BMW X3 MK3 Factory Tow bar
Hi,
Has anyone got a mk 3 with a factory tow bar? Is there reasonable clearance for the Alko 3004?
As usual, the car dealers and even BMW customer service (uk) whilst trying to help have no idea what I am on about.
The clearance as shown in the photo on the Tiguan post (s) would not be acceptable to me.
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Can't help you on the clearance but can tell you it won't come fully wired. We were considering a 5 Series Touring, dealer wanted an additional £600 to finish the wiring.
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I can’t help either, Fysh, but good to see you.
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I`ve had three towbars of late a Westaflia detachable fitted to a VW by a towbar fitter, a Mercedes retractable factory fit and a Volvo retractable factory fit and I would say the distance from the centre of the towball to the bumper is almost identical which does leave little room for error. Some sporty versions such as the VW Tiguan R Design are particularily tight from what I`ve seen on posts.
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Hi TW and everyone else.
I have been trying to find a new towcar for ages now but still getting frustrated. I first came close to purchasing the latest VW Allroad Passat only to be told by VW customer services the factory tow bar has insufficient clearance for a caravan. Strike that one. I then got very close to a Kia Sorrento only to kind that Kia had stuck an adblue tank right across the mounting points for a tow bar. Most recently been looking at the Beemer. Yes BB is correct, the wiring is not complete. £45k and they hold their hands out for more. They dont tell you that in the tow car of the year!
Now I am back to square one. My Freelander is still going strong but its now well beyond the time to move it on.
Cannot believe how hard it is to buy a decent tow car.
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How about a Volvo ? - XC60 or 90 or V90 CC - no towbar problems - and if you go for nearly new dealers can retrofit factory fit electric towbar.
edit: that is an astonishing admission from VW, until recently we had the previous Alltrack, the worst thing about it was the rediculous clearance between the towball and bumper (less than 1cm clearance when hitched), virtually impossible to hitch up without a mover especially with the DSG gearbox.
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I nearly fell off my perch. After VW being vague, I asked for the distance between the centre of the tow ball and the bumper and although I don' t recall the numbers now it was less than mentioned on the Alko web site. They had no answer.
Good call on the Volvo. I will look into that.
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I can't speak specifically for the X3, but I have an X4 which is basically an X3 in a slightly different guise, and I've just measured 70mm clearance between the ball and the rear bumper on my car (or 95mm to the centre of the ball) and that's more than adequate. And yes, it's the factory-fitted swivelling towbar that I'm talking about.
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Well here is 5 Series (silver) poor IMO and another VAG car the Kodiak (Black) terrible.
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The other clearance that often gets forgotten is the vertical. Alko require 60mm - here is the Kodiak again - very very tight. It astonishes me that manufacturers can't do better than this.
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I then got very close to a Kia Sorrento only to kind that Kia had stuck an adblue tank right across the mounting points for a tow bar.
unbelievable, and such a great tow car, I have a 2013 model no adblue, great position for fixed tow bar, tows like a dream.
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Hardware, yes, but not the software or electronics to integrate with the canbus system.
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The problem with dealer orders is that the sales staff do not know anything useful about towing in most cases so cannot answer your questions accurately. I would have thought the importers office could do better but even they may never have been asked that question.
Not sure what type of towbar you are looking at but most makers towbars are made also available at specialist fitters and are usually Westfalia.
You will also need to get the extra wires for the caravan fitted as the BMW standard fitting will be for a standard trailer.
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My sincere thanks for all the replies. It would useful if the Caravan Club looked into all this.
Sorry if I forget someone.
Why factory fitted? It then becomes part of the purchase and covered by the car guarantee. Also some cars like BMW x3 get uprated cooling fans that are a couple of grand to fit retrospectively.
Which tow bar for Sorrento? None would fit in December. The dealers were unaware the cars new adblue tank was in the way. My towbar fitter knew and told me it was a ridiculous situation. Very recently bars have become available for the adblue cars.
BMW technical are still researching if the factory tow bar will fit the Alko requirements. I am unimpressed. I also understand that they want over £500 to fit an extra wire to power the fridge.
I think that answers the questions, apologies if I have missed any. I can now see why motorhomes are getting so popular. Much more of this and I will be joining them (again)
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Good luck, Fysh.
Sometimes I’m very glad I no longer need a tow car.
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I have the 2017 X1 2L diesel with a detachable factory fitted westfalia tow bar. Fully wired and plenty of clearance. It took some discussions with dealer, but they new what to do, as I had my previous 5 series fitted with the same tow bar.
Johnc26
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Eh up Dave. Hope you are well mate. Same to TW and Lutz.
The old FL2 has done me proud. Many times all over Europe including alpine passes (got a love for those having zig zagged several times all the high passes from Austria down to the Riviera on motorcycles years ago) Its just time to move on.
Anyway, an hour ago, having first visited my trusted tow bar man and seen the new flange tow bar for the latest Adblue Sorrento. I have ordered one (of each). I have been told it might set off the rear parking sensors but being 63, and never had a car with them, Duct tape will soon sort that. Rather that than crawl underneath to plug the sparks in. You can also use spacers to bring the ball out. Might not be pretty but I don't care one jot. Cannot see it when I am driving anyway. I will let you know what its like compared to the FL2 and I am honest and if its a bag of you know what I will say that.
Cheers everyone. Might even start posting again!
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In view of the fact that AlKo hitches are in such widespread use throughout Europe and in in AlKo's home country Germany, factory-fitted towbars are almost universal (because this avoids having to have the car re-MOT'd in Germany following retrofitment of a towbar) I would assume that the car manufacturers are well aware of the minimum requirements for clearance.
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So would I but clearly they dont pass this information on down the line to customer facing staff.
BMW UK customer service at the time of writing this message still have not come back to my dealer after 3 days!
Its cost them a £45k sale (but saved me £10k)
Perhaps we should have a sticky. Car caravan an towbar combinations that work in the real world?
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Even in the case of the Tiguan where VW seem to have overlooked the issue, AlKo did perform a clearance check at various angles of articulation and found it to be tight but still adequate. Under such circumstances, it is unlikely that very many combinations will be found to warrant being declared unworkable.
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That would not suit me at all. I want things done properly and a few mm clearance is just not right. Others may have a different view and thats fine.
New car coming in 2 weeks without any of these issues and the dealer is a pleasure to do business with.
Sorry to see my FL2 go, its been the best car I have had.
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Are you saying those examples do not meet Alko criteria? It either meets Alko requirements or it doesn’t, just because someone thinks there should be more clearance is another issue. I have also found there is also sometimes confusion with how or where the clearance measurement is taken (edge of ball to bumper or centre of ball to bumper). I have a previous B7 Passat Alltrack with factory detachable towbar and whilst it is tight the clearance meets Alko spec. If I catch the bumper with the hitch it is my fault. The latest B8 Alltrack has been tested by various organisations as a towcar and I do not recall any reference to a towball clearance issue.
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There is some interesting information here concerning factory towbars.
I have been a member for 47 years and have never had a factory fitted towbar mainly because I do not buy new cars.
I have had 5 BMW's of late all have had the tow bar fitted by a local specialist fitter with full electrics and no problems either with the towbar or the BMW dealer who service my cars. Currently, I have a 63 plate X1 with 190 bhp engine and automatic gear box. This is a good tow car and I have no hitch clearance problems with my Witter hitch. This has a bumper to centre of tow ball distance of 87mm.
Caravan has a ALKO stabiliser and 1314kg MTLPM.
If I may pose a question- could members with this model of vehicles give an opinion on towing a caravan of the above weight with a Tiguan 150 bhp. I knows that torque is more important than bhp and there is only 59 NM difference in this engine and a 190 bhp.
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, great towcar, you and me both had good service from them. Hope you are well and best of luck with whatever you get 👍
