Towbar fitting

[shadrack]

So im fitting my towbar tomorrow on the e70, any tips, and yes im mechanically fine!  just dont want to damage the bumper!

ive gone for the witter detachable towbar with the flange fitting on so i can put a ball and pin hitch on should i need to tow any compressors etc for work purposes, ive also gone 13 pin dedicated socket so hopping its a plug in the boot job!

any tips on where to find the boot electrics, trim and bumper removal would be good, thanks

[LincsX5]

I fitted a Bosal detachable tow bar and Westfalia 13 pin dedicated electrics yesterday.
It took me longer than expected to do the electrics, partly down to triple checking I had the right wires, looming it all in and generally being a bit anal. I'm an aircraft engineer and hate the scotch lock type connections and untidy wiring.
So much for not needing a bumper cut, I ended up cutting a large section out that is actually marked on the inside of the bumper. My bumper virtually fell off as someone had gorilla'd it off before and broken the four tabs at the top. Luckily they glued back on nicely.
How did your fit go?

[X5Sport]

The E70 does need a cut, as you found.  Not seen a correctly fitted detachable one that doesn't - well not yet.

Being careful with the electrics on these cars is a very wise move as they can be sensitive!

[shadrack]

so my install has gone ok, took longer than expected also especially the wiring, i have to say been an electrician the wiring side could be quite tricky for someone with not much diy skill despite been labelled as plug and play its far from that really with limited instructions, i was lucky that my connections were all in the boot, i too had to cut the bumper, i am however a little annoyed that my westfalia dedicated 13 pin kit does not have the pin 10 charging circuit wiring, now as it stands i don't need it, however i plan to hopefully keep this car a couple of years so the whole point of going 13 pin over 7 was to future proof the car so to speak so i was equipped for all occasions.

[LincsX5]

I got mine from P F Jones and it came with the extra Westfalia wiring kit for charging. Not much to it, it connects to the White 3 pin connector in the tow bar loom, there is a relay then a connection to a +15 point and a fused connection to the battery.

[shadrack]

[quote="LincsX5"]
I got mine from P F Jones and it came with the extra Westfalia wiring kit for charging. Not much to it, it connects to the White 3 pin connector in the tow bar loom, there is a relay then a connection to a +15 point and a fused connection to the battery.
[/quote]

i got mine from pf jones as well?  maybe a phone call is in order!

[LincsX5]

Definitely worth a call. I ordered 303451300113 at £144. The charging loom came in a separate Westfalia box and is the item shown on page 20 of the main tow bar wiring instructions.

[shadrack]

[quote="LincsX5"]
Definitely worth a call. I ordered 303451300113 at £144. The charging loom came in a separate Westfalia box and is the item shown on page 20 of the main tow bar wiring instructions.
[/quote]

just read the item listing as i bought mine through ebay as i had a load of paypal money, it says its included in the listing, ill be i touch with them tommorow

[russ25]

yer  charging wire and relay was a separate option pf jones. just use a charging relay and take from the battery as its in the boot anyway.

[shadrack]

[quote="russ25"]
yer  charging wire and relay was a separate option pf jones. just use a charging relay and take from the battery as its in the boot anyway.
[/quote]

but the other poster got one with his kit, i didnt

[TimX5]

I bought a 13pin kit from pfjones for my e53  and it cam with the extra wiring , absolute doddle to fit.

[russ25]

think hes been lucky

[shadrack]

[quote="russ25"]
think hes been lucky
[/quote]

hes not because it says in the writing on the listing (i bought through ebay) it comes with the charging relay

[shadrack]

result pf jones are posting the extra wiring harness for the charging circuit to me today, first class and free of charge.

[LincsX5]

Good news. When you get it there is enough cable to run to the front of the car so I chopped and spliced the feed cable to the mini fuse holder. I also brought out the +15 control line early and used the same point as for for main tow bar wiring. You'll see when you get it, it's an easy fit.