Fitting a towbar to an e39 Touring

[Scamp's Walker]

Am contemplating joining the ranks of "leisure" towcars (trailer for trips to dump etc) but am bewildered by everything towbar related!

Apparently Westfalia are the OE BMW suppliers so will go for one of them unless I can pick up a decent second hand BMW one. With regard to wiring I have been told that I need an auxilary plug in loom so that when the trailer is connected it will cut out my PDC when car is put in reverse, which I understand, but have also just been told that as my car, a '98 523i, has self levelling suspension I should really invest in a £150 plug in loom as that overrides (?) the self levelling suspension and the PDC, at which point I lost the will to live. It looks like, towbar plus electrics plus fitting will come to almost £500!! So am debating on the self fitting/installation route.

Does anyone have any practical experience with the fitting of them and also, more importantly, the electric side of things, especially if the £150 loom is necessary and has any real benefits. Plus, anyone know of any decent suppliers/fitters in the Ipswich/Chelmsford/Colchester area.

Thanks in advance for suggestions and advice

[sniff diesel]

If it's only for a lightweight trailer then I can't see the point in overriding the self leveling suspension. I'm sure the parking sensors will drive you nuts but then you could just try avoiding to reverse with the trailer as much as possible.

I fitted the towbar to my E36 touring, £70 brand new on Ebay and fitted myself in a morning - remove the bumper, 5 bolts to attack the bar then wire it up. If I can do it anyone can.