[PerthBMW]

Hi fellow Aussies

When getting your X3 M40i, has anyone had a factory or aftermarket tow bar (hitch) installed on their car? I see there appears to be two models - the USA version that has the 4 inch square connector (71606887642) and then there is a what is referred to as the European model which has the detachable tow hook that is invisible under the bumper. The down side of the Euro option is you cannot attach a bike carrier I am told.

The dealer has quoted $4,300 to install the Euro version and I am awaiting his feedback on what I have described as the USA version (which I would prefer due to bike rack).

Appreciate any insight you might be able to provide.

Thank you

[Jcrane]

Originally Posted by PerthBMW

Hi fellow Aussies

When getting your X3 M40i, has anyone had a factory or aftermarket tow bar (hitch) installed on their car? I see there appears to be two models - the USA version that has the 4 inch square connector (71606887642) and then there is a what is referred to as the European model which has the detachable tow hook that is invisible under the bumper. The down side of the Euro option is you cannot attach a bike carrier I am told.

The dealer has quoted $4,300 to install the Euro version and I am awaiting his feedback on what I have described as the USA version (which I would prefer due to bike rack).

Appreciate any insight you might be able to provide.

Thank you

Hi mate, I'm currently on the same journey. The 4x4 place near me in Sydney put me onto a heavy duty Hayman Reese one http://www.haymanreese.com.au/news/bmw-x3 for $1650 fitted. Not the best looking thing but I know this brand is the best in the business. I had a Hayman Reese on my previous F25 and it was fantastic as the hitch was made of thick steel and was removable. Other brands that have the European goose neck are limiting with accessories like bike racks etc. Let me know how you go.

[Dandle]

I have the European electric folding towbar option on my car. They are the main towbar fitted in the UK/Europe by a huge margin and we have cycle racks and motorcycle racks that fit with no problems.

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-...bar-bike-racks there are loads of different types but Thule makes some of the best ones.

[GWA]

BMW towbar fiasco...BMW Australia has an accessories brochure for the latest GO1 which pictures bikes on a platform rack. I ordered the appropriate towbar with the car order. The dealer was comfortable with supplying a towbar to accept the necessary platform rack. Only on car delivery did I get the Owners’ Manual stating that a platform rack was not allowed! The dealer effectively said not to worry and installed the towbar a couple of weeks after delivery. On collecting the car the service guys announced that I could not fit a platform rack.
Further info is that the dealer installed a Westfalia brand towbar. A multi national outfit now owns both Westfalia and Hayman Reece. Is this a towbar monopoly?
The dealer insisted on their BMW towbar installed by themselves to be sure of perfect quality etc etc even though the price was high. But now they imply they used an aftermarket operator for supply and installation, notwithstanding they knew I could have done this for far less than the dealer price.
The final nonsense is that an after market towbar specialist I trust claims that all towbar manufacturers specifically state that platform racks are unacceptable for all towbars on all vehicles. So how is it that Thule etc sell them by the thousands.

[Dandle]

Westfalia make the genuine BMW towbars for loads of the models. The OEM electrical swiveling euro unit is westfalia hardware. The electrics though are not westfalia but BMWs own system which is probably why BMW told you that they want their system fitted. I don't know if it's changed but certainly three months ago when I asked Westfalia if they did dedicated electrics for the G01 they said it was in development and couldn't give me a date when they would be ready.
Over here it's not unusual for BMW to use a dedicated towbar company to fit them, they still bill you as a BMW fitment though as it's gone through their workshop and you keep the warranty (the same with electrical trackers another company comes in and does the actual work).

I'm not sure where hey are getting that you can't use platform racks from, they are everywhere in Europe and I've never seen anything stating they cannot be used. The car hardware has a nose weight limit which I think is 100kg on the X3 OEM euro unit and as long as the rack and bikes don't exceed that were fine.

[titomi]

Originally Posted by GWA

BMW towbar fiasco...BMW Australia has an accessories brochure for the latest GO1 which pictures bikes on a platform rack. I ordered the appropriate towbar with the car order. The dealer was comfortable with supplying a towbar to accept the necessary platform rack. Only on car delivery did I get the Owners’ Manual stating that a platform rack was not allowed! The dealer effectively said not to worry and installed the towbar a couple of weeks after delivery. On collecting the car the service guys announced that I could not fit a platform rack.
Further info is that the dealer installed a Westfalia brand towbar. A multi national outfit now owns both Westfalia and Hayman Reece. Is this a towbar monopoly?
The dealer insisted on their BMW towbar installed by themselves to be sure of perfect quality etc etc even though the price was high. But now they imply they used an aftermarket operator for supply and installation, notwithstanding they knew I could have done this for far less than the dealer price.
The final nonsense is that an after market towbar specialist I trust claims that all towbar manufacturers specifically state that platform racks are unacceptable for all towbars on all vehicles. So how is it that Thule etc sell them by the thousands.

I'm probably missing something, because it doesn't make a sense to me. You didn't order the car with the factory tow bar, but you did order a car and a tow bar independently (but still form the dealer)? You guys in AU don't have the option to order a car with factory tow bar?

And are you talking about a bike rack mounted on the towbar (see pic)? If yes, I can't see why you cannot do that. Even BMW sells a bike rack for this.

[GWA]

Thanks to those who have commented.

To summarize...

1. The rack photo in the accessories brochure I relied on is as shown on the previous blog.
2. The 2019 build X3 M40i Owners Manual specifically states that platform racks are not to be used. Important to note that it is a blanket ban...not limited to certain brands or styles of towbars.
3. The BMW dealer installed the towbar and then told me it had written material from BMW Australia advising them that platform racks were not to be used.
4. The dealer cannot or will not have BMW Australia explain the brochure/Manual discrepancy.
5. My guess is that the Owner's Manual might be as per all English language countries. Check yours, perhaps.
6. My wild guess is that BMW are nervous about poorly fastened friction-based platform racks. And/or about luggage racks, rather than bike racks, being easily grossly overloaded.
7. The only worry is that the BMW body is not adequate for the leverage forces created by platform racks.

It is disappointing that BMW would be aware of the common use of platform racks for bikes and yet send mixed messages to stress owners.

I would be delighted if someone has an owners' manual without the ban mentioned.

[titomi]

Originally Posted by GWA

Thanks to those who have commented.

To summarize...

1. The rack photo in the accessories brochure I relied on is as shown on the previous blog.
2. The 2019 build X3 M40i Owners Manual specifically states that platform racks are not to be used. Important to note that it is a blanket ban...not limited to certain brands or styles of towbars.
3. The BMW dealer installed the towbar and then told me it had written material from BMW Australia advising them that platform racks were not to be used.
4. The dealer cannot or will not have BMW Australia explain the brochure/Manual discrepancy.
5. My guess is that the Owner's Manual might be as per all English language countries. Check yours, perhaps.
6. My wild guess is that BMW are nervous about poorly fastened friction-based platform racks. And/or about luggage racks, rather than bike racks, being easily grossly overloaded.
7. The only worry is that the BMW body is not adequate for the leverage forces created by platform racks.

It is disappointing that BMW would be aware of the common use of platform racks for bikes and yet send mixed messages to stress owners.

I would be delighted if someone has an owners' manual without the ban mentioned.

In which section is the ban mentioned in yours?

[Jack6]

Perfectly fit my M40i - no bumper cut necessary. When detached the car looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom. - the towbar solution is really invisible, no ugly square receiver always-on display like HR. Wasn't cheap, but they fitted on my driveway for an additional $399 - worth the convenience and my M40 looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom.

Details of the towbar>>











If you need a bike carrier, just get a Thule ball mounted one. Noticed these guys have discounted ones available https://etowbars.com/au/Bike-Carriers

Forget the Square rattling receivers, welcome to 21st century towbars... euro quality, cant go wrong.

[_ink]

that etowbar is super discreet! I like it.

[Jcrane]

Looks good, but where does the chain/D Shackle screw into?

[ozbreamo]

etowbar looks good but the apparent lack of D shackle attachments is a downer.

Does anyone know if the Hayman Reese (Part no 03228RW) actually fit the M40i.
http://www.haymanreese.com.au/images...1538345988.pdf

I contacted Hayman Reese and they said they dont have access to that model when developing the towbar so would be great if someone has done it and can confirm.

[Jack6]

It has an inbuilt safety chain attachment point.

[Jcrane]

Noice

[Jooneth]

Originally Posted by Jack6

Perfectly fit my M40i - no bumper cut necessary. When detached the car looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom. - the towbar solution is really invisible, no ugly square receiver always-on display like HR. Wasn't cheap, but they fitted on my driveway for an additional $399 - worth the convenience and my M40 looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom.

Details of the towbar>>











If you need a bike carrier, just get a Thule ball mounted one. Noticed these guys have discounted ones available https://etowbars.com/au/Bike-Carriers

Forget the Square rattling receivers, welcome to 21st century towbars... euro quality, cant go wrong.

Wow amazing. How much did everything cost?

[sinbad4]

Stealth Hitches are another very good option:


They specifically state they can be used with platforms:
https://stealthhitches.com/products/...1-2018-present

[Jack6]

Originally Posted by Jooneth

Wow amazing. How much did everything cost?

$1199 for the kit including wiring - onsite fitting is another $399, but it saves you time and hassle as they come to you and fit on your driveway.

[Rikes]

Originally Posted by Jack6

Perfectly fit my M40i - no bumper cut necessary. When detached the car looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom. - the towbar solution is really invisible, no ugly square receiver always-on display like HR. Wasn't cheap, but they fitted on my driveway for an additional $399 - worth the convenience and my M40 looks the same as the day I picked her up from the showroom.

Details of the towbar>>











If you need a bike carrier, just get a Thule ball mounted one. Noticed these guys have discounted ones available https://etowbars.com/au/Bike-Carriers

Forget the Square rattling receivers, welcome to 21st century towbars... euro quality, cant go wrong.

How much can you tow with it?
Box trailer size load or will it tow a boat

[383vett]

I wouldn't think it's a class 3 rated hitch.

[gcbm]

Originally Posted by Jack6

$1199 for the kit including wiring - onsite fitting is another $399, but it saves you time and hassle as they come to you and fit on your driveway.

I was looking at one of these too. Did they wire it up with the standard wiring kit which I believe deactivates the rear sensors. If so how does it all work?

They also do a dedicated ekit for another $117 but that one needs coding. I'm not keen on coding myself while the car is under warranty and don't know how I'd go with the dealer coding in a non genuine module.

[Rikes]

Originally Posted by gcbm

I was looking at one of these too. Did they wire it up with the standard wiring kit which I believe deactivates the rear sensors. If so how does it all work?

They also do a dedicated ekit for another $117 but that one needs coding. I'm not keen on coding myself while the car is under warranty and don't know how I'd go with the dealer coding in a non genuine module.

I’m on the Gold Coast too. I have a 2020 X4
Got a vertical hitch class 4 towbar from speedy towbars $1650 installed. Can’t see anything when the hitch is removed.
Price includes all wiring and lifetime warranty.

[wingzee]

Since this is a discussion on towbars in the AU market, anyone has experience with these? Planning to use it either with the Thule VeloCompact or VeloSpace platform bike rack.

https://australiatowbars.com.au/bmw-...7q-witter.html