TowBar for the UK

[antonye]

I fitted the Westfalia removeable kit to mine - really easy to do and with the pop-out panel it's very neat and tidy. I don't use the towbar very often (I do motorcycle racing) so it's nice to not see the bar when it's not in use. The removable ball fits under the mat in the back and Westfalia supply the holding bracket. I also bought the plug-in electrics kit to go with it, both came off ebay and were supplied by Towequipe. The electronics box just plugged straight in and was also really easy to fit. I'd previously wired a 3-series (E36) with a towbar and had to use scotch-blocks to tap into the light wires, but this made it really easy ... plug and play!

I've attached a couple of pics to show the holder under the rear mat.

HTH!

[X5 Meister]

Very very cool and thanks for the great shots! Just curious since I've never seem them before, can you snap a photo of that Westfalia sticker and that yellow "spare tire inspection" sticker?

[antonye]

No problems, will do it tomorrow as it's a bit dark outside right now

The Westfalia sticker came with the kit. I think it's just about putting the latch onto the holder correctly. As for the tyre inspection, I don't think this is a BMW thing, just something that was put on by a dealer when they last checked the tyre (wear/pressure) during a service.

I love the Westfalia kit. It looks no different to a standard X5 without the ball fitted and the fact that the X5 comes with the pop-out panel in the rear bumper as standard just makes it even better!

Just to answer a few more question in the thread, the electronics box does indeed adjust the car's settings when towing; it ensures that the car can handle a weave caused by a trailer by applying the correct adjustments to the DSC. It also disables the rear PDCs when a trailer is connected and it also makes the car moan constantly that the trailer brake lights are out ... or maybe that's just my crappy trailer

[antonye]

Sorry for the delay!

I've taken some more pics of the Westfalia setup, and the two stickers as well.

I've shown the "swan-neck" removable ball. You have to "prime" the hitch by putting the key in to the side handle, then pulling and turning the handle. This moves the handle round to the red section. It's spring loaded, so once you push the hitch home into the socket (I left the red cover in to make it more obvious!) it springs the lock and the handle goes back to the green section. You then lock with the key and you're good to go. The Westfalia sticker is to remind you to remove the key when the hitch is in use.

Hope this helps!