BMW X5 Factory fit towbar

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Comments

  • alano5555
    alano5555 Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2020 #32

    Hi.. Do you happen to know the part number for this as I need to get my fridge and charging up and running ASAP? Regards, Alan 

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #33

    The van battery holds its charge and the fridge keeps its cool long enough not to worry on journeys anyway.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2020 #34

    That is really not the point, BMW should not be importing vehicles into the UK market that have sub standard wiring that is clearly not fit for purpose. UK caravans have utilised the twelve wire system for many years now and frankly having to cut the socket off in order to correctly wire it is not acceptable for any new vehicle let alone a so called premium marque.

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #35

    Rubbish. To suggest that BMW import cars with substandard wiring is just daft. The fact that they don’t connect wires that don’t actually do anything practical is a fact of life.

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #36

    Mod:-

    Please delete my reply of 0807 this morning.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2020 #37

    "wires that don’t actually do anything practical",!!!!!!

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #38

      As I understand it, in modern high tech cars most non essential circuits shut down. With only one exception that I can think of, van batteries don’t need to be charged on a normal journey.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2020 #39

    What makes you say that and what is a "normal journey". 

    'O' and by the way, you can delete your own post and don't need a mod to do it for you. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2020 #40

    Only in the first few minutes after posting, not nearly 1.5 hours afterwards!

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2020 #41

    Would you accept that after purchasing a BMW with a factory fitted tow bar it should be capable of powering ATC or don't you think that is a practical necessity.

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #42

    I would accept that. A BMW bought new with a factory fitted tow bar has working ATC.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2020 #43

    If that is the case then why isn't the rest of the wiring completed to the required ISO standard.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2020 #44

    When I had problems with my BMW getting all wires connected my dealer hadn’t heard of BMWs being used for towing caravans; horse boxes - yes. I remember back in the days of the 12n and 12s being questioned whilst parked at a French motorway Aire. They wanted to know what the extra socket was for and when I explained that it was for fridge and battery they were baffled.

    You have to ask what the auxiliary wiring is really useful for. After all, it can’t cool the fridge properly and hardly charges the leisure battery. I think the continentals are right not to bother and to regard the Brits as a bit odd. The battery will soon recharge on EHU and switch the fridge to gas when you stop for a journey break.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #45

    I agree with hitchglitch, I've never needed to charge the caravan battery or run the fridge in the ten years I've been caravaning.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2020 #46

    Why would Euro land use a 13 pin pug then if they were only going to use half of it. Depends how far you're going as to whether you want or need power to your fridge.

    All connections are connected & work on my Merc factory towbar ... as they did on my Omega's EmilysDad's fitted 13 pin socket.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2020 #47
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2020 #48

    We frequently forgot about swapping the fridge over on our last caravan until after we'd set off ... fortunately the caravan we have now will auto change over for us 😊

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2020 #49

    Not only BMW but all car manufacturers do not let you specify twin electrics because there is no such thing as a factory fitted option and there never has been. Twin electrics have always been a dealer fit.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,668 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #50

    So, what  do you do when , having used the mover to get the van off a pitch, you arrive home, need to use the mover to get the van off the road, but the battery has too little power left to do so?

    While I would agree that the fridge is well insulated, I still prefer to have it cooling on a long trip, and contrary to popular opinion, our fridge does indeed cool well on 12v.

  • Glenn T
    Glenn T Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited July 2020 #51

    I bought a new BMW X3 in March 2020. Ordered electric  tow bar with power to caravan charger and fridge. That’s exactly what I have. Very pleased it. 

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited July 2020 #52

    Did you just order the car with a factory fit towbar or did you specify the charge and fridge circuits?

    Which model did you choose?

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited August 2020 #53

    Although I don’t collect my X5 (nearly new with a factory fit electric Towbar) until later this week, I am assured (verbally and in writing) that current/recent factory fits do have standard UK fridge-compatible wiring. The sales manager of the BMW dealership was aware and admitted that historically they were not wired for UK market but this had changed. Not sure of timescales of such change but - unless I get a horrible surprise on Friday - thought this comment may reassure some folk.

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