Tow bar

[Danc]

Hi

am Looking to get a tow bar installed and I’m after some advice!

does the fixed towbar interfere with the parking sensors with nothing hitched on?

also been told that it doesn’t need the vsk kit and would be fine with a bypass?

and help/advice would be great

[X5Sport]

Have a look at PF Jones website for installation instructions. That might give you a clue as to what you need or options to consider before actually buying.

Some kits will disable the rear parking sensors when a trailer is connected and reverse selected, others don’t. All mine use detachable hitches but with the hitch attached there is no effect on the sensors if nothing is being towed.

And

Don’t go to BMW unless you want your wallet emptied! They quote around £2k for a non-electric tow bar and a lot more for the auto stowing option.

Personally I would use a vehicle specific kit simply for the better integration with the on board systems. I think the OEM tow bar & wiring kits were Westfalia. Worth checking if you need a bodywork cutting too.

Depending upon what you are towing, you might also need a cooling fan upgrade as the standard fan (400W) may not be sufficient. Probably fine for lightweight trailers, but a caravan and a trip to the Alps might be more challenging!

[Danc]

Yes been looking on pf jones website and the information says bypass required yes and electrics coding not required?

[X5Sport]

It depends upon the model of towbar and what electrics are selected. A basic one will have different requirements to a more comprehensive (and expensive) one. If the bar and electrics combination you choose says what is needed then that is all. Just be aware that there could be limitations. From experience, give them a call as their technical team are pretty good and can answer specifics for your car.

[Alan Gunn]

The towbar itself is irrelevant it's the electrics part that you need to get right.
On my e53 i got a cable for the socket that had a plugin module that you plugged into a socket by the battery and i had to wire the socket end.

[Danc]

Yes I though I might of had the plug and play but unfortunately not

[X5Sport]

The BMW system is ‘plug and play’ but only if they do it with their hardware in their workshop. I had a copy of the official instructions a few years back and it basically required a large part of the interior (seats, carpets and some trim panels) being removed and something like 12 hours of labour. No aftermarket kits require this level of ‘disassembly’.

[hennabm]

I had a Westfalia detachable bar fitted to my 2011 X3 in December. I had it done by a tow bar specialist who said it didn’t need coding in.
I then went to a BMW Indy who coded in the bar, giving me the camera image option of the bar.

A lot cheaper than the dealer!

Been using it heavily since beginning of September and no issues with the bar or electrics. The parking sensors do not function when the van is attached and are not attracted with just the bar left on.

[Danc]

What does the coding in actually do? I don’t have a camera to worry about but have the parking sensors!

[hennabm]

Apart from the camera tow bar option, I can’t see any difference. I suspect it may have changed the parking sensors, as well as coding in the bar to the car to recognise it is there.

[X5Sport]

It should also disable the rear fog lights when a trailer is connected. The DSC if coded will recognise the connection of the trailer and alter how the system operates so that it accounts for the load and potential ‘swing’ that a trailer can cause. If you’re towing a caravan that might be very important in helping control any sway.