I'm looking to get the roof rails and bike racks for the GLE and need some advice.

Roof rails part no A1678903000
Bike rack no A0008900293

Since the GLE is already so tall, has anyone had any experience in using roof mounted bike racks? Is it easy to load/unload road bikes about 7-8kg in weight? I'm about 1.7m tall.

Would you recommend it compared to a rear/trunk mounted system from Thule or Saris? My biggest concern is that the rear mounted systems will damage the body and paint over time and you cannot easily open and close the boot.

For Saris, apparently only the Bones EX is compatible
For Thule, they say no compatible ones are available although the raceway looks like it can be used.

 

@penyekz I use roof-mounted equipment on my W166 GLE, which at 70.7 inches overall height is the same height as your V167 GLE. I have also used Saris hitch/towbar mounted racks. We have thousands of miles of bike-carrying experience in our family.

Roof mounted systems are very effective. Yes, loading the bike on the roof requires a bit of strength and coordination. I am 6’ (183cm) tall and the job requires planning one’s steps. I grab the fork at mid height and the center post near the crank, lift the bike overhead and move toward the vehicle. One foot on the running board or door sill, step up, and land the bike on the rack. At 170cm this procedure might be possible, and will also benefit from a portable step stool or small ladder. I use Thule aero wingbars and the Proride rack (2 of them). Great system, 100% satisfied. Buy the accessory locks.

Rear hitch or towbar (drawbar) mounted racks are also very good. Saris is good, as is Thule. Towbar design and rules are quite different between UK and the US, be aware of this. Loading the bike on a rear mounted rack is easy in my view, this is the main difference between roof- and rear-mounted racks. There are rear racks that swing, tilt or swivel so that the liftgate can be used. Search the manufacturers’ sites to find one that meets your needs.

A drawback to rear mounted racks is that many (most or all?) wobble and rock to and fro. This bothers me, as someone who has towed and hauled recreational gear for 30+ years. Boats, caravans, bike, jet skis, etc.

Roof-mounted systems are totally secure. One complaint from some is wind noise, but this is a non issue in my mind. I have our roof system mounted as far rearward as possible while retaining 100% full function of both liftgate and moonroof. I will post photos shortly.

 

Thanks so much for your advice. The stool idea sounds great with a bit of coordination. Just worried about damaging the car should I experience a moment of 2 left feet. Cars are not cheap in Singapore!

I was really looking into the roof mounted Thule system - Apparently needs the Evo Wingbars. Unfortunately, our local supplier can only get them end of October.

The original MB system - Bike rack part looks more clumsy than the Thule Proride. I'm not sure if you know whether the original MB roof bars are compatible with Thule bike racks?

 

We originally purchased the ski and bike racks for our GL450 several years ago. But the bike rack was only used once, before being replaced by a Thule XT swing-away hitch mounted carrier.

I then used the bike and ski mounts, along we new rails, on my C300 and E300, consecutively. When I traded the E for a GLE, I contemplated it, but figured I will stick with the hitch mount. it's just a stretch and gymnastics to get to the roof!

 

Photos attached. @penyekz I don't have experience with the M-B crossbars. The images on M-B websites are poor. It could be possible that the Thule Proride bike rack works on the M-B factory crossbars, but I can't say for sure. Best to look on the Thule website and look at the crossbars if your dealer has them in stock.

 

Thanks for the pictures. With the bike installed, must be careful with maximum height especially in carparks. What is the maximum height with your MB installed?

This is the closest pic of the MB system I could find of the roof rail on the internet. Hard to tell if it will fit the Thule system.



May I check what foot system for the Thule you have? This is the part they recommended:
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/roof-rac...m-775-_-775000

Looks like a rubber strap and am wondering if it is a tight and secure fit

 

I have the Evo Raised Rail foot: https://www.thule.com/en-gb/roof-rac...-rail-_-710400

In principle the Mercedes crossbar might work. The Mercedes bar has a slot down the center, which is required for the Thule Proride bike rack. The only way to see for sure if it fits is to test them physically, or measure both the Mercedes crossbar and the Thule Proride T-bolt that fits into the slot.

Total height for my vehicle + roof rack + bike is approx 9 ft / 3 meters. I have not measured, this is a guess. It is tall, as you can imagine.

 

Thule's UK website seems to state that only the rapid system 775 can work with the V167. https://www.thule.com/en-gb/roof-rac...m-775-_-775000
This is only secured using a strap and I've seen examples of it being worn down.

Checking Thule's US website, the GLE is from 2016 to 2020. I don't think it's been updated with the V167.

However, I don't see why your Evo raised rail foot will not work but how can I be sure?

 

Can you take a close clear photo of the V167 roof rails? The W166 is a completely free standing rail with unfettered 360 access for the Thule foot to clamp upon. My wife’s BMW has a 180 degree accessible rail, a very different design.

 

Here are the pics of the V167 roof bars.

There is 360 degrees access. Unless the shape of the bars determine whether the Thule foot hold, then this would be hard to determine other than trying it out directly.

 

@penyekz The V167 rails look the same as W166 rails, for the purposes of cross bar feet/clamping. In my opinion the Thule Evo raised rail foot will work on the V167 as it does on the W166.

When my vehicle is back from service this evening (eastern US time) I will post a closeup photo.

 

Got the vehicle back from service.

First photo shows the roof rails, and how there is 360 degree freedom to clamp a device.

The second photo shows the Evo foot/tower. It doesn't require 360 degrees, but it needs more than 180 degrees. New BMW and VW (Audi, Porsche) have different rail designs than M-B and the Evo foot/tower will not work on BMW or VAG vehicles.

In my opinion, the Evo foot will work with the V167/X167 GLE/GLS.

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...-report-5.html

I added some detailed photos showing close clearance areas between the bike rack system, liftgate and moonroof. The V167 roof rails are in principle the same as W166, in that they are raised, non-integral rails.

I don't expect that panorama roofs will work with the slide feature, and a Thule wind deflect. The tilt function, however, could work if the rack system installation is finessed into place.

 

Thanks for the photos. Very useful.

I just realised we must also allow clearance to the tail gate/boot.

I've decided to go with original MB as Thule is out of stock till the end of the year. Pity though as the thule bike rack itself is better than MB.

 

I purchased the original MB roof bars and bicycle rack.

The bike rack was used and didn't come with an instructions. Can any kind souls out there please post a pic of the instructions?

Also, are we supposed to remove the rubber padding in the roof bars when the bike rack is installed or cut to shape?

 

@penyekz Please post photos of what you are working with. The Thule bars have some rubber/plastic pieces that need to be trimmed for installation. The clamping feet have rubber covers, and these should not be cut or trimmed. This give protection to factory roof rails.

 

Thanks for responding. It is the long black rubber strip in the center of this bar where the bike carrier is meant to be held.

Is this supposed to be removed or cut to length?

 

That Is a marketing photo, correct? Not your actual product, correct?

I cut the rubber strip to length according to the Thule instructions. Probably the same for you.

Please post a photo of your actual product.

 

I would think you could just "coax" the rubber strip towards the center, allowing for future shrinkage. Probably gain an inch or more.
"Coax" twice, cut once?

 

Here's the actual pic. It looks like I may have to remove the entire strip to install the racks

 

That doesn’t look right. Do you have the printed instructions? Could the rubber strip be installed upside down?

The bike rack mounting bolt needs to slide into the groove in the aluminum extruded crossbar. The rubber strip you are working with acts as a seal to keep excessive water out of the crossbar and to reduce wind noise.

 

Just found this on youtube:

Looks like the entire rubber strip needs to be removed before mounting anything on the rails.

Thanks guys!

 

For "rack work" on the road - a "folding step" can be helpful :


In your garage a 2Ft "step ladder" can be helpful:

 

That rightline step looks like the right tool for mobility. I was going to buy a Ikea step ladder. Will this damage our paintwork though?


Oh dear... I just read quite a number of reviews on amazon showing damaged paintwork and dents. Maybe a ladder is better