brownboy

Received a bike rack from Buy Nothing and am trying to figure out the best way to mount it. Is this the way you'd do it?

Couldn't put the side straps along the side of the trunk lid because they would slide back. Obviously I will not attempt to operate the vario roof with this in place.

Frederick NL

Owwww brownboy is looking for trouble.... for one thing, that phone antenne is very easily compromised. If you create a leak there, you know what’s below on that side of the trunk...

brownboy

yeah I was trying to figure out if it was better to have the strap go on the other side of the antenna or not. I can't go higher on the wheel arch the hook doesn't hold well there

I haven't gone for a drive or even left it set up like since I'm worried it may damage something. If only the SL body panels didn't have curves

superswiss

Shudder! Besides the antenna those straps moving will just mar the paint, no? Especially if there is dust/dirt on the paint. FWIW, I use a SeaSucker rack to put my bike on the roof. The front part goes on the glass roof, so there is no risk of scratching anything and the rear suction cup doesn't leave marks either if I give the roof a quick careful wipe with a damp microfiber towel. I think it's the best solution for coupe type cars. They have different racks for different number of bikes. I just use the Talon for a single bike and I can still access the trunk. The front wheel just goes in the trunk, but they also have an adapter to attach the front wheel to the bike while on the roof and I now use a Velcro strap to secure the pedals instead of an old tube as in this picture.

brownboy

Superswiss that Sea Sucker looks pretty good!

I think you're right about the marring of the paint for the side straps. Maybe if I stuff a chamois at the bend it'll be ok but I'd rather not risk it. This was free rack so I'll give it away.

Only concern I have with the Sea Sucker is that I'll scratch the bike against the car lifting it up that high.

kbdixon

I’ve thought about this for years, I’ll take a look at the talon as well. Sounds much less involved than my first thought of having a friend who fabricates mount a trailer hitch piece somewhere around/thru the bumper for my hitch type rack.

kbdixon

So you made me look, Rock Bros does make good stuff


https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROCKBROS-Bi...-/193720193934

Impaler

I’m a bit late with the response to this, and it’s no use unless you can get your SL to Germany, but there is a company up near Wilhelmshaven that do a “bike rack adapter”, basically a towbar (only for bike racks - towing isn’t type approved.).

They’re detachable and you cannot tell when removed. All TüV approved and documented. 60kg capacity.

I’ve just made a mini-break out of it and had one fitted - had a loan car provided for the day and went to the German Naval Museum.

I’ve not got home to try it yet. Electrics socket hidden underneath.