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      06-20-2021, 05:52 PM   #1
Zhecks
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Luggage space with 6 passengers

I must be missing something. I want to buy a X7 (for my family of 6) because it is a 6 seater (instead of X5). When all 6 seats are occupied, luggage space in the trunk is almost non existence. I can’t even put a full size luggage in the trunk space. How am I supposed to use the X7 as a weekend and long trip vacation car? Are we supposed to bring backpacks only?

Or BMW expects the X7 owner also has a minivan as a 3rd vehicle.

Please share your thoughts
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      06-20-2021, 06:17 PM   #2
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I have a friend who is a die hard bmw fan and has several bmw's in the family. They have a Cadillac. Escalade for traveling. The X7 just isn't big enough. We use it as a very comfortable 4 person car with luggage space.
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      06-20-2021, 06:39 PM   #3
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If you're traveling with passengers that require the 3rd row up and need to tote luggage for long trips, the X7 isn't gonna cut it. As in previous post, you need something bigger…Yukon XL, Suburban or a minivan.

I use my 3rd row for taking kids to sports, picking up their friends and when on vacation with other family members, instead of taking two cars out to dinner or whatever, we just jump into one.
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      06-20-2021, 07:29 PM   #4
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I have a family of 4 and take long cross country road trips and my G05 X5 was just big enough for our luggage. My X7 M50i is a absolutely perfect to the point I don’t have to pack conservative for a 4 week trip and have lots of room to bring extra stuff home. The X7 is not a huge full size SUV by USA Suburban people hauler standards. It’s still 1/2 size smaller but rides and performs in another zip code of luxury and power over the big people haulers.

As far as style and luxury there isn’t anything better at any price point. Plus my luggage has its own sunroof and climate control with merino and Alcantara everywhere so…….
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      06-20-2021, 08:10 PM   #5
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Has anyone had success putting a luggage rack on top?
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      06-20-2021, 08:20 PM   #6
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It's not just BMW, any of the competitors in this category share similar space.
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      06-20-2021, 08:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ERDRFF View Post
Has anyone had success putting a luggage rack on top?
trivial overstates the difficult of this.



motion xt xxl fits perfectly on it. open cages fit no problem. raised rails are dead simple to clamp to.

if you get it with a hitch, or fit a stealth hitch, throw a hitch box on it.
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      06-20-2021, 09:34 PM   #8
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The answer for our recent 4-day trip was "pack light" a book bag for each kid (3 of them) and a slightly bigger bag for each adult (3 of us) to and from Niagara Falls/Upstate NY. 2 car seats in the 3rd row and and everyone was comfortable. I couldn't see out of the rear window but the trunk was maxed out to the brim with 6 bags, 32 case of water and a few shoes. Still we all were very comfortable[IMG][/IMG]
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      06-20-2021, 11:55 PM   #9
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I love my X7. If there was enough room for a lot of luggage with 6 passengers, I think the car would be too big and X7 is perfect. The day I travel with luggage and 6 passengers, I will either buy hitch storage box or roof box
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      06-21-2021, 01:14 AM   #10
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Buy a 7 seater X7 and lower one of the 3rd row seats for the extra luggage space��
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      06-21-2021, 04:42 AM   #11
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Unfortunately if this is what you need the x7 isn’t the suv for you. You need an Escalade or Yukon/Tahoe expedition etc. if they made the x7 as big as those there’s no way it would handle and drive like it does. I’m glad it’s not any bigger honestly since it would not be the same truck if it did. Those big suv drive line small buses they can have em.
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      06-21-2021, 06:02 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djbonsu View Post
The answer for our recent trip was "pack light" a book bag for each kid (3 of them) and a slightly bigger bag for each adult (3 of us) to and from Niagara Falls/Upstate NY. 2 car seats in the 3rd row and and everyone was comfortable. I couldn't see out of the rear window but the trunk was maxed out to the brim with 6 bags, 32 case of water and a few shoes. Still we all were very comfortable[IMG][/IMG]
This is great advise. This is what my wife and I did in my Porsche 911 before we had kids. Soft luggage was significantly better to take more items in a smaller trunk space. In fact with plastic Walmart bags you can use every last inch of space and typically how I pack on motorcycle trips with saddle bags.
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      06-21-2021, 06:16 AM   #13
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Not sure if you have the space saver spare or not but if you don't, there's also space under the trunk that should fit a couple of duffels.
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      06-21-2021, 07:27 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhecks View Post
I must be missing something. I want to buy a X7 (for my family of 6) because it is a 6 seater (instead of X5). When all 6 seats are occupied, luggage space in the trunk is almost non existence. I can’t even put a full size luggage in the trunk space. How am I supposed to use the X7 as a weekend and long trip vacation car? Are we supposed to bring backpacks only?

Or BMW expects the X7 owner also has a minivan as a 3rd vehicle.

Please share your thoughts
LOL....we still have an 08 Odyssey as a "4th vehicle" for hauling large volumes of people or stuff.....

ToddWalton on here has done a nice writeup on a roof rack.

Another option for cargo is a hitch mounted cargo box.
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      06-21-2021, 01:21 PM   #15
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Cargo Hitch

Why not just buy a cargo hitch? That's what I did. I have a bike rack for my bike and just figured a cargo hitch would work just as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...8WJV7B82&psc=1
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      06-21-2021, 01:35 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNasty View Post
Why not just buy a cargo hitch? That's what I did. I have a bike rack for my bike and just figured a cargo hitch would work just as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...8WJV7B82&psc=1
+1, this is my plan
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      06-21-2021, 03:34 PM   #17
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I also have the X7 with 6 seat config. We use my wife’s Denali for road trips because the cargo space on my X7 is not realistic for luggage, cooler, etc
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      06-21-2021, 04:00 PM   #18
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If I need more space, I will usually attach my hitch rack or roof top carrier depending on where I'm going and what I'm using it for. The roof top carrier does add a lot of extra wind noise.

Pic of hitch carrier I use on my old GLS and roof top carrier sitting in storage hoist above the car. Obviously not the X7, but similar vehicle of size LOL.
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      06-21-2021, 06:23 PM   #19
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You will have to get a hitch and install a rack and/or use a cartop carrier. You will have to do the same thing with a Yukon/Tahoe/Escalade unless you get long one.
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      06-21-2021, 07:40 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ERDRFF View Post
Has anyone had success putting a luggage rack on top?
Super easy. I went with Thule Aero blades with the clamp kit. Basically the same setup as offered for the X5. They sit higher than the ones that Mount with the strap, but lower than the OEM ones.

I will say, access my box given its positioning is not as easy as my previous vehicle. It sits further forward making loading by standing on rear tire less optimal.

Someone posted the XXL box, I have the large I believe.
This works for us for week long ski trips with ski gear for 5ppl. Depending on seat configuration you have options on where to place the kids.

I agree with previous reco to get the 7 seater.

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Last edited by serpentine; 06-21-2021 at 07:48 PM..
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      06-21-2021, 10:46 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by serpentine View Post
Super easy. I went with Thule Aero blades with the clamp kit. Basically the same setup as offered for the X5. They sit higher than the ones that Mount with the strap, but lower than the OEM ones.

I will say, access my box given its positioning is not as easy as my previous vehicle. It sits further forward making loading by standing on rear tire less optimal.

Someone posted the XXL box, I have the large I believe.
This works for us for week long ski trips with ski gear for 5ppl. Depending on seat configuration you have options on where to place the kids.

I agree with previous reco to get the 7 seater.

Attachment 2632675
Would you happen to have a link to this setup? I wanted something similar for my x7
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      06-22-2021, 01:43 AM   #22
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To the OP's original question, I think it's important to remember what the X7 is designed for. No car does it all for all customers,

The X7 is designed to comfortably carry up to 7 adults. If you want to do a road trip with those 7 adults, then you're talking a whole different vehicle class--Yukon XL/Suburban as others mentioned above.

I don't think the X7 should be re-made to be in that category. It SHINES in its current category. Some prior X5 shoppers complained "it's not big enough! I need to carry 7 people!" Now some X5 shoppers complain "The X7 is way too big! I want something smaller." The X5 fits its niche. The X7 fits its niche, which is a little different from the X5.

There will always be someone that wants/needs something bigger. maybe someday BMW will make an X9 for those people. Maybe not.
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