed or my questions answered as he wasn’t very informed. I didn't get the attention or focus I normally get from the competing VW/Audi/BMW/Porsche dealer down the road. Felt like a Chrysler purchase instead of a MB or BMW purchase.

To the credit of Crown, they did however find the car I was looking for and had it in my hands within 7 days and a credit rate better then my Bank could do. Hopefully my racks will arrive soon, and that their service is better then their sales department.

slcvr6

Completely understood, I appreciate your frankness. Heck, I bought my ML at the other dealership in town, when on 2 seperate visits I never was greeted or assisted while standing in the showroom for 15+ minutes (as sales people stood around and talked). Must have been the product I drove in with and the blue jeans and Vans...

I did see your car there with the out-of-state plate frame from Pennsylvania, I believe. Looks great without the roof and just C7. Enjoy!

edvpt

After waiting two weeks for me Basic Roof Rack to arrive from MB, the dealer called yesterday and I rushed down to pick it up. MB Part B6 6 85 0255.

First impression is wow, well built, Aluminum with black stems, Concealed locks, Rubber backing on the posts to prevent paint scratches, concealed clamps, and a small Star on each post. Very MB quality. Even has aero dynamic fins on the bottom to prevent lifting (wing effect). I was pleased. It’s worth the $250 or so they charge. I verified with the parts dept that this was the correct rack for my C230 coupe. And was told this is the only one for the W203 cars. Also picked up my 2 MB Bike Attachments.

To my shock the basic roof rack, 2 bars, does not fit on my new 2002 C230 sports coupe. After reading the instructions an additional time and trying the unit in every possible position I call MB. They confirm that this is the only Rack they sell for the W203. Their screen indicates that its for the w203 sedans, but does not say its not for the coupe. The instructions also indicate the rack is for the W203 sedans. Unfortunately, They are wider then the roof of the C230 Coupe by a few inches. The coupe roof also appears more rounded at the doors.

MB customer services says they will investigate and respond within a week.

Has anyone else tried these racks? Has anyone found a work around? Has anyone found a rack that works on the 2002 W203 coupe.

Davidta

I have the rack for my coupe and it works fine, I do not know what part number it is, I walked into my dealer asked for the coupe rack and got it put on by them... The only problems I have with it is that the ski attachements are not in yet and those fins you talked about don't do all that much, the car gets noticeable lighter at high speeds.

c240x

I have the same roof racks and they come preset at the factory with no adjustments necessary when I installed them. I have the 4 door w203. If they are off by a couple of inches than thats a definite sign they were not designed for the coupe. It is possible to fine tune the width with the allen bolts, but not by a few inches.

With MB factory racks, you are limited by their accessories, although the c-channel in the load bars looks to be the same as the Audis. You may try Yakima racks as they have the fit kit for the coupe and much more diverse accessory mounts. Thule hasn't come out with one yet for the w203, as rumour has it that they will do away with the rectangular load bar cross section.

Rick

Davidta....Please post pics of the rack on the coupe....

I need to figure out if I should get new Yakima Q-Towers(available as of last week) or this new fangled MB Rack so I can haul my kayak around without relying on friends with SUV's.(Silly User Vehicles?)