E70 towbar wanted

[mr angry]

I am looking for a towbar for a 2010 x5 40d complete with wiring and control module.

[graemeX5]

Hi

if I rememberI think BMW original ones you can get from P F Jones they do the wiringi kit as well

Graeme

[mr angry]

Thanks, I had a look and it seems around £450 with the wiring kit. I have seen an electric used towbar, complete with module and wiring harness on eBay but the guy wants £500 and it is collection only. Oh decisions decisions

[mr angry]

Just to update, I bought a used electric swivel towbar from a guy on ebay for £500..... never thought I would pay that for a used one, but hey they are expensive new I suppose. It comes complete with installation instructions, wiring harness and control module.

I will try and take some pictures of the fitting to assist others who may look to doing this in the future.

[Leslie]

I wanted an electric one but they are 2k new from a dealer ! I hear they can be a bit unreliable too and they are not repairable either if anything goes wrong but they are certainly a cool thing !
I paid 380 for a detachable new fitted so 500 for an electric one sounds ok

[mr angry]

Still waiting on it being delivered and only thing unsure about is will it need coded?

[Leslie]

Yes I think it will need coding .

[mr angry]

The towbar and wiring harness arrived today, however one of the plugs on the harness has been chopped and is missing. It is a 12 pin weatherproof plug that goes from the harness and plugs into the 12 pin plug attached to the bar itself. The issue I am having is in trying to find a part number for this plug.

Anyone any ideas or has one that they could take a look, although you will need sharp eyes as it will be under the car.

[X5Sport]

It should be part of this kit..... 71602166385. This kit is £300+ (And that’s not from BMW!)

I can only find a single reference to a 12-pin connector which is rectangular but doesn’t look weatherproof.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=61_4707

The wiring loom may be an externally supplied kit (with the bar) and not available as single separate items.

[mr angry]

Yes saw that and it does look different from the other six pin socket that remains.

I have also noticed that there should be two control modules....a tow hitch control module, presumably for operation of the moving hitch, and a trailer control module for the trailer lighting. It would appear that i only have the tow hitch module and not the trailer control module. This is becoming more of a job than first anticipated and i havent even removed the bumper yet

[Leslie]

I thought it might be a big job plus the "yes its all here" when they usually have no idea what should be there as its a rare piece of kit

[mr angry]

Folks, can I ask a favour of anyone with a 40d with a towbar. I am looking for the part number for the trailer module as looking at realoem is a little confusing and dont want to get the wrong part. Also on ebay there seems to be loads for sale all with different part numbers. Some sellers also suggesting the tow module accross most of the BMW range as the same?

[mr angry]

Called local parts guy and seems that there are indeed many differing part numbers that fit loads of bmws and they are interchangeable. Bought one for a mini, part number 6850497 which was £25 yet others listed with different part number up to £100....identifying parts for BMW is not as straight forward as i imagined.