Surfboard on Z4. Question for the technical guys.

[Joopx]

Hi all,

I am looking for a way to take my surfboard with me on the Z4. Passenger seat is not possible because we drive with 2 persons.

I know BMW does not recommmend to mount anything on the roof or boot, but I am willing to take a little risk here. The board weights only 5 kg and its a short drive of 40 km.

The least stressfull for the roof / boot mechanisme is i.m.o. to carry the board on the boot with the roof open. Like this there will be no extra wind drag.

It would look like this:


For attachement I would use a Seasucker boardrack


The difficult part is to find the best (least stressfull for roof /boot mechanism) solution for carrying the board with the roof closed.
I am thinking of 3 possible solutions but find it hard to figure out which one is best

These are the possible solutions:

1 On the roof
It would look like this:

I would use the Seasucker boardrack mounted on the roof and rear window

+low wind drag
-mounted on roof and rear window. I was thinking the roof and rear window might be less sturdy than the boot?

2 On the boot


I would use the Revorack to mount it


+mounted on the more sturdy boot mechanism
- (much) more wind drag (although most of the board is behind the roof)

3 on boot and roof


For mounting I would use the Revorack or Seasucker boardrack

+moderate wind drag? (more than solution 1, but less than 2?)
-partly mounted on roof

Which solution do you think is best?
Any thoughts / suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks Joop

 

[Jembo]

How about seating it on the bonnet itself if you’re confident the sea suckers won’t come off?

...

 

[flybobbie]

I've had sheets of hardboard standing up behind the seats. Won't that fit vertical behind a seat.

 

[buzyg]

Best bet is to buy a camper van.

I used to carry mine on the roof of my fiat coupe. Similar size and shape to the E89 roof. But obviously fixed. Realy restricts your speed, as the board is a darn perfect air foil and generates loads of lift. On that shape roof, the fixing points have to be close together, therefore the rest of the board bends and could easily snap, if you drive too fast.

After I bought the Zed I mostly stuck to body boarding and body surfing. Much easier to fit in the car.

 

[Joopx]

How about seating it on the bonnet itself if you’re confident the sea suckers won’t come off?

Nice thinking! Will give it a try tomorrow. I am wondering if it will blok my view.

I've had sheets of hardboard standing up behind the seats. Won't that fit vertical behind a seat.

The board is 170 cm so I afraid it won't fit wit the roof closed.

I used to carry mine on the roof of my fiat coupe. Similar size and shape to the E89 roof. But obviously fixed. Realy restricts your speed, as the board is a darn perfect air foil and generates loads of lift. On that shape roof, the fixing points have to be close together, therefore the rest of the board bends and could easily snap, if you drive too fast.

Good point. My board is problably stronger and shorter than yours (kitesurfboard) but will watch the speedlimit this time

 

[flybobbie]

Open the roof.

 

[Joopx]

Open the roof.

For roof open I have a solution (see post). For roof closed (when raining etc) not yet.

 

[JDavis21]

Option 2, using the revo rack will likely be your best bet.

 

[enuff_zed]

Talk nicely to your passenger and explain that the board is much more important :wink:

 

[YDB]

On the roof. Looks better and covers all weather options, you just need to keep the roof up. The aerodynamics will be better suited. Option 2 restricts vision from all mirrors and might pull a lot of drag almost like a parachute, plus you might not comply with road rules as you exceed side dimensions, depending on your laws. Option 3 looks wrong, and you can't open the boot plus lose internal mirror. Don't try and reinvent the wheel on this one. Surfers the world over have used the roof method with success for a reason. If the weather is really great, put all the windows down, plus you'll look like you know what you are doing rather than awkwardly attaching the board.