[Richierich32]

With SWMBO announcing that she now wants a caravan (which is annoying as dead against it when I ordered the car) This now leaves me regretting not ticking the towbar option regardless

Anyways, now need to explore the the towbar route...

I am guessing trying to fit the OEM unit is both costly and a PITA...that's if it can be done that is.. Ideally I'd like a retractable towbar as anything else would look awful.

Any help her much appreciated

[tonyb15re]

Our Merrykeen friends call it a tow hitch heres a thread on the subject for your perusal

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=tow+bar

If you get it done please keep me updated, Im considering this as an option for mounting a bike carrier..

[Dandle]

Before buying the M40i I have now I investigated getting the UK towbar retrofitted. The cost was around £2400 for the electronic swivelling BMW towbar. Its around 8 hours work and involves a new battery loom fitted from the engine to the boot with two new fuse boards fitted as part of it. Westfalia and others now do retrofit kits but the electronics on them don't seem to work fully yet and they don't require the new battery loom and fuse boards which seems a little odd if BMW seem to think it needs them. I did have a Westfalia kit on my F11 and it was faultless so i guess they will perfect it.

In the end I opted for a car with the genuine towbar fitted, the X3 is an excellent towcar and much more stable than my F11 it replaced.

[Slashers 28th/61st]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Before buying the M40i I have now I investigated getting the UK towbar retrofitted. The cost was around £2400 for the electronic swivelling BMW towbar. Its around 8 hours work and involves a new battery loom fitted from the engine to the boot with two new fuse boards fitted as part of it. Westfalia and others now do retrofit kits but the electronics on them don't seem to work fully yet and they don't require the new battery loom and fuse boards which seems a little odd if BMW seem to think it needs them. I did have a Westfalia kit on my F11 and it was faultless so i guess they will perfect it.

In the end I opted for a car with the genuine towbar fitted, the X3 is an excellent towcar and much more stable than my F11 it replaced.

The difference between the BMW retrofit and A'other is that it will have the benefit of towball camera view (close up), Stability connection, Electrics to the caravan for recharge of auxiliary battery and Fridge whilst towing, also it is keyed in to the car for non dip of the passenger mirror on reversing.
I had mine factory fitted as in previous cars I have owned, knowing it is a lot less in cost as you have mentioned above (£2400) for retrofit. Yes you can get it done for a lot less (about £1200) but unfortunately will not have all above. Having said that ....you don't have to have it to still go caravanning.

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by Slashers 28th/61st

The difference between the BMW retrofit and A'other is that it will have the benefit of towball camera view (close up), Stability connection, Electrics to the caravan for recharge of auxiliary battery and Fridge whilst towing, also it is keyed in to the car for non dip of the passenger mirror on reversing.
I had mine factory fitted as in previous cars I have owned, knowing it is a lot less in cost as you have mentioned above (£2400) for retrofit. Yes you can get it done for a lot less (about £1200) but unfortunately will not have all above. Having said that ....you don't have to have it to still go caravanning.

Towing stability and towball view should be available on all retrofits with dedicated electrics if the car is coded correctly. The genuine BMW towbar doesn't include three of the 13 pins, two of which are for the ignition live and return. Meaning it won't supply power to the fridge or charge the caravan battery while connected. No German manufacturer includes ignition live as part of their own towbar options, which is a pain.

[Slashers 28th/61st]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Towing stability and towball view should be available on all retrofits with dedicated electrics if the car is coded correctly. The genuine BMW towbar doesn't include three of the 13 pins, two of which are for the ignition live and return. Meaning it won't supply power to the fridge or charge the caravan battery while connected. No German manufacturer includes ignition live as part of their own towbar options, which is a pain.

Dandle...Sorry, I beg to differ...my previous MK2 VW Tiguan had a factory fitted towbar which had all 13 pins live on which I had power to the refrigerator and charge the caravan battery on the move (not that it puts that much charge in to be honest).
I assumed that my BMW factory fit would do likewise. I must admit I have not checked this and will have a look next time I hitch up......thanks for the heads up

[Dandle]

Yours may have been upgraded but from the factory VW don't fit the ignition live and never have https://www.mytreg.com/index.php?/to...bar-electrics/ that's one of many threads out there.

BMW are the same I've had two factory fitted BMWs and its well known they don't fit the ignition live either. On the continent no country uses the ignition live so it isn't part of the standard specification with any German manufacturer.

[Slashers 28th/61st]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Yours may have been upgraded but from the factory VW don't fit the ignition live and never have https://www.mytreg.com/index.php?/to...bar-electrics/ that's one of many threads out there.

BMW are the same I've had two factory fitted BMWs and its well known they don't fit the ignition live either. On the continent no country uses the ignition live so it isn't part of the standard specification with any German manufacturer.

Thanks for the info mate.....would liked to have had it.....but I can live without it, if need be

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Towing stability and towball view should be available on all retrofits with dedicated electrics if the car is coded correctly. The genuine BMW towbar doesn't include three of the 13 pins, two of which are for the ignition live and return. Meaning it won't supply power to the fridge or charge the caravan battery while connected. No German manufacturer includes ignition live as part of their own towbar options, which is a pain.

I took a picture of mine for someone else on here for this exact reason - definitely has a full compliment of pins...

Also worth noting that the factory fitted bar gives a tow limit of 2400kg whereas fitting one after the fact gives a tow limit of 2000kg.

[Dandle]

It has the end sockets populated but the aren't any pins or wiring behind three of them. I have a spare one broken down in my kitchen with brand new pins to fit the two extra wires into the one on my car, if I ever get around to it.

As you say the OEM hitch is good for 2400kg according to my v5 and most aftermarket towbars are limited to 2000kg.

[Dandle]

Here's a thread in another forum where we were looking into the wiring issue. Its shows the make up of the plug with sockets at the front and crimp terminals that push onto them when assembled.
https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/12634...y-71606875018/

[Richierich32]

Christ I wish I'd checked that box...ho hum.

The Westfalia detachable with electrics you can tuck back in seems the best route by looks of things . Towbar close up whilst nice, ain't so much of an issue in my opinion. However the stability control and PDC coding I think is a bit of a must have.

Any reason why OEM is 2400kg and reto 2000? I'm sure there can't be a 400kg mechanical differential?

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by Richierich32

Any reason why OEM is 2400kg and reto 2000? I'm sure there can't be a 400kg mechanical differential?

No idea, but cars with the factory towbar have a 2400kg limit on the V5 and cars without have a 2000kg limit on the V5, so legally that's all that matters.

I believe the factory towing package is more than just the towbar itself, though i haven't seen any proof of that. Perhaps additional cooling or similar, either for engine or transmission (or both)?

[broc]

My dealer has flatly refused to entertain the idea of attempting coding with the Westfalia kit fitted & my towbar installer hasn't a clue if it can be done. Meanwhile rear PDC, rear foglights, blindspot overtaking sensors all panic whenever there's a caravan attached.

I am looking at biting the bullet & removing the Westfalia kit & getting the BMW wiring & coding done, it seems that BMW dealers can offer a motorised towball or a detachable towball option so I am guessing the wiring can be done with a non-BMW supplied towbar.

Price for retrofit of the motorised towball is around £2400, removable is £1800 & I am still waiting to find out if I can just get the wiring done & keep our current towbar . The dealer wants to take a look at the towbar we have fitted & see if it is compatible....

A downside of the removable towball option is being smacked on the head by the tailgate while trying to plug/unplug the towball by triggering the comfort access sensor under the rear bumper. It works by accident far more readily than by intent, waving my foot under the bumper has around 20% success rate, so far fitting/removing the towball is 80%-90%.

[Dandle]

I had the OEM retrofit on my 5 series and the metal work was the westfalia option with BMW specific wiring. I know BMW use a couple of different manufacturers for the metalwork depending on the vehicle model, Witter on the X5 I think.

There's no reason to remove your westfalia towbar and they should be able to just put the BMW wiring on, unless they are being awkward. They most likely insist the car has the other kit removed first though before touching it.

[tonyb15re]

this PDF is embedded in the link I posted above

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...ER%20HITCH.pdf

[miketee99]

Hi Guys

Is there anybody out there with an X3 and a factory fitted swivelling towbar who can confirm that the 13 pin wiring is to the UK standard since 2011.

The forums are awash with missing pins and varied functionality

Thanks

miketee99

[broc]

My dealer is quoting 8.75 hours labour to install a motorised towbar & UK wiring kit, plus extra time for coding. Fortunately they charge a lower rate for fitting accessories than they do for 'repairs'. Almost £700 labour........

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by miketee99

Hi Guys

Is there anybody out there with an X3 and a factory fitted swivelling towbar who can confirm that the 13 pin wiring is to the UK standard since 2011.

The forums are awash with missing pins and varied functionality

Thanks

miketee99

10,11 and pin 12 are not wired up on my 2018 factory fitted towbar. The sockets are in the plug but they aren't connected to any wiring (the pins would be on the end of the wires and connect to the sockets in the plug). My OEM 5 series was the same but didn't even have the sockets in the plug.

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by tonyb15re

this PDF is embedded in the link I posted above

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...ER%20HITCH.pdf

That's not the same as the euro retrofit. UK cars also done come with 8SA trailer prep which I believe is standard on US cars.

I would love to see the full UK retrofit if anyone can get a copy.

[broc]

Originally Posted by Dandle

I would love to see the full UK retrofit if anyone can get a copy.

Me too, I have a list of the parts needed for the motorised towbar & have asked two dealers so far to confirm if pins 9,10 are connected. If I get an answer I will post it here.

Supply & fit electric pivot mounted trailer tow hitch

Labour charges £637.50

B71.60.6.887.640 Set trailer £895.84
B71.60.2.458.026 ELEC KIT £222.50
B71.60.6.889.582 Control unit £100.00
B61.14.6.828.074 Power distr £100.84
B61.13.l.387.144 PLUG.CONN £0.67
M61.13.8.353.739 Connector £4.34
M61.13.8.364.551 Housing £1.46
B61.12.6.839.825 Battery cab £244.17
861.35.6.992.957 Control unit £48.75


Parts total £1,618.57


Net £2256.07
V.A.T. £451.21
Total £2707.28

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by miketee99

Hi Guys

Is there anybody out there with an X3 and a factory fitted swivelling towbar who can confirm that the 13 pin wiring is to the UK standard since 2011.

The forums are awash with missing pins and varied functionality

Thanks

miketee99

I have the factory tow ball on my UK spec MY19 X3 M40i.

How would I check what you're asking? Happy to help if I can.