e46 M3 tow bar.

[chris bayliss]

Does anyone know if you can get a towbar fitted to an e46 M3? I know it's sacrilege but needs must, if I can't get one fitted I have to sell it.

[mrmr96]

I imagine it would be the same as the E46 Coupe?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=768...

[essayer]

mrmr96 said:

I imagine it would be the same as the E46 Coupe?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=768...

Maybe not quite the same



In fairness there is a thread on here where someone's done it -
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=34...

The issue you may have is that it will doesn't seem legal for you to tow anything as the E46 M3 is not homologated for towing - but that doesn't mean a ball hitch (say, for a bike carrier) isn't illegal

[jaedba2604]

essayer said:

The issue you may have is that it will doesn't seem legal for you to tow anything as the E46 M3 is not homologated for towing

what does that mean in real terms?

just wondered what's involved...

[essayer]

As far as I understand it, the fact that the car was not type approved with a towing weight means that you cannot legally tow a trailer because there is no MAM etc.

In practice I assume this means you will fall foul of Construction & Use regs, and potentially your insurance will not cover you in the event of a claim.

What also isn't clear is whether the actual fitment of a towbar is illegal, even if you don't intend to tow with it. Seems to be a bit on the net about this - also for MGF/Ka/Cooper S which have the same issue - the actual legislation is very hard to get to online.

In short you might be better off buying a £200 Mondeo and towing with that

[thehos]

As said above no towing weight listed, same as a 3 series ;, don't think so, made in a different factory all together.

There was a guy somewhere fitted a "tow bar" but that was for a bike rack

[chris bayliss]

Cheers all. I had considered keeping an old barge / shed for towing but I begrudge the cost of tax & insurance, also when I get to the destination I have nothing decent to play in.

It looks like either the M3 has to go, or the wife has to keep her 540 for another year or two.

Or is there anybody with a 335 / 535 diesel or petrol tourer who wants an M3?