[Dr Dave]

We have a small trailer tent - which I need to pull with my new car. Getting grief from the wife about our up and coming time off during the summer holidays.......

Have any of you guys got any experiences with these "wretched" things?(!!)

OEM BMW one is £500-odd in just parts alone - then I have to fit it myself.

I don't want anything to show when the detachable swan neck part of the towbar is off - which I fear restricts me to the OEM one.

I'm aware of the need for the dedicated electrical kit.

[willhollin]

Always used Witter ones on my van and never a problem.

Here is a Witter detachable towbar for quite a reasonable price. If you are considering retrofitting flappy paddles, then a towbar should be a walk in the park.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Witter-tow-bar...1|293:1|294:30

[Dr Dave]

Oh yes, not daunted about fitting it - but it HAS to look invisible when not in use.

Thanks Will

[willhollin]

Check this thread.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3981056

[fastloop]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

We have a small trailer tent - which I need to pull with my new car. Getting grief from the wife about our up and coming time off during the summer holidays.......

Have any of you guys got any experiences with these "wretched" things?(!!)

OEM BMW one is £500-odd in just parts alone - then I have to fit it myself.

I don't want anything to show when the detachable swan neck part of the towbar is off - which I fear restricts me to the OEM one.

I'm aware of the need for the dedicated electrical kit.

AFAIK, the OEM kit is a bit more than £500. This barely only covers the towbar, you'll need the electric kit and possibly a bracket as well. I'm not sure if the bracket is necessary for the E90, but it is for the E92. A guess would be that you are looking more at £800+ for the towbar and cable kit. Parts for the OEM kit for the E92 is £1033!

Estimated fitting time for the OEM kit is about 6 hours because of the bumber removal, electrics, programming etc, so you better find someone with cheap labour rates. Even if you do it yourself you'll probably have to pay someone to do the programming bit.

The best web site that I have found that show how it looks is :
http://www.schmiedmann.com/3_series/...ge22.htm#pg377

Each product has multiple pictures that show the towbar from different angles. At least that will give you an idea.

You may also get a rough idea how the Witter or Brink towbars look by looking at the fitting instructions on:
http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk

http://www.brink.eu/trekhaken.php?tid=3&lid=4&moid=9840

[Dr Dave]

Thanks Will - I've PM'd the OP, see how he got on with his 'bar.

[Dr Dave]

I priced the kit with BMW locally and was advised of £291 for the bar and £170 for the 13pin electrics - but this was over the phone etc - perhaps I'll pop in and ask in person.

Coding concerns me.......

[fastloop]

Would be interesting to see what part numbers they have quoted you for as there are 3 different versions for the E90.

E.g. closest to the price you quote would be:
71606777694 Trailer hitch with fixed ball head ~ £245
71600418644 Retrofit kit, electr. additional parts ~ £226

Prices on this site is pretty good and will give you an idea of the different parts cost.
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E9..._towing_hitch/

[Dr Dave]

Hmmm well in that case they've quoted me wrong.

I didn't have any part numbers given - all I asked for was an E90 Detatchable towbar & 13pin wiring kit.

I'll go back to them and check/report back.

Might have to be selling our trailer tent!

[jjbirch]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Hmmm well in that case they've quoted me wrong.

I didn't have any part numbers given - all I asked for was an E90 Detatchable towbar & 13pin wiring kit.

I'll go back to them and check/report back.

Might have to be selling our trailer tent!

i will take pics of my dads towbar he had fitted last week but his is a 5er but its the same for the E90, and the number too

[Dr Dave]

Please do, many thanks

[brumex1]

had a westfalia one fitted which i,m led to believe make bmw ones.
bmw worcester recommended this guy to me and its been fine £500ish fitted

[Dr Dave]

Thank you Brumex - if it's good enough for BMW Worcester then it's good enough for me.

Westfalia tobars is what 335rocks linked to - so that's good.

[brumex1]

if you want the guys address or phone let me know .he may even come to you

[Dr Dave]

I'm going to try a local towbar place in Exeter this coming weekend....we'll see what they have to offer.

[jjbirch]

heres some pics of my dads tow bar it is a writter i think but says Westfalia of it he had to have a new bottom piece to this bumper as they couldnt cut the old one, but i have saw the same towbar on a E90 and you dont need to cut the bumper it sits at the back of it with nothing popping out, what i did see is when you pop the towbar in it has a key so you can lock it so if you park up somewhere they wont nick it i will PM you his number later, he had a euro pin fitted which means all you need in one plug to pull out then you put in the plug and it has 2 ends on for the lights and electrics

[Nevtiger]

Hi,

I had a Brink fitted with dedicated electrics last month for £415. Its a swan neck removable one. When removed it is invisable even the socket can't be seen!!

Easy to fit and use.

The socket is angled down and sits behind the lower valence so until used to it i have to get on my knees to plug into it!

I will take a photo and stick up here.

It was all fitted in under 3 hours too. He had to be swift and was.

Nev

[Dr Dave]

Thank you all very much for your replies and photos, much appreciated.

Nev, yours sounds just like what I want. I take it you have rear PDC? When you hitch up the trailer, does the PDC system become disabled?

[Dr Dave]

Oh well I've gone for the Witter detachable bar. Fit it next weekend.

[Dr Dave]

Well I fitted my Witter BM24 AQ towbar today, took about an hour.

Perfect, you can't see anything with the detachable bit off.

Hardest part was removing the rear bumper and detatching it from the clips on the side. You need big balls to pull on it to release it from hard plastic clips.

[Dr Dave]

All done and I'm well pleased. Nothing shows when the detachable bit is off the car. Even the socket is hidden.



and with it on....



and an underneath view showing the lack of everything!

[Kart]

I have had a hitch installed on my 323 2009. BMW Canada don't sell the hitch kit available in europe. I have searched and no company build a hitch kit for the E90 except BMW OEM. Therefore I have call around to find a place that will build and install a customized hitch.

I have told the guy that I don't want to see anything when the draw bar is not installed. Here is the result. I'm quite happy. The attachment was made on the bumber through 2 bolts and then a bar goes to the rear axle. Everything is bolt on so easy to dismantle.