chemsales

I am about to take the plunge and purchase a bike for triathlon training. I could use my wife's Jeep for trips out of town with the bike, but I would rather take my car (2005 E-500). What are some options for a bike carrier that others on the forum are using? Is there anything that can be installed (short of a trailer hitch!) that will receive a carrier and allow me use when needed? Thanks in advance!

lkchris

Roof rack seems most likely solution.

Thule (in USA) doesn't have a W211 solution, so it's dealer for Mercedes parts unless you order Thule parts from the UK.

I wouldn't chop up rear bumper to install a trailer hitch if not going to actually pull a trailer.

Heejin

I have a Mercedes ski rack on my wife's w211 and it works great. Installing the rack on the roof is super easy. You only need to tighten four screws. I believe that you can easily attach the bike carrier to it.

DWP

Yakima has roof racks and bike carriers for the W211. Their basic roof rack (two towers and wind deflector) for the W211 is $255, and then they have a variety of bike-carrier gear to use with the basic rack. I don't know how their prices compare to the Mercedes prices.

pfphipps

I have the Mercedes rack for my car. It costs too much but I think it might be worth it. Based on my experience with it, it is the best. I do not have a bicycle carrier--just the ski rack. However, I am not sure I would ever risk putting a bicycle on top of my car. I would always be afraid of what might happen. Maybe I am just aware of how clumsy I am sometimes.

GATLEEVA

A friend of mine has the MB load bars on her S500. She had our local bike shop rig Thule fork mount trays on the MB bars. It is super sturdy and looks really slick. The only thing missing is a wind deflector which would reduce wind noise.

Miguk_Saram

The following post provides detailed information and pictures of a w211 with a trailer hitch installed (starting at post #15):

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102316&highlight=trailer+hitch

For me, the hitch was the ONLY way to go.

GL.

WEBSRFR

I agree. I think it came out well. I'm going to do the same thing. Can you take a photo with the bike rack with bikes attached? I'm just concerned about parts of the bike making contact with the bumper. Are the bikes sufficiently away from the bumper?

Miguk_Saram

I'll take various pics of my [behemoth] bike rack this weekend (with and without the bikes attached) and post them by Monday.

Keep in mind, the rack I ended up purchasing is.. ha-hem.. overkill.

I'll post the pics anyway.

WEBSRFR

Look forward to seeing the photos. What a great weekend in the DC area for biking! I hope you got to use your bike rack!

CynCarvin32

I went with the MB roof rack since I had 2 MB bike carriers already. I must say it works well and I have never had an issue. I know many cyclists love the rear hitch idea but I just cant bring myself to have a to hitch on my cars. Also I have several W211's around right now and I can put the rack on any one of the cars depending on where I am going etc and wich car is available.

I have used the MB kit to take my Cannondale SystemSix all over California and it has treated me extremely well.

Several months back a friend and I took our bikes to death valley for the Ultra Cycle Death Valley Century and the rack was great. The drive to and from (on totally deserted roads) was at a very brisk pace and the rack was never an issue. Cornering at speeds most people would never do in a normal car did not seem to cause any issues for stability (in an 2004 E500). The car stayed stable at VERY high speeds.

Call me crazy but I like the look of the MB rack on the car better than say the third party versions. I know a skewer mount is more stable in cross winds but what I currently have works really well for me.

Good luck with the training. Cycling is addicting!

I attached a photo of the car sitting on the side of the road in death valley during a brief photo stop.

Houstonnewbie

I realize this is an old thread but I'm in the market for a bike rack for my 2006 E55. Any feedback on how your roof racks are working out? Do you leave them on there full-time? Have they developed rattles? Anything you'd do different? Anyone find a foldable trailer hitch? Thanks!

Taylor-Made'90

I'm looking for a bike rack as well. I just got a PK7 and need a trunklid-mounted rack to transport it around.

I've been looking locally but have no idea what's a good deal or not.

Is there anybody out there with racks on their E??

silnt_assn_009

I just bought the Curt Hitch #11701 for my 2003 E320, as someone else here suggesed. I installed my self and took only about 45 mins. The hardest thing was to fit it in-between the exhaust tips and the bumper. I didnt even need to lift up the car.

Got the hitch from Amazon for $172 including shipping. I then got a Saris T-Rax Sport Bike rack for $94 online.