E61 M Sport towbar - How Much!!!!!!?!?
Discussion
I've just bought a 6 month old 535d M Sport Touring, and very happy I am with it too. (Carbon Black BTW 
)
However, I've just asked for a quote from my local BMW dealer to fit a towbar, and they want £1,800 for the pleasure! My local mobile service (who has done cars for me in the past) won't touch it because "the electrics are a nightmare on BMW's".
Does anybody have any alternative suggestions? (apart from the obvious "Don't get a towbar"
)
) However, I've just asked for a quote from my local BMW dealer to fit a towbar, and they want £1,800 for the pleasure! My local mobile service (who has done cars for me in the past) won't touch it because "the electrics are a nightmare on BMW's".
Does anybody have any alternative suggestions? (apart from the obvious "Don't get a towbar"
)Nice choice - Carbon Black is the only colour to have - for the added Q-car appeal...
But, the comment about BMW electricals is correct. Though to be fair, pretty much everyone uses the same system now. Everything is on a bus and every connected item (light, lock, window etc) has a unique ID. Then the system sends a signal down the bus with a unique ID - that item then does what it is told to do. Basically its a good idea and reduces the total number of wires required. Everything is connected to the bus rather than with separate wires to each and every device...
BUT, you can get very odd problems. One lock might not work, but the rest are fine for example. And getting a permanent live feed / switched feed for accessories and add-on stuff is a nightmare. Because everything is switched on the bus it can be a nightmare to find. A friend of mine has an A3 Sportback - he spent 3 days getting a permanent and switched live for his replacement headunit for the car - and he's a certified electronics engineer!!!!!
But £1800 is too steep - hunt around as there will be someone who can do this - though they may be busy! Worth looking for though. But often the easiest way is to take a feed directly off the battery - daft as it sounds....
But, the comment about BMW electricals is correct. Though to be fair, pretty much everyone uses the same system now. Everything is on a bus and every connected item (light, lock, window etc) has a unique ID. Then the system sends a signal down the bus with a unique ID - that item then does what it is told to do. Basically its a good idea and reduces the total number of wires required. Everything is connected to the bus rather than with separate wires to each and every device...
BUT, you can get very odd problems. One lock might not work, but the rest are fine for example. And getting a permanent live feed / switched feed for accessories and add-on stuff is a nightmare. Because everything is switched on the bus it can be a nightmare to find. A friend of mine has an A3 Sportback - he spent 3 days getting a permanent and switched live for his replacement headunit for the car - and he's a certified electronics engineer!!!!!
But £1800 is too steep - hunt around as there will be someone who can do this - though they may be busy! Worth looking for though. But often the easiest way is to take a feed directly off the battery - daft as it sounds....
Hunt around for an independant dealer of Witter bars. Guess what, BMW will probably take the car to them to do, then charge you through the nose for it. I had a removable one fitted to my e46 tourer, BMW wanted 1300 quid, the indy did it for 350....then told meabout the above. One reason why I won't be buying another BMW, restrictive practices to tie you into their money-go-round.......
jonnie5 said:
I've just bought a 6 month old 535d M Sport Touring, and very happy I am with it too. (Carbon Black BTW
However, I've just asked for a quote from my local BMW dealer to fit a towbar, and they want £1,800 for the pleasure! My local mobile service (who has done cars for me in the past) won't touch it because "the electrics are a nightmare on BMW's".
Does anybody have any alternative suggestions? (apart from the obvious "Don't get a towbar"
Iv'e used these chaps in the past and was very impressed with them, if you live anywhere near give them a call.
www.tamleisure.net/
For CAN - see off_again's comment. As for £1800 from a dealer, try other dealers. I forgot to tick the towbar option on our previous 330d, and cost 900ish as retro fit instead of 650ish. Seeing as same option was the same 650ish on the 535d we now have (I leanred and ticked the option) surely sub 1000 for a proper dealer retrofit still?
I see you are in Oxfordshire. Try these people I recommended to Lynda:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=265762&f=72&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=265762&f=72&h=0
I would try pressing a few local dealers a little more as mine did it for about half what you have been quoted. They know the premium over the alternatives is huge and may will discount. Look to compare for a price fitted incl VAT to rule out labour cost differences.
I can confirm that the car has to be "taught" that it has a towbar and this took a few goes to take on my car (very like yours btw) and took longer than the physical work. It was the electrical/computer integration that made me chose BMW over Witter.
I can confirm that the car has to be "taught" that it has a towbar and this took a few goes to take on my car (very like yours btw) and took longer than the physical work. It was the electrical/computer integration that made me chose BMW over Witter.
Update:
BMW have now reduced their offer to just over £1200, and I have a very local Witter fitter (I like that) who will supply and fit for £370!
Both towbars are detachable but, as I understand it, the BMW one will require a plate put into the back bumper which will need removing when putting the towbar on, much like the tow hook cover (All very neat I'm sure). The Witter one needs a hole cut out the undertray with more of a Swan neck arrangement, so the bumper is not affected. The Witter fitter reckon that the electrics will be no problem....
So, (hopefully) my final question on the matter is...
If I go for the Witter (£800 is a big difference!) can there be any damage done to the electrics if they have trouble?
Of course, the answer is yes but what's the risk?
Paul, thanks for the Banbury guy, I'll give him a call too.
BMW have now reduced their offer to just over £1200, and I have a very local Witter fitter (I like that) who will supply and fit for £370!
Both towbars are detachable but, as I understand it, the BMW one will require a plate put into the back bumper which will need removing when putting the towbar on, much like the tow hook cover (All very neat I'm sure). The Witter one needs a hole cut out the undertray with more of a Swan neck arrangement, so the bumper is not affected. The Witter fitter reckon that the electrics will be no problem....
So, (hopefully) my final question on the matter is...
If I go for the Witter (£800 is a big difference!) can there be any damage done to the electrics if they have trouble?
Of course, the answer is yes but what's the risk?
Paul, thanks for the Banbury guy, I'll give him a call too.
ooh and one more question...
Has anybody actually had a non-BMW towbar fitted to an E61?
That scares me a little bit, what does it learn exactly???
Cheers
Jon
>> Edited by jonnie5 on Friday 5th May 11:57
Has anybody actually had a non-BMW towbar fitted to an E61?
endeavour_uk said:
I can confirm that the car has to be "taught" that it has a towbar and this took a few goes to take on my car (very like yours btw) and took longer than the physical work. It was the electrical/computer integration that made me chose BMW over Witter.
That scares me a little bit, what does it learn exactly???
Cheers
Jon
>> Edited by jonnie5 on Friday 5th May 11:57
jonnie5 said:
ooh and one more question...
Has anybody actually had a non-BMW towbar fitted to an E61?
I have a Witter tow bar on my E60 if that's any help? No way I was paying 1200 quid
. The Witter kit is designed for the job and includes the necessary for hooking up to the car's electrics. No probs so far.Jubal said:
ooh and one more question...
Has anybody actually had a non-BMW towbar fitted to an E61?
I have a Witter tow bar on my E60 if that's any help? No way I was paying 1200 quid
Thats what I wanted to hear! Excellent, Thank you.
Hi there i am a mobile towbar fitter in staffordshire so any queries dont hesitate to ask.please dont go paying 1200£ for your towbars when i can do them for a third of that.The electrics in bmw are multiplex but we just use a bulbfailure bypass relay that doesnt interupt the bmw computer.Fitted loads of bmw bars never had a prob.
Hi there i am a mobile towbar fitter in staffordshire so any queries dont hesitate to ask.please dont go paying 1200£ for your towbars when i can do them for a third of that.The electrics in bmw are multiplex but we just use a bulbfailure bypass relay that doesnt interupt the bmw computer.Fitted loads of bmw bars never had a prob.
motor-ice&hotmail.co.uk or call 07896360883 Andy
motor-ice&hotmail.co.uk or call 07896360883 Andy
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