Tow bar

[Bungie]

Hi Guys, been a long time away cause had no problems or questions

Any one know the price to have a genuine towbar fitted, removable and obviously hidden away when not there. Aftermarket ?

Cheers

Bungie

[snipez999]

EBay sellers doing them for 300 quid plus 150 ish for upgrade to tailored electrics; you need to buy the bumper section from the dealer (not sure if this is an extension or pop out section or what really!) Looking at the very good guide someone posted about retrifitting towbar to an X5, it seems to be a reasonably complex DIY job. IIRC my wife's Scenic aftermarket towbar was around 300 quid extra for the professional fit, so probably looking at c800 quid plus a (potentially very costly) software update form the dealer after all fitted (unless the towbar guys have the right gear/you have a good local indy around).

[X5Sport]

See if you can get a price for this kit....it's the official OEM retrofit kit.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=71&fg=95

Note the additional comment about a fan cowling for the cooling system. You may or may not need one. If you are looking at towing a greater weight than 2.4 tonnes then you need the additional capacity upgrade. That is VERY expensive as you need additional radiators, fans, plumbing etc. That is definitely an 'at build' option - when it adds about £100.

You may also need to add the cover panel for the rear bumper if it's not in the kit.

[IanP]

Buy a genuine (Westphalia I think) along with the electrics module. There are already cast in sections in the surroundings around the spare wheel to take the towbar when it is detached. About 3 hours to fit by yourself, or a bit less with some help. No software problems with mine, just plug and play

[X5Sport]

X5 and X6 use very different systems.

[IanP]

[quote=""X5Sport""]X5 and X6 use very different systems.[/quote]

Used the 'New Posts' tab and didnt realise it was posted in the E71 index. Whoops Ah well.

[shadrack]

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/bmw-t ... mw-x6.html

[X5Sport]

[quote=""IanP""][quote=""X5Sport""]X5 and X6 use very different systems.[/quote]

Used the 'New Posts' tab and didnt realise it was posted in the E71 index. Whoops Ah well.[/quote]

Fallen for it myself a few times The big issue with the new models is that unlike the E53, the CIC iDrive has very little Plug & Pray capability without a trip to the Dealer for software changes! Even changing the Satnav map database can mean losing the car for a day!

[snipez999]

Yup Jones is the EBay seller I was going on about. Might pop along to their Manchester shop and see what they suggest. The worrying bit is the software programming as mine's a new car and I would not wish to feck it up at all whilst on warranty.

[Bungie]

Had a quote from Bmw Sytner Sutton.

Towbar detachable £392.50
Wiring electrics £257.50
Fan kit £500.00
Twin electrics £160.00
Labour £900.00
Rear panel ( I'll call it the belly pan behind the exhaust box ) Still waiting for an answer as nobody knows yet and waiting to get back to me.

It is including the vat £2210 and that's without the rear panel, what they gonna do cut a hole through me bumper.

Told them i don't want the fan kit as i will not be towing over 2.4 tonne and i presume the wiring electrics are for the fan kit.

I'll keep you updated

Towequipe are 30mins from me so i will have a ride there the w/end and enquire about the Westfalia they list.

[X5Sport]

HOW MUCH!!?

Having just picked myself and my bottom jaw off the floor, I'm stunned. Two grand! For a tow bar!? Never mind the bits, that labour charge has to be taking the p...! It's probably a Westphalia as suggested, so there has to be a cheaper source.

If you're on BMWland, see what their pet dealer does the hardware for. If you're brave enough to try it, have a go yourself.

The rear bumper parts are items 10 & 11 here...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=17

Did they give you a clue about what the fan kit was? I've got the OEM bar on mine, so I can see if I can see anything.

Two grand......goes off muttering

[Bungie]

[quote=""X5Sport""]HOW MUCH!!?

Having just picked myself and my bottom jaw off the floor, I'm stunned. Two grand! For a tow bar!? Never mind the bits, that labour charge has to be taking the p...! It's probably a Westphalia as suggested, so there has to be a cheaper source.

If you're on BMWland, see what their pet dealer does the hardware for. If you're brave enough to try it, have a go yourself.

The rear bumper parts are items 10 & 11 here...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=17

Did they give you a clue about what the fan kit was? I've got the OEM bar on mine, so I can see if I can see anything.

Two grand......goes off muttering [/quote]

I knew you'd be impressed

[Bungie]

Phew........ Done a bit of research and it done my head in until today I am going to order tomorrow the rear panel from BMW (not the first dealer i approached) with the detachable plate for the towbar approx £50.
When i get that i will pull mine off and fit that just so i can see whats underneath as it's req'd anyway whatever route i go down.
It should look like this below... Could i get it done somehow in matching black as i always thought it looked odd in grey ?



Afterwards it should look like this in place.


Westfalia detachable and dedicated wiring kit is what i am going to attempt (with pictures) will follow shortly be it good or a bad route to follow.

[Simond S]

How did this go.

about to do the mechanical install, not sure whether to do the elctrics or not.

Will only be used for a single bike rack so no biggie not having a light bar.

[X5Sport]

Just an additional 'complication' to bear in mind is that under the 2012 MOT refs, the tow bar electrics are now included in the test. Should be 13-pin as standard on the X6. If you fit them then you'll have to have them working properly. Not sure if you can get away with just fitting 7-pin ones.

We ordered our Mini with a factory tow bar as it cost almost as much as the quote of last year to add it after delivery.. That also came with 13-pin electrics.