Wanted : E53 Tow bar kit, with normal tow hitch

[Horizon]

Hi All
I am thinking of getting another off road motor bike ( trials bike )
When I had my last bike ( GAS GAS 300 ) I had a citreon Berlingo van from work, in which I could fit 2 bikes into.
Now I run an Astravan, which is great to drive but you couldnt fit a pushbike into it, never mind a motor bike.
So the plan is to fit a tow bar to enable me to fit a bike rack to it.
The racks bolt on to the 2 x 16mm bolts that hold on the tow ball. So a detachable hook one, I dont think would be any use.I am looking for a used one if possible , but if used ones are silly money I would go for a new one.
Any advise is welcome. Thanks
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flange-TowBar ... 35bea54da6

EDIT found the dedicated electrics pack here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Towbar-Electr ... 415cbfc796

[X5Sport]

What does/might the bike weigh?  Just thinking of the weight limit (nose weight).  The BMW supplied Towbar is made by Westphalia and looks a lot more substantial than the one in your link.....and no more expensive new.  Others are available from Witter.

Have a look at the PF Jones website as there might be something on there.

The OEM system also includes electrics (now also subject to MOT checks) and a module that alters the DSC operation when a trailer is attached.  You may be better off in terms of 'saleability' fitting a proper system rather than a cheaper under specced type.

A few folks have fitted tow bars themselves very successfully and a lot cheaper than BMW will offer to doit for..

[Horizon]

Thanks X5Sport.
The bike only weighs 65 KG, and if i'm going to the trouble to fit one I might as well go for a decent one as if I borrow the trailer from work to move other stuff, or if the wife gets another horse trailer 2250 KG MGW I will want it to be safe. I will look on the witter and westfarlia sites, but most I have seen are the detachable ones that dont have the flange fixing to suit the bike rack fixing

Edit : I have been on PF Jones website, and they sell a witter one which is rated 2500 KG.
Flange mounting and have dedicated electrics at 70 quid, sounds too cheap.
Then I noticed they have a place in Manchester 10 miles from me so I will ring them tomorrow ,and call in for one maybe. Result at 250 quid. I maybe trawling the how to section tomorrow,as a member did a great write up a while ago,on a DIY fit as I remember.

[LincsX5]

This is just my 2 pence worth but as X5Sport has mentioned 'saleability' may be effected with a flange type (therefore non OEM) tow bar fitted. I didn't even consider X5's that had that type fitted when I was looking to buy. Apart from it being non standard I just don't like the look of them.

Obviously your priority is probably being able to transport the bike, for which you need the flange type. I have seen a detachable one, that had a fitting on it for a cycle carrier but don't know what the weight limit would be on it.

As far as the electrics go the proper dedicated wiring kit has got to be best as it works with the car (it will have the white Siemens tow module that fits in the boot). 13 pin electrics (now?) gets checked on the MOT, 7 pin (12N) only gets a visual and 12S doesn't.

[ChrisLux]

I was back in UK for Christmas and had a Westfalia detachable fitted with single 13 pin dedicated
electrics by FastFit Halesowen which cost me £495 for my E53 . Think they also have offices further
North .

[Don Coffey]

[quote="ChrisLux"]

I was back in UK for Christmas and had a Westfalia detachable fitted with single 13 pin dedicated
electrics by FastFit Halesowen which cost me £495 for my E53 . Think they also have offices further
North .
[/quote]

I'm getting a Westfalia fitted next week. Also with the 13 pin as I tow a new caravan so needed for that.  Speaking to the fitters, Westfalia are the suppliers to BMW for the factory fit.  I'm also going with a dedicated wiring solution. Cost is £500 plus the VAT and also comes with a lifetime guarantee. I also have to supply extra parts for the bumper.  So in the end this is going to cost just under £800 but these guys were recommended by the BMW dealerships service manager and got a good feeling about them when speaking to them.

Don

[Horizon]

Hi Guys.
Thanks for the replies. There has been a change of plan, I am no longer looking to get another motorbike.
I have been in touch with my ex riding buddies, and the place we used to ride is now policed by the local council wardens, and they have took it on themselves to involve the Police and confiscate bikes and the like.
As we now live in a nanny state where enjoying a little green laning, and motor sport makes you a criminal.
I have decided not to bother.
I have decided to join the masses and got a new mountain bike instead.
For those of you in to mtb, its a Genesis Core 26.5.
Bikes have come a long way since my last bike ( Raleigh Grifter ) it only weighs 11.4 KG and has 30 gears !( 3 speed stermy archer, was a challenge )
Im hoping to get out on it this weekend, without inducing a heart attack, as ive piled on the pounds over the last few years.

[X5Sport]

I've still got a Carrera bike in the shed........the surgeon says it's the wrong size for me (summat like a 26" I think, but I don't know/how where to check) and because of the various 'issues' with my spine, I need something called a hybrid.  Assuming it's not a sort of motorbike with an electric rear end I suppose I'll need to find one once I can get the right measurements to work out the right frame size.  The only things I've seen so far ought to have BMW badges on for the price!! 

Methinks bikes have moved on a bit..... :-[

R

[ChrisLux]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
[quote="ChrisLux"]

I was back in UK for Christmas and had a Westfalia detachable fitted with single 13 pin dedicated
electrics by FastFit Halesowen which cost me £495 for my E53 . Think they also have offices further
North .
[/quote]

I'm getting a Westfalia fitted next week. Also with the 13 pin as I tow a new caravan so needed for that.  Speaking to the fitters, Westfalia are the suppliers to BMW for the factory fit.  I'm also going with a dedicated wiring solution. Cost is £500 plus the VAT and also comes with a lifetime guarantee. I also have to supply extra parts for the bumper.  So in the end this is going to cost just under £800 but these guys were recommended by the BMW dealerships service manager and got a good feeling about them when speaking to them.

Don
[/quote]

Wow £800 seems a lot from an Indy and not a dealer . But if you're happy with them and that cost to you
is OK then I guess go for it . My gripe was the actual metal bracket kit is about £200 so to pay that much
wasn't cost effective . As long as I got the Westfalia which was OEM I was happy , so I went for the cheapest quote from someone who sounded as if they knew what they were talking about .

[X5Sport]

There's a bit of coding that has to be done too which adds to the cost.  Half the interior has to come out as wiring needs to be run to the front of the car. Dealers want really silly money - mostly labour.  I think I was told it would be about £600 ordered with the car and £2.5k to add it later......and no I couldn't understand why either!!  That was all in with the extra parts. 

[Don Coffey]

[quote="ChrisLux"]

Wow £800 seems a lot from an Indy and not a dealer . But if you're happy with them and that cost to you
is OK then I guess go for it . My gripe was the actual metal bracket kit is about £200 so to pay that much
wasn't cost effective . As long as I got the Westfalia which was OEM I was happy , so I went for the cheapest quote from someone who sounded as if they knew what they were talking about .
[/quote]

Sorry ran out of fingers. Total cost a little under £700  :doh:

Yes more expensive than I expected when first investigated. But it was the electrics that had me worried. I've heard horror stories of poor electrics causing long term issues with BMWs and the installers walking away from responsibility. For the sake of a couple of hundred pounds the piece of mind is worth it.

Don

[X5Sport]

Are you going to have the uprated 400W cooling fan Don, or are you going all the way up to the 3.5T limit with the extra rad too?

R

[ChrisLux]

[quote="X5Sport"]
There's a bit of coding that has to be done too which adds to the cost.  Half the interior has to come out as wiring needs to be run to the front of the car. Dealers want really silly money - mostly labour.  I think I was told it would be about £600 ordered with the car and £2.5k to add it later......and no I couldn't understand why either!!  That was all in with the extra parts.
[/quote]

Yes was same here . Eur 450 factory fitted , Eur 1500 dealer retro-fit !!

[ChrisLux]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
[quote="ChrisLux"]

Wow £800 seems a lot from an Indy and not a dealer . But if you're happy with them and that cost to you
is OK then I guess go for it . My gripe was the actual metal bracket kit is about £200 so to pay that much
wasn't cost effective . As long as I got the Westfalia which was OEM I was happy , so I went for the cheapest quote from someone who sounded as if they knew what they were talking about .
[/quote]

Sorry ran out of fingers. Total cost a little under £700  :doh:

Yes more expensive than I expected when first investigated. But it was the electrics that had me worried. I've heard horror stories of poor electrics causing long term issues with BMWs and the installers walking away from responsibility. For the sake of a couple of hundred pounds the piece of mind is worth it.

Don
[/quote]

Yes I've heard similar , although it was normally the difference between 'dedicated' and 'non-dedicated'
electrics where I heard there was a problem . But I can of course agree that £200 piece of mind could
make the difference .