E46 touring mountain bike question

[ps01]

Quick question. Can you fit two mountain bikes in the back of an E46 touring (without taking the wheels off)? I assume you can but they look a bit on the small side so just want to check before I start the search for one.

Bikes are 17.5 inch frames.

Thanks

[Truckosaurus]

I have an E46 Touring and a several bicycles.

I haven't put two bikes inside at once, but a single 700c wheeled road bike fits ok lying down with both wheels on. Putting a second bike on top of it would fit but even with my low standards I'd not like to do it.

Taking the front wheels off would make things easier but you still might be pushing things height wise if you want to stand them upright, as I normally have to push the passenger seat all the way forward and put the forks in the gap behind the seat.

So realistically you'd want to take both wheels off.

I have solved the issued by getting a Thule roof mounted bike rack, which keeps the dirty bike outside of the car.

[Hugh74]

I fit 2 in mine no probs. (19 inch frame). Need to remove the front wheels though.

[Pablo16v]

Hugh74 said:

I fit 2 in mine no probs. (19 inch frame). Need to remove the front wheels though.

I have two large framed mountain bikes and I couldn't get either of them in my 325 Touring without at least removing the front wheels. With the wheels off I could fit three bikes and three people fairly easily.

[ps01]

Thanks for responses. Good that they will fit.

Happy to live with the small inconvenience of taking the front wheels off rather than buy a bigger estate. Generally I’m not a huge fan of most estates but I do need something to get the bikes in easily and I like the 3 series touring. Seems like a solid choice for a practical second car that is still appealing to a petrol head…

Cheers

Paul

[Truckosaurus]

ps01 said:

Seems like a solid choice for a practical second car that is still appealing to a petrol head…

Indeed it is. I can heartily recommend the six-cylinder petrol engines and a loud exhaust.