ddcha

About to pull the trigger. Just want to make sure I won't have any issues with the rear hatch. I'm also planning on getting the Thule 45050 crossbar package.

Please share any advice and pictures too!! Thanks.

SixPak

I have the Thule Atlantis 1800 which is 8.5" shorter than the 2100 and it fits on top of my GL with plenty of room (length wise) to spare. It fits on top of my old X5 with no problem with the rear hatch at all and the X5 is considerably shorter than the GL.

You should hav no problem with the 2100. I might have pics of the box on my old X5 but not on the GL.

FYI, the GL is roughly 17" longer than the E53 X5.

luv2sleep

I have a Thule 1800 also. Just a fyi.... If the cargo box sticks out forward of the moon roof, there's quite a bit of wind noise at highways speeds. I had to move the cargo box as far aft as possible without contacting the rear hatch (while the hatch is opened) to rid the wind noise.

ddcha

Thanks for the thoughtful response. It helps. Any pictures of the atlantis 2100 anybody???

ddcha

Interesting. Thanks for that advice. Now i'm curious what those with a 2100 think of the wind noise.

ddcha

I found a couple pictures. Looks like it extends over the moonroof. Noise may be a risk it seems.

BJ021

I have the Thule Mountaineer on my truck (you can sort of see it on my picture) many times in the summer and really don't hear too much at all up there. Maybe on really windy days - but nothing too much. Also - size wise, I don't think you can buy a box too big for the GL - but Thule has a compatibility chart on their site to be certain.

ddcha

I just ordered my 2100 Atlantis on eBay along with the 45050 crossbar setup. Wish me luck!

Hermosa

just mount it as far back as possible, to eliminate noise.

ddcha

so far, i've mounted the crossbars, but not the cargo box yet. The cargo box is HUGE lol. I mounted the front crossbar just behind the front moonroof. In the rear, I placed the crossbar right between the two posts just like on the silver GL I posted a picture of. I won't be able to mount the cargo box back because it basically takes up the whole length of the roof.

Hermosa

That box is so big, they can bury you in it when you die. I have the 1800, and that is huge, the 2100 is crazy big. Space out those cross bars as much as possible with that big box to help support it. I was able to get my rear bar mounted back further to add more support.

oknish

ddcha - I am looking for a roof box and crossbars also. Would you mind telling me how much you paid for yours? Pics would be nice too, if you can. TIA.

blee911

Sorry for the late reply. I've been on business travel and just saw your post. I have the 2100 Atlantis on 53" Rapid Aero Bars. I don't like the wind noise with the Aero Bars (even with the box off). I've had this set-up since Nov. Tried putting the bars further back. Helped little but still annoying especially because the GL is a relatively quiet car. Now considering trading in the bars for the Whisper (I forget the exact name) series (not Thule). They mount more flush so it should be much better (similar to the Mercedes cross bars that cost ~550 for the silver ones but almost half the price). I've moved it back a few inches since I took the picture shown.

LEOSOPHIE

Your rear bar should be positioned over the rear rail support.

BJ021

This is correct! I thought that looked too far forward.

ddcha

of course. i got the atlantis 2100 on amazon for 10% off msrp free shipping no tax, works out to be close to getting 20% off at local REI because of tax.

i got the thule 45050 complete crossbar set on autoshepherd.com for $216 free shipping - best deal on the net, 50" bars

i love it so far. noise very modest.

ddcha

Our owners manual says the rear crossbar should be in between the
Two stands with the small space in the middle toward the rear, not all the way on the rear rail.

ddcha

FYI folks. The Thule crossbars are pretty noisy. I get a whirring sound above 35mph. This is with the cargo box off only though. With the cargo box on, there is no sound to speak of.

oknish

THANKS Much for the feedback. Sorry for the delay in responding.

bedarda

I decided against the Thule Atlantis 2100 in favor of Thule Atlantis 1800 (HumblePower ~$530 delivered) which is over 8" shorter than the 2100 and it fits my GL like a glove. I have the box positioned to the rear of the moon roof and that helps quell much of the wind noise.

ortslike

We have the 2100 (originally bought for volvo XC90) and it fits well, except you need to use crossbars further back than the instructions say - you need to get this baby as FAR back as possible 1. for wind noise and 2. for aerodynamics.
We drove to florida with this thing and got 25.5MPG in out GL350 BTEC (!!!)

hkm2010

I bought a Thule 2100 for my upcoming trip. The guys at Rack Attack that installed it put the rear cross bar behind the MB recommended location. I showed them the manual, and they said that MB recommended location was for the MB cross bars that ? fits into that space. I still noticed some wind noise at 75 MPH speed.

Will moving it back further reduce wind noise, or distribute weight unevenly on cross rail support?

Thanks ddcha for helping me decide. I searched this forum and found your pictures of Thule on your Diamond White GL. Mine is Diamond White too, and I had a good idea how it would look before I bought it.

ortslike

I would slide the 2100 as far back as you can with the rear hatch open, leaving about 1" clearance. Then move the bars as far apart as the mounting points go to stabilize it. I've driven probably 6000mi with the carrier loaded this way and have had good experience (will still make wind noise, esp with sunroof open or angled up).

ortslike

So my wife told me tonite we needed the Thule for our trip to the in-laws on the 4th. I decided to take shots of the far-back location, with which I have found lowers the noise and with which I have achieved 25+ MPG (350 BTec).

2 objectives for best position:
1. have the Thule as far back as possible (without interfering with rear hatch opening) for reduced turbulence/noise and increased mileage. This has added benefit of opening up a slight amount of sunroof space...
2. keep the cross-bars as far apart as possible to maximize the stability of the rack.

Pictures are attached, sorry it was evening so the light isn't great. Note that I have the rear cross bar a good 8-10" behind the suggested mounting point (which is supposed to be in the opening between the luggage rack posts above the C pillars - a.k.a. at back of rear door)

Install the Thule with its adjustable rear mount point as far back as it will go, and adjust the location with the rear hatch open so that it just clears the hatch (see last picture). Then position the front bar about 6" behind the back edge of the sunroof opening, and this will allow you to put the Thule's front mount point as far forward as you can go.

The other two shots are to give folks and idea of how a silver rack looks on a dark GL (mine is blue). Oh and if you dont have a extra tall door (5 panels high) your Thule will not fit so put a chair or something in the spot in garage when you leave, so that when you return exhausted you won't forget and back in and cause lots of damage...

cmarshack

So how are you going to get the car out of the garage with the rack on?