Bontrager

I need a bike rack for my car.



Edit: It's a 2005 C320 4Matic

Saris Bones?

Saris Bones RS?

Roof Rack? (please note garage door)

Get a 2" trailer hitch put on and use my existing Thule 4 bike rack?

Ditch the rack and put my bike in the trunk?

Nachoman

I put the trailer hitch on my (ten year old) Benz.

keepamonte

My Bones RS put a big dent in my new Saturn Aura. I got an estimate and they cut me a check no questions asked, but I would be hesitant to use it on another car. Just food for thought.

skinnyone

No.

RichinPeoria

Fold down the back seat, remove peddles and shove bicycle in trunk.
If you dont have the folding seat option take more parts off until it fits.

See other theads about using roof racks to carry bicycles on the freeway..... and the results.

ridethecliche

Hitch it.

Bontrager

It's interesting that this car does almost everything except wipe my butt but the damn seat doesn't fold down! WTF??

avmanansala

I'd go for a hitch and something like the Hold Up hitch rack. I have a Yakima King Pin (now discontinued) and like it but thinking back, I think that something like this (or a Thule version) would be perfect.

https://www.rei.com/product/737249
https://www.rei.com/product/767982

Bontrager

Pics, please? How did it put dents on your car? Bouncy bikes pressing on the lid or rear of the trunk?

johnny99

If you're afraid of the garage (or your ability to remember it), then get a Thule T2 hitch rack.

Looneytuna

I am using the bones 2-bike for more then 4 years with no problems and no dents

Geoff326

I would go roof or hitch. I've owned a trunk rack and didn't like it. felt unstable and would probably end up leaving marks on the car. I switched to a roof rack even though I have a garage. I keep my moonroof open, whenever my bike is up, there as a reminder. I also put the remote in the glove box.

keepamonte

This happened in the fall. The engineers at Saris speculated that I either had the rack too tight or too loose! Possible but not probable. This is the new ratchet system and the dent is on the back top part of the trunk where the round cup hits. I drive a lease company vehicle so when I get my new car I will probably sell this rack. I have been using racks for years without problems. Saris was very easy to work with regarding this situation.

Here is the rack with my bike;




Here is the dent to the left of the Saturn emblem.





I hope the image works!

rufvelo

Bike will fit just fine in the new S-Class. You probably need to trade up.

Jancouver

Get bigger car. :-)
I got GL 450 and I can easily fit my bike in the trunk :-)

dcbikeguy

How many gallons per mile you get with that?

krusty

I'm not sure what year your C-class is, but my wife has an '05. I have looked into racks for it, and I think that the roof rack with the fork mount style (with locks) is the way to go. I currently have a Thule like that on my older AMG Benz, but none of it is compatible with my wife's newer car. The trunk rack is a style I have used before and found awkward whenever I needed to access something in the trunk when the bike was mounted, which seemed to be all the time. Just put something in the garage so when you drive up and open it, you have to get out to move whatever it is first. That will remind you that you have a bike on the roof.

spokenword

I have a '96 E320 and put a Yakima roof rack on it for hauling around my and my girlfriend's bikes. In the winter, it doubles as a ski rack. I have been able to fit my bike in the trunk by taking off both wheels, saddle and lowering the stem, but I don't want to keep on doing that whenever I want to transport my bike by car (which, nowadays, is about three times a year)

ColorChange

I have an E55AMG and I just pop the front wheel and slide it into the back seat. No problems.

Bontrager

No wonder you have dents! That Giant Carbon bike is like 17 pounds!

Bontrager

I might have to try that. I noticed that it looked a little roomier back there than the 02 VW Jetta that this car replaced.

feartec

My best thing to day would be a hitch unless you have a clearance issue in any part of a commute, or tracking your car, but being that it's an automatic I wouldn't assume you would need that, or have that problem.

DrPete 

I'd go Saris Bones.

Alternatively, if you go to yakima.com, there'll almost certainly be a good fit for a roof rack your car. The issue is that in these times of high gas prices, the trunk option is more easily removed when you're not riding, and a roof rack does suck a few MPG off your average, even with a fairing, etc. In the case of my Honda it was about 3-4mpg difference in real world driving.

If you take your bike somewhere several times a week or more, though, it might be more convenient to get the roof rack and just leave it on.

etz

Don't das wunderkinder at Mercedes do a model specific bike rack? If you buy an A class they make an internal storage system.

cldriver

Curious, why not get Mercedes rack?

I have a 2005 C-class as well. You need to get the Basic Carrier and x number of Bike Carrier. Can hold as much as 4. I looked at trunk racks beforehand and was concerned about 'dents'(rightfully so..).

https://mbwestminster.oemdealer.com/m...cat909_936.php