How do I remove my tow bar?
How do I remove my tow bar?
Author
Discussion

D1H

Original Poster:

121 posts

213 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
I have just bought a BMW 328 E36 with a rusty old towbar on it. Can any one advise how to remove it?

Caulkhead

4,938 posts

186 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Undo the bolts.

wackojacko

8,581 posts

219 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all

Hitler Hadrump

1,750 posts

202 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Just obscure it by towing a small trailer at all times.

McSam

6,753 posts

204 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Hitler Hadrump said:
Just obscure it by towing a small trailer at all times.
+1

john2443

6,541 posts

240 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Tie it to something large and heavy (tree, lorry) and set off briskly.

Otherwise, as said up there ^ undo the bolts, I don't know about BMs but in general there are 2 or 3 that go through the floor of the spare wheel well, and maybe one behind the bumper.

Possibly soak them in pentrating oil before you try to undo, but if they are rusted up they'll snap when you put a long enough bar on the socket and then they'll come out anyway.


Blakeatron

2,566 posts

202 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Once off get some large washers and smaller nuts and bolts and put them back through the hole with plenty of silicone sealeant. I learnt that lesson the hard way.

balls-out

3,794 posts

260 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
It shold have a plate on it telling you the manufacturer. Then look on their web site and download fitting instructions for your car (or call and ask).

should be straight forward

Benbay001

5,892 posts

186 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
McSam said:
Hitler Hadrump said:
Just obscure it by towing a small trailer at all times.
+1
+2

davidjpowell

18,691 posts

213 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Benbay001 said:
+2
+3

How useful would a small trailer be for tip runs!

Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

212 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Chain the tow bar to a lamp post and look away for twenty seconds.

Dogwatch

6,381 posts

251 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Liquid Knight said:
Chain the tow bar to a lamp post and look away for twenty seconds.
Make sure the chain is longer than the lamp post is tall eek

tonys

1,080 posts

252 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Reverse at high speed into something very solid; just make sure you put the towball cover on first so you don't damage the ball.

Le Mans Visitor

1,119 posts

231 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
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[redacted]

entwisi

728 posts

220 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Paint out with some rust convertor and be grateful as no one will touch park against you... Also very handy when some tt in a fully loaded vito tts you at 40 mph when you are stopped at lights as I found out, insurance bloke reckoned that the towbar was the only thing that saved me from having to be cut out... He told me he has over fitted despite never towing anything as his job showed him how many times they save the person inside from st.

Billy Hunt

1,749 posts

203 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
entwisi said:
Paint out with some rust convertor and be grateful as no one will touch park against you... Also very handy when some tt in a fully loaded vito tts you at 40 mph when you are stopped at lights as I found out, insurance bloke reckoned that the towbar was the only thing that saved me from having to be cut out... He told me he has over fitted despite never towing anything as his job showed him how many times they save the person inside from st.
I would've thought a tow bar wouldn't do much (besides damage the chassis more) ?
Obviously I could be wrong but I cant understand why it would save you?

tercelgold

969 posts

186 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
Billy Hunt said:
I would've thought a tow bar wouldn't do much (besides damage the chassis more) ?
Obviously I could be wrong but I cant understand why it would save you?
From the rear the more energy you can absorb the better I would think, if that goes into deforming a tow bar with passengers seated forward.


rossyIIa

290 posts

234 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
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+



=

Problem solved

Benbay001

5,892 posts

186 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
rossyIIa said:


+



=

Problem solved
With a gun like that, the chain becomes rather unnecessary.

Billy Hunt

1,749 posts

203 months

Saturday 30th April 2011
quotequote all
tercelgold said:
Billy Hunt said:
I would've thought a tow bar wouldn't do much (besides damage the chassis more) ?
Obviously I could be wrong but I cant understand why it would save you?
From the rear the more energy you can absorb the better I would think, if that goes into deforming a tow bar with passengers seated forward.
I would've thought bodywork would absorb more than the chassis / tow bar as it isn't as strong?