[chasealex]

I'm picking up my new 320 coupe tomorrow. I'm going from a 04 Mondeo estate, to shiny grey quickness.

Something's got to give, and it's the bikes. So I need a tow-bar, got to be removable, preferably hidden, certainly not involving a bumper cut.

I'm pretty sure that Witter's site used to be helpful, but when I looked today, it looked "modernised" and didn't list half the things it used to. Disappointing.

So, what are folks using, does it work, what did it cost and would you recommend it?

[Dr Dave]

I've got the BM24AQ removeable towbar from Witter for my E90, it needed a 35 mm strip taken from the small undertray, you do not see it one bit.

I'm fussy with stuff like this and I'm well happy with the kit.

I'm not sure how bike racks affix to the swan-neck thingy of a detachable bar though?

Searh for "towbar" and there is loads of past info on this very subject Alex.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by chasealex

I'm picking up my new 320 coupe tomorrow. I'm going from a 04 Mondeo estate, to shiny grey quickness.

Something's got to give, and it's the bikes. So I need a tow-bar, got to be removable, preferably hidden, certainly not involving a bumper cut.

I'm pretty sure that Witter's site used to be helpful, but when I looked today, it looked "modernised" and didn't list half the things it used to. Disappointing.

So, what are folks using, does it work, what did it cost and would you recommend it?

Forget the towbar. Get some roofbars and roof top bike carriers.

[chasealex]

I ride downhill. There's just no way I'm going to lift 40lbs of bike onto the roof of my car after a full day of riding. Besides, roof bars steal all your fuel, annoy ferry companies, preclude you from going in to car parks and then you have the real and scary risk that you might scratch or dent the car. This is the first time my car is worth more than my bike so there's no chances being taken!

Roof bars may look better to some, but they're for roadies really.

Dr dave, some racks use a flange mount but most of the better thule ones hang on to the ball, so a swan neck is fine. I did a search months ago and got some useful answers, but searching on Friday didn't turn up as much useful stuff.

[Dr Dave]

Ah that's useful to know as I'm sure I'll be carting bikes around sometime soon!

[will1968]

I used a westfalia towbar on my E90 and you can not see any of it when not in use also easy to fit and no cutting of the bumper or underside of the car.
Got it from here
http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/towbarmakes.htm

Here's some pic's also the electrics fold down (your see a small part of the bumper missing that's not to do with the towbar fitment it's from damage to the underside before the bar was fitted)
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[NFS]

Originally Posted by chasealex

I ride downhill. There's just no way I'm going to lift 40lbs of bike onto the roof of my car after a full day of riding. Besides, roof bars steal all your fuel, annoy ferry companies, preclude you from going in to car parks and then you have the real and scary risk that you might scratch or dent the car. This is the first time my car is worth more than my bike so there's no chances being taken!

Fair comment. 40 lbs is one heavy bike. My hard tail MTB is only 13 kilos I have no problem getting that on the roof without any risk of scratching it.

[Dr Dave]

Yeah but 40lbs with all the shit that's stuck to it after a decent ride is fair enough!

[chasealex]

My xc bike weighs 25lbs normally. I did a 24 hour race in 2008 where the mud was so bad that it weighed over 55lbs by the end of my lap.

Mud is heavy (and another good reason not to put the bike on the roof!)


My Socom. Light for a downhill rig, but it's still more than I want to lift above my head!

[chasealex]

Result:

I got the Westfalia hidden system from Towequipe in Nuneaton, who fitted it for me there. I'm very pleased with the result.

Quite suprised when they removed and replaced the entire rear metal bumper structure though!

£350 fitted.

[muffking]

I went Westfalia too for my E91, in fact i bought one for the E92 by mistake and had to sell it on here which looked almost identical. Check their site as neither required a bumper cut.