XSeries-forum

Evening all, I'm Roger from sunny Devon.

Just bought myself a rather nice 52 plate E53 3.0i sport in silver.



It's got a few small problems, the dash pixels have failed but I've just fixed that by replacing the ribbon cable and the tyre pressure control system is inactive.

I love it to bits although I was a little disappointed to discover it doesn't have a detachable towbar like my brother in laws as one of the reasons I bought it was to pull my caravan. I thought this was standard but has since discovered it was an optional extra... anyone got a spare towbar...??

Rog.

Hello and 

You can get a towbar from someone like PF Jones along with the dedicated electrics.  Westfalia are the OEM supplier and fitting the proper module means the car 'knows' when a trailer is fitted and will adjust the settings of various systems as a result.

It might cost a few hundred all in - less if you DIY - but that is way cheaper than going to a dealer.

Everything is an optional extra on a BMW......

Towbar.

13-pin electrics kit.

Richard

Hi Roger, welcome and congrats on the car!

Welcome.

What part of Devon are you from? When my mum was alive we used to take my kids and parents to Sidmouth every year.

You can always stick a wanted ad in the buy / sell section.

Welcome to the forum - arh the towbar.....

Waiting for Jeegnesh to want me to fit his soon, no doubt!  ::)

Welcome to the forum Roger
It's nice to have another carravanner on board. You will not be disappointed with the X as a tow car
Have a look here for advice on fitting the tow bar and I would definitely advise a Westfalia  and get it from PF Jones
http://www.xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2357
All the best
Stewart


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi and welcome to the forum. Best colour you have too

[quote="Sanj"]
Welcome to the forum - arh the towbar.....

Waiting for Jeegnesh to want me to fit his soon, no doubt!  ::)
[/quote]

He's waiting for you to volunteer so that way he gets it done for free....or may be even less..

Richard

[quote="X5Sport"]
He's waiting for you to volunteer so that way he gets it done for free....or may be even less..

Richard
[/quote]

We need to talk about your signature - IS IT BIG ENOUGH!!!!!!

Secondly that tight Indian Git will no doubt have it fitted free by me, because I'm like that. My buddies come first (after my family).

That includes you buddy (loosely)!  )

Gotta ask now, how long left for little peanut? PM of course... 

[quote="roger chatfield"]
Evening all, I'm Roger from sunny Devon.

Just bought myself a rather nice 52 plate E53 3.0i sport in silver.



It's got a few small problems, the dash pixels have failed but I've just fixed that by replacing the ribbon cable and the tyre pressure control system is inactive.

I love it to bits although I was a little disappointed to discover it doesn't have a detachable towbar like my brother in laws as one of the reasons I bought it was to pull my caravan. I thought this was standard but has since discovered it was an optional extra... anyone got a spare towbar...??

Rog.
[/quote]

Welcome aboard Roger. Fellow newbie having bought my first X5 2 weeks ago. Can't take the smile off my face 

Is replacing the ribbon cable an easy job?

J.

[quote="SoapSuds70"]
Is replacing the ribbon cable an easy job?
[/quote]

All depends what you skill level is.
I was in the Navy for 23 years as an electronics engineer so it wasn't to bad for me although my arse was doing the old 5 pence 10 pence trick when I had to drill 4 holes in the front of the instrument cluster.. :blink:

TBH if you are handy with your hands then it's possible, when I bought my ribbon from ebay I got a code so I could access the instructions, TBH they are very good, if you like I could email them to you and then you will have a better idea of what's involved.

Rog.

Welcome Roger - the X looks in fantastic condition

...am I the only one who read your intro line in a "Blind Date" style? 

A fellow Devon member! Where are you Roger, I'm in Ivybridge.

Welcome Roger and congrats on the purchase.

Does look very clean too.

And hi from a fellow newbie here.

Your X does looks in very good nick.

Enjoy