Towbar & Electrics for my E61 (535D)
Discussion
I'm thinking of taking the plunge on the dreaded caravan this year (sorry) and sticking with my 08 M-Sport 535D for towing duties as I suspect it would be able to handle pretty much any van out there though in reality I'll just be getting a fairly normal 4 berth van.
This raises the question of towbars and electrics. I've never had a tow bar fitted to a car before now so it's all quite new to me.
Looking on some of the web sites for online fitters e.g. Towbar Express there seems to be a few things to consider. Firstly towbar type and on that front I'm fairly certain I want a detachable swan neck bar so the car won't look like it has a tow bar in normal use.
The electrics is a bit more confusing. I'm thinking the newer 13 pin socket is desirable as even if I get a van with the two 7 pin plugs I can get adapters to connect to the 13 pin. Then there's vehicle specific wiring versus a universal kit, this is where I'm not sure? Due to the electrical complexity of the car I'm thinking that the vehicle specific would make more sense as it should turn off the rear parking sensors when towing and other stuff as well as playing nicely with the complicated electrics i.e. CAN bus, blown bulb detection etc.? It is however significantly more expensive than the universal kit. I'm guessing the ECU might need to be coded too with the manufacturer specific?
All advice on what to go for and why would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
This raises the question of towbars and electrics. I've never had a tow bar fitted to a car before now so it's all quite new to me.
Looking on some of the web sites for online fitters e.g. Towbar Express there seems to be a few things to consider. Firstly towbar type and on that front I'm fairly certain I want a detachable swan neck bar so the car won't look like it has a tow bar in normal use.
The electrics is a bit more confusing. I'm thinking the newer 13 pin socket is desirable as even if I get a van with the two 7 pin plugs I can get adapters to connect to the 13 pin. Then there's vehicle specific wiring versus a universal kit, this is where I'm not sure? Due to the electrical complexity of the car I'm thinking that the vehicle specific would make more sense as it should turn off the rear parking sensors when towing and other stuff as well as playing nicely with the complicated electrics i.e. CAN bus, blown bulb detection etc.? It is however significantly more expensive than the universal kit. I'm guessing the ECU might need to be coded too with the manufacturer specific?
All advice on what to go for and why would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Westfalia are the OEM manufacturers for BMW and having fitted many makes of Tow bar, I consider the Westfalia to be the best engineered, although the fitting instructions are a little Ikea!
Fitting to the E61 is easy and manageable on your own, although assistance is better to get the bumper off as its a bit bendy and unwieldy.
I would suggest biting the bullet and getting the dedicated wiring kit - the integration is seamless. I first fitted one to my 530d E60 and now wouldn't fit anything else for a caravan.
Fitting to the E61 is easy and manageable on your own, although assistance is better to get the bumper off as its a bit bendy and unwieldy.
I would suggest biting the bullet and getting the dedicated wiring kit - the integration is seamless. I first fitted one to my 530d E60 and now wouldn't fit anything else for a caravan.
You'll need a new bottom diffuser with the cut out which will need painting. Even with a detachable, there's no way around this on a sport model.
Other places are available, and the bloody flap is an extra!
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
No coding requires, it's all plug n play. If caravan, definitely twin electrics, means you can keep the fridge cool on route for starters.
Other places are available, and the bloody flap is an extra!
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
No coding requires, it's all plug n play. If caravan, definitely twin electrics, means you can keep the fridge cool on route for starters.
Edited by bigdom on Monday 12th February 18:21
Once again thanks for everyone's help on this, had my Westfalia detachable towbar along with dedicated 13 pin electrics fitted on Wednesday sourced from PFJones along with the recommended bits of plastic from BMW.
Looks really neat, i.e. invisible when not attached, and will be even better once I've got the plastic bits sprayed as my bumper is currently sporting two different shades of grey but even that doesn't look too out of place (though it would on a white car!).
Hope this comes in useful for someone else. Collecting first ever caravan on Saturday
Looks really neat, i.e. invisible when not attached, and will be even better once I've got the plastic bits sprayed as my bumper is currently sporting two different shades of grey but even that doesn't look too out of place (though it would on a white car!).
Hope this comes in useful for someone else. Collecting first ever caravan on Saturday
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