Recommendation For Hitch Bike Rack on 2011 BMW X3 That Will Clear Opened Rear Cargo Hatch

Question:

WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED TRAILOR HITCH 2 BIKE RACK WILL WORK GOOD WITH A 2011 X3 BMW. i JUST INSTALLED THE bmw recommended HIDDEN HITCH. MY CONCERN IS THE HATCH OPENING AND HITTING THE CARRIER AND IN GENERAL WHATY WOULD BE THE BEST 2 BIKE CARRIER TRAILOR HITCH FOR THIS MODEL CAR? THANKS SO MUCH

asked by: Nick D

Expert Reply:

The Thule Helium Aero Aluminum 2 Bike Rack, part # TH9042PRO, will work on your 2011 BMW X3. It will install in a Class I or Class II 1-1/4 inch and a Class III 2-inch hitch. It has a total weight capacity of 75 lbs for 2 bikes.

It is one of our most popular hitch bike racks and is easy to remove and re-install because of the lightweight design (19 lbs). The tilt feature will let you tilt the bike rack away from your vehicle and allow you access to the rear cargo area. You will not be able to tilt the bike rack down with bikes installed. I am including a link to the installation instructions on the Thule bike rack.

If you are going to be carrying womens or childrens bikes that do not have the horizontal bar at the top of the frame, you will want to use the Thule Bike Adapter Bar, part # TH982XT. It attaches to the center seat post and to the handlebar post and provides a horizontal bar, so the bike can ride level on the bike rack. I have included a link to a video demonstrating how the adapter works.

expert reply by: Jeff D