E46 M3, Roof bars / mountain bikes query

[gareth h]

Guys, I need to get 4 bikes onto roofbars, have bought a set of bars from the local dealer (thule don't seem to offer a set for the M3). It doesn't look like the thule bike fittings will fit the BMW® bars, the bars also don't look long enough to get 4 bikes onto.
Does anybody have any experience? Do I need to fit BMW® bike fittings? Would longer 5 series bars be an option?
Thanks
Gareth

[mat205125]

I was advised by my local dealer that, apart from the CSL, the M3 roof is identical to a normal E46 coupe and therefore the Thule kit SHOULD fit .... Hope it does, as I picked up my E46 M3 yesterday, and will be ordering the e46 coupe fittings to be able to get my bikes on the roof.

Be interested if anyone knows to the contrary regarding the M3 / normal E46 coupe roof fittings, and whether they differ.

Back to the OP, were you using thule aero bars before, or normal bars.

[Frik]

mat205125 said:

Hope it does, as I picked up my E46 M3 yesterday

Strange. There don't appear to be pictures on here yet.

[mat205125]

Frik said:

mat205125 said:

Hope it does, as I picked up my E46 M3 yesterday

Strange. There don't appear to be pictures on here yet.

Just been driving it .... Up early for the Grand Prix tomorrow, THEN wash polish and pictures

[gareth h]

I had thule bars from my old e46 330d saloon (not sure if the coupe is different), the fittings look the same as the bras (oops bars) I bought from bmw but the bars move around when fitted, I spoke with thule they said they didn't have a system for the M3.

[mat205125]

They definitely list a kit for the standard E46 Coupe, and a bloke at work has a 318ci. I'll have a look at his and mine side by side to see if they are identical. I was looking for the fitting kits on the Thule site, and thought it was odd that it specifically said "excluding M3". CSL I can understand.

[gareth h]

Mat, that would be good to know, I'm off on hols at Easter so need to get something sorted before then.
Cheers
gareth