Hello from Bristol

[7builder]

Hi everyone, this is my first post to introduce myself as a soon to be owner of an E53 3.0i sport with LPG conversion. My brother-in-law took it in part exchange but he needs to sort out a coolant leak before I can get my hands on it.
I have been driving a 2.7CRD Jeep Grand Cherokee for a few years now and the X5 driving experience is the polar opposite to the wallowing handling characteristics of the GC.
I will need to get a towbar fitted so any suggestions on a good removable tow hitch model would be appreciated.
I'm sure I will have many questions so look forward to speaking to as many of you as possible.
All the best,
Paul

[X5Sport]

Welcome.....and yes you should have found the Jeep a bit agricultural compared to the X5.

The OEM towbar is from Westfalia.  Have a look at someone like PF Jones to see that one as well as the other options such as Witter or Bosal.  There is a 'plug and play' module that goes into a socket already in the boot module area that then tells the car you have a trailer connected and adjusts the stability program to take it into account.

Cheap models can be got from Towsure or TowbarandTrailer.  Depending upon what you want to tow will determine which way you want to go.  Fitting is not a difficult job.

Richard

[7builder]

Hi Richard many thanks for the reply and valuable info on the towbars. I tow a large twin axle caravan so not keen on scrimping on a cheap version. I wasn't aware of the stability program so have learnt something already.
I did notice the X5 had parking sensors front and rear. Does the existence of rear sensors have a bearing on the type of tow bar you can fit?
Paul

[Colin]

Hi Paul  and welcome to Xdrivers..  Colin..

[X5Sport]

[quote="7builder"]
I did notice the X5 had parking sensors front and rear. Does the existence of rear sensors have a bearing on the type of tow bar you can fit?
Paul
[/quote]

Not for fully detachable ones, but if you fit the right electronics module then it turns off the rear PDC when the van is hooked up.  I think it also turns the car brake lights off too - just uses the van ones.  One thing you do need to watch for is the 13-pin electrics really do have the 12-pins you need fully wired up.  BMW themselves don't fit everything (the constant 12V is missing) and my X6 has just been back into BMW for them to fit what was ordered at new - full 13-pin wiring!  PF jones do the full wiring kit for £78. 

I'd go down the Westfalia route if you're putting a decent load on the tow bar.  You then know it's the right one for the car.  Don't go near a BMW dealer for it though as they will charge you fast amounts of money for what is effectively a BMW badged one.  The bar & wiring is £377... But a dealer will fleece you for at least twice that amount for the parts.

Richard

[7builder]

[quote="COLIN"]
Hi Paul  and welcome to Xdrivers..  Colin..
[/quote]
Cheers Colin 

[7builder]

Thanks for the advice Richard. I found PF Jones web site and came to the same conclusion as your recommendations. Just when I thought I had it clear in my mind what I was going to order my wife just looked over and said "you don;t think the LPG install will get in the way of fitting a towbar do you?"
She has got me worried now because the filler is located in the lower offside corner of the bumper so I will have to check the route of the pipework before carrying out any work now.

[Steamyrotter]

I Have a Witter one from PF Jones, and come with the full integrated wiring kit (except wasn't fully populated as Richard said).
Installation is simple and should take a proficient DIYer 5-6hours max!

Should miss your fill point as it only goes to approx 3/4 width of the vehicle when fitted.

I tow a twin axle with mine and it hardly knows its there (Mine is the 3.0D though)