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BMW X7 (G07) Forums General BMW X7 Forum Son Off To College Which Means....It's X7 Cargo Box Time

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      08-19-2019, 12:30 PM   #1
toddwalton
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Son Off To College Which Means....It's X7 Cargo Box Time















So if you recall back in May I obtained a set of cross bars for the X7 and this upcoming week is when they're going to be put to their first test. Later this week the X7 will be stressed to the max with 4 passengers, a full rear cargo area, and a Thule Force XL on the roof.

Anyone else have any experience with their X7's and cargo boxes they can share? Any issues with height, wind noise, etc? Any issues with handling at low or (especially) high speeds on the highways?
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      08-19-2019, 12:43 PM   #2
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Looks good with those cross bars.
I’m a short person (5’5) so I always wondered how people of my height get the contents in and out of those boxes?

Sub’d to see final results of box 👍
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      08-19-2019, 01:09 PM   #3
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I found this video recently. It may help.

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      08-19-2019, 03:45 PM   #4
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Great find!
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      08-19-2019, 06:00 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BzsBimmer View Post
Looks good with those cross bars.
I’m a short person (5’5) so I always wondered how people of my height get the contents in and out of those boxes?

Sub’d to see final results of box 👍








I’ve owned BMW X’s for years and the key to cargo box access on the roof is having the running boards installed. They make all the difference as they stick out a few inches away from the car which is what allows you to comfortably get access.
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      08-20-2019, 12:32 PM   #6
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I have Msport package. Was told running boards were not possible as an add on.
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      08-20-2019, 08:26 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BzsBimmer View Post
I have Msport package. Was told running boards were not possible as an add on.


They are available and on M-Sport X7's outside of North America. So it is possible to have them installed. Whether or not they will be allowed/sold that way is to be determined.
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      08-21-2019, 06:58 AM   #8
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Yes, that picture is of a pre-production X7 that came to the United Arab Emirates as a demo.

FWIW, the MY2020 BMWUSA configurator does list Aluminum running boards in the options section for an 40i, but if you've selected the M-sport model, clicking on the running boards gives an error, "this option can not be selected on this configuration. Network error." (the configurator does have some bugs)

I personally would never put the running boards on my X7, as they scrape my ankles, getting in and out of the car, and get my pants dirty. But I'm tall, and family doesn't need help getting in and out of car.
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      08-24-2019, 12:35 AM   #9
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Cargo box is on the roof and we’re ready for the journey to take my son off to college. More photos to come as well as driving impressions on local windy roads and wide open straight highways.

The car itself has a lot of space, especially the compartment beneath the rear floor, which holds a surprising amount, and the gap between the second row and the down-folded third row which is a great place to stuff pillows and slender boxed items.

Last edited by toddwalton; 08-24-2019 at 12:43 AM..
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      08-24-2019, 02:44 PM   #10
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Cool, Todd. That's a big box, but still looks small on the mighty X7.
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      06-02-2020, 04:40 AM   #11
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Oh, I am considering buying Cargo box too to move my kid to college next year but perhaps I won't have to as there's not a lot of things to be taken from what I can see.
Anyway, great looking car!


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      06-04-2020, 11:17 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by keithrumph View Post
Oh, I am considering buying Cargo box too to move my kid to college next year but perhaps I won't have to as there's not a lot of things to be taken from what I can see.
Anyway, great looking car!

Thanks!

We have a cargo box not so much for college but primarily because the X7 has zero cargo capacity when the car is full of people. A big SUV for 6 or 7 passengers seated comfortably is wonderful for short trips and day trips, but if you're going away for a week forget it. If you have a baby stroller, forget it.

IMO a cargo box is a must-have with an X7 if you anticipate overnight travel with the third row in use.
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      06-09-2020, 09:57 AM   #13
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Todd: did you consider a hitch mounted box instead of the roof one? My big concern with the roof mounted one is that some parking garages have less than 7' of clearance.

thx.
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      06-09-2020, 11:39 AM   #14
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We love our cargo box for skiing and also moving the kids to college (They have more stuff than we thought!). The roof box frees up the the hitch rack for his bike.
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      06-09-2020, 07:19 PM   #15
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Which crossbars do you have, Redrex? And, does the sunroof scrape them if opened? Thanks!
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      06-09-2020, 08:57 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by like2short View Post
Todd: did you consider a hitch mounted box instead of the roof one? My big concern with the roof mounted one is that some parking garages have less than 7' of clearance.

thx.
Good question. No, because we have parking space challenges for spots that are too shallow, and the driveway of our second home wouldn’t fit two cars that way. When we vacation, we can leave the roof cargo box in place the whole time. Can’t do that with the hitch version, and it needs to go somewhere when it comes off the car.

Add it up, the roof version was the only choice for our lifestyle.
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      06-11-2020, 10:30 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toddwalton View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by like2short View Post
Todd: did you consider a hitch mounted box instead of the roof one? My big concern with the roof mounted one is that some parking garages have less than 7' of clearance.

thx.
Good question. No, because we have parking space challenges for spots that are too shallow, and the driveway of our second home wouldn’t fit two cars that way. When we vacation, we can leave the roof cargo box in place the whole time. Can’t do that with the hitch version, and it needs to go somewhere when it comes off the car.

Add it up, the roof version was the only choice for our lifestyle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by toddwalton View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by like2short View Post
Todd: did you consider a hitch mounted box instead of the roof one? My big concern with the roof mounted one is that some parking garages have less than 7' of clearance.

thx.
Good question. No, because we have parking space challenges for spots that are too shallow, and the driveway of our second home wouldn't fit two cars that way. When we vacation, we can leave the roof cargo box in place the whole time. Can't do that with the hitch version, and it needs to go somewhere when it comes off the car.

Add it up, the roof version was the only choice for our lifestyle.

Yep! There is never a perfect solution, but you got to go with the one that fits the requirements best!
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      10-12-2023, 02:02 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paulfoster2 View Post
When my son went to college, we gave him a BMW.

Was it too small and not roomy enough?
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      10-16-2023, 11:08 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paulfoster2 View Post
Cargo boxes can create additional wind noise at high speeds. Use wind boxes and make sure they are securely fastened to minimize noise. Distribute the load evenly inside the box and do not overload it to avoid overloading the roof of the car.
I appreciate you, but you bumped a thread that is 4+ years old and thousands of miles later I'm quite the roof box expert now.
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      10-16-2023, 11:15 AM   #20
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I appreciate you, but you bumped a thread that is 4+ years old and thousands of miles later I'm quite the roof box expert now.
probably a spammer posting up a bunch of replies to dead threads that will change them with malware links later.
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