Tow bar Electrics only

[marshyrob]

Hi

Read a few posts on here about tow bars and electrics and what ones to use etc (pfjones, wesfalia etc). I have a X5 2011 LCI

Im looking to buy the BMW rear bike rack that connects to the eyelets on the rear bumper, so no need for a towbar as i wouldnt use it for anything else.

I will need electrics though and im rubbish at this stuff, i dont want to risk damaging the car or electrics with my lack of skill on these type of work so i would be happy to pay it to be fitted, for a fair price of course.

Does anyone have any recommendations of fitters of just the electrics so i can plug in the lights board?  Im located South East near Camberley.  Im aware that i can buy just the dedicated electric kits from pfjones and alike.

Thanks

Rob

[shadrack]

The dedicated electrics kits are reasonably easy to wire in if you or a friend are reasonably electrically minded although a couple of the wires have to be spliced into using the scotch lock type connectors provided in the kit.

[marshyrob]

Thanks for the reply shadrack, issue is im crap at electronics and so are most of my mates, other issue is the car is AUC so dont want to risk messing the warranty with a "non compliant" install at this stage.  I would rather look at costs to get it done by the pro's and have the backup.  If its silly money ill just get some roof bars and put the bike up top...but i like the look of the BMW rack.

[shadrack]

why not buy the dedicated kit and contact a local auto electrician etc to install it, it will be easy for any type or autoelect type person as they are 90% plug and play with all necessary pins etc to wire into the cars rear fuse box and work 100% with the cars electrics

[marshyrob]

i suppose that was my question in a roundabout way....who can do it, just your normal car mechanic or would i need a specialist electrical type fitter, maybe a audio specialist?  dont they do loads of wiring etc to cars for audio?

[celica]

Can someone please post what is the dedicated kit for this as thinking about the same thing too

I'll just ask my local mechanic to do it as he works with building stripped out cars up so I'm sure electricals he should be fine too

[X5Sport]

Here you go.....

E70 dedicated electrics kit

Instructions are on the same page so you can see what you need to do.

[celica]

Thanks

More than I expected at £170 then fitting labour
So looking at over £200

[X5Sport]

Compared to BMWs price it's a bargain.  Non dedicated kits are cheaper but need extra work so it may balance out?

The official guide for OEM work has them strip the interior out, which at £200 an hour (around me anyway) is disgraceful!