Towing with a 520 BMW automatic diesel
hi everyone! I am thinking of buying a nearly new 520 BMW touring automatic diesel and have been told I will have to upgrade the engine cooling fan and rear springs for towing. has anyone had any experience of this and costs involved?
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Buy one with a factory fitted towbar and these are uprated for g/box cooling. No need for strong rear springs as they don't have any! They have self levelling air suspension with air "bags".
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My advice is to look at BMW approved used cars. Complete a search with towbar ticked as an option and there should be a few available nationwide. Then either get your local dealer to source that car or purchase from the dealer and arrange free delivery.
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As mentioned already this model doesn't have 'springs' so I would check the accuracy of the information you've been given. A detachable towbar with dedicated electrics is around £650 from an independent specialist fitter. No reprogramming required, the
car automatically recognises when a trailer is connected. I don't believe that any cooling 'upgrade' is required. No mods made to either of mine ( f10 520 & f11 525) any they were/are fine.0 -
I had a 523 petrol with factory fitted removable Witter tow bar. No upgrade to oil cooler or rear suspension was required. BMW now do an electrically operated retractable towbar but it is very costly as a retrofit. If BMW fit the tow bar make sure they wire
all the pins; it isn't done as standard.0 -
Look for one with the factory fitted retractable towbar then you don't need to worry about it. It is really neat.
You need to make sure you then get it upgraded to the full UK electrics if you want to power the fridge and ATC. Costs about £250 extra if not alread fitted.You would not retrofit the retractable bar to a car without it.
You would retrofit a regular aftermarket removable towbar, and have a dedicated electrics kit fitted and the car coded accordingly. Unless you anticipate towing across the atlas mountains and sahara I wouldn't worry about any cooling upgrade.
As others have said, it has self levelling rear air suspension so perfect for towing and no need for upgraded springs.
They are excellent value at the moment as they clear stocks for the new model (which won't be much different or better)
Best of luck
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Look for one with the factory fitted retractable towbar then you don't need to worry about it. It is really neat.
You need to make sure you then get it upgraded to the full UK electrics if you want to power the fridge and ATC. Costs about £250 extra if not alread fitted.You would not retrofit the retractable bar to a car without it.
You would retrofit a regular aftermarket removable towbar, and have a dedicated electrics kit fitted and the car coded accordingly. Unless you anticipate towing across the atlas mountains and sahara I wouldn't worry about any cooling upgrade.
As others have said, it has self levelling rear air suspension so perfect for towing and no need for upgraded springs.
They are excellent value at the moment as they clear stocks for the new model (which won't be much different or better)
Best of luck
Hopefully with the new one they will bring the X Drive to the UK market which ought to be a fantastic tow car.
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Yes, mine was a Westfalia not Witter. Apologies.
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