BMW factory fitted towbar
On Saturday I placed an order for an X3 2.0d SE and asked for them to quote to include the BMW towbar. I asked what electrics came with it which completely floored the salesman, so off he went to ask a colleague. Single plug came the reply, so I assumed 13 pin connectivity, especially give that I had made it quite clear throughout what I was going to be towing!
However on my return home I had a nagging doubt as to the advice I had been given so had a look online - nothing to be found on the BMW site, but quite a bit of discussions on this and other forums going back a couple of years about only trailer wiring being provided, with the rest being a retro fit by the dealer.
Hoping I hadn’t been stitched up, I contacted the dealer to clarify what was provided and after a couple of days they have confirmed that a further £575 inc VAT (after discount ) will be required to provide power to the fridge and battery charger. Not happy, and needless to say i’m going to argue the point, but I thought it worth putting a thread on here to confirm that it is still a problem, and that BMW dealerships don’t seem to be trained up in this area, so beware!
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I got caught out by this a few years ago when I ordered a 502d with tow bar and electrics. This was my first tow car so with no experience I didn’t think to ask it all 13 pins would be wired up. It was only when the car was delivered that myself and the salesman realised the fridge and charger pins were not wired.
He quoted me a silly number, can’t remember the amount, to fit the additional loom. The cost was so big because he said they had to remove the rear bumper and other items to fit it. Had it been ordered with the car the additional cost was less than £100.
In reality not having the fridge and charger on whilst towing didn’t cause me any problems, and when I ordered my next tow car, an Audi, I didn’t bother with it.
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This is a common issue with BMW and one I experienced many years ago. I remember getting a removable tow bar fitted to a 5 series and having extreme difficulty in making them understand the wiring needed for fridge etc. They were emailing Stuttgart and were reluctant to talk to my caravan dealer who knew exactly what was needed.
Generally a reputable towing electrics Company will know more than BMW and be far cheaper but be careful with warranty. BMW claimed that it was possible to deactivate the car alarm via the DIN plug unless the wiring was done correctly.
Just don’t buy an M5 because I don’t think you can tow at all with it!
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This is not unique to BMW and is connected-no pun intended-to the way that our continetal cousins use their vans.
I have had two new Audi Q5s and with both have had similar issues, I was thankfully forwarned by a fellow member who had the same issue,and as said it was a waste of time trying to get information from dealers.
I have no expectation that a salesman will know anything about caravanning but when they cannot even explian what a comment in the Audi brochure, referring to 'supplementary wiring', means then it is very frustrating.
The reason, at least in my case, is that in Germany it is not the norm to power the fridge/charger while travelling so it is not provided. The socket looked like a 13 pin but the relevant pins were missing, hence the need for 'supplementary wiring.
I took this up with Audi UK in 2012 when oredering my first car and the picked up the cost of providing and fitting the kit but sadly, but not surprisingly, in 2016 faced exacltly the same problem!
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Mercedes provide a fully wired plug for UK caravans and in their info they state this to be the case.I have a Bosal retractable towbar which is fully wired. VW used to exclude fridge wiring but I believe now include it.
BMW for some reason have always excluded the fridge wiring even for the UK which is bit of a cheek considering the price of them.
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I'm not sure if it's the same nationally, but my local BMW dealer and other main dealers use a local independent company to fit their so called 'factory fitted' towbars. From what I was told all new cars arrive from with no provision for a towbar and are then passed over to have the towbars fitted. It seems that often due to the sales people's lack of knowledge on the subject that the correct information as to the type of electrics required is not passed on. It may also have something to do with the fact that single 7pin electrics are cheaper than 13pin to fit and the dealer can make more money.
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My 2017 VW Tiguan factory fit swiveling towbar came fully wired to Uk standards for fridge and charging. When hitched, car alarm sounds if caravan is detached from hitch, Sat Nav (when towing) shows both speed limits n screen for normal and towing.
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how does that work with the car alarm. does the car alarm have to be activated like on a motorway services when using facilities. I think thats a brilliant idea and all towbars fitted should have that. there are spare contacts on the 13 pin sockets so would be usefull to find out how this can be done. Google for me next. haha.
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lornalou, Yes its the car alarm that sounds, but I don't know how it does this. Haven't checked if it works though, but that is what the car manual states
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It works on our Passat, found this out on the Ferry. Locked car and unclipped plug as I believe you are recommended to do and sure enough the car alarm sounds.
It is absolutely not the case to say that all German cars are the same, VW quite clearly state in their literature that U.K. cars with factory fit tow bars come fully wired and indeed they are, that may not have always been the case but it is now and in the case of the Passat has been for at least the last 6 years. It is also not true to say that all tow bars are dealer fit as opposed to factory fit, the electric swivel tow bar on VWs is most certainly factory fit.
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Many, thanks robbentley1963, Caravanner and others. This has given me some serious food for thought. Some 8 weeks ago i took delivery of a brand new X3 'M sports' - 'direct from the factory, having waited 10 weeks for delivery, amongst other 'factory fitted' options - was the factory fitted swivel towbar, with electrics and as said in the brochure, The towbar with electrically, adjustable tow ball and trailer, stability control is approved for heavy loads of up to 2,400kg.
At the time of ordering, I confirmed that the electrical set up would provide power to both fridge and battery charger? - A little unsure, off went the sales person, only to return several minutes later and responded with an extremely confident 'yes power would be provided to both fridge and battery charger'. What was interesting given the fact we were ordering a number of additional packages, wheel upgrade, sunroof etc, and challenging the fact that as on previous occasions if the price could not be reduced, brochure price of £765, I would have to re-consider - to my utter amazement, the response was 'what ever the 'local' dealer could supply and install at, they would price match!! So,I now have the car -
But does the electrics 'do' what is says on the tin? I'll know in the next couple of days, when I marry the 2 up for the first time - i will report back with the answer, my wife has fingers crossed! - for me, I do really hope we don't have to revisit the dealership!!
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Mercedes wire for full UK standards and state this in their sales literature.
VW did`nt up to around 2014/15 then changed their policy and now fully wire. Their brochures used to include a warning towbars were not wired for fridge etc.
BMW/Audi have been slow off the mark and any buyer should ensure full wiring is part of the contract of sale or have an agreement for the dealer to complete wiring.
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It does make you wonder actually whether powering the fridge and charger is strictly necessary? We accept it as standard practice in the UK but we also know that running the fridge on 12 volts is not very effective and that the caravan battery is hardly going to run flat between sites. Maybe our continental cousins are right not to bother?
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I would agree if on EHU regarding the battery but if not on EHU maybe useful. In the past I powered caravan 12v with a cable from the tow car, as many did 20 years+ ago, and that recharged whilst driving.
These days needed for trailer control system
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It may well be a simple bit of software that uses the exisiting hardware that senses the presence of trailer indicator bulbs.
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My niece is getting a new car (to her) which has a tailgate mounted spare wheel. The car doesn't have rear sensors but she's asked for them to be fitted. The problem is no-one seems to know if they can be calibrated to allow for the protrusion beyond the bumper line to allow for the wheel or will it be a case of stopping when the first intermittent beeps are heard rather than when it is a constant beep. Does anyone have knowledge about this?
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why would you wait for the continuos tone as this makes it very close to the obstacle and would restrict you using the tailgate 3 to 4". if you reversed up to another vehicle would you trust them to have the clutch control and not roll into you. find a car park with a wall that you can reverse to and note the tone speed and use that every time with the distance thats required for peace of mind. Or a rear view camera.
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