TowBar for the UK

[UKenGB]

I know a fair bit has been written about fitting a towbar, but I thought I'd add some UK specific info.

First of all I established that the BMW OEM kit is made by Westfalia and their towbar kit (part no. 303207) appeared to be the same as that fitted by BMW, so at half the price (i.e. UKP 220) I was prepared to take the chance. BUT I decided to buy the BMW supplied wire harness and special relay because:-

1. I wanted to be sure I had the right/best electrics.
2. It was cheaper than that available from the 'discount' towing suppliers. Also, BMW supply a 13 - 7 pin adapter FREE. Yes, really, FREE.

I ordered the hardware kit from an eBay supplier and when it arrived got the shock of my life - the box was so heavy I could barely lift it. In fact dragging it across the floor was about all I could do.

I followed the various intructions available from here and also the Westfalia info that came with the kit. Some steps were not obvious, but it all came apart without much bother. Except that once the bumper shocks/brackets had been removed it took me some time to to work out that the large plate that runs between those 2 mounts and also to the body at several places along its length also needs to come off.

This was a blatant error in the Westfalia instructions as NO mention was made of this item, nor did they mention that the plastic spacer tubes from inside the original bumper mounts should be removed and re-used in the replacement equivalent. The instruction show that you remove the shocks/brackets and throw them away, so if you do follow this, you will be grovelling in the bin later to get these spacers out.

Following the re-assembly instruction failed to illuminate any more gaffs and it was all quite straightforward. However, I would advise that the 2 long bolts on each side that secure the new bumper mounts to the new towbar are left hand tight until the bumper complete has been refitted. In this way there is some adjustement that can be made to ensure correct alignment of the bumper. I used a small scissor jack each side pushing up on the Torx 55 socket fitted into the big mounting bolts to hold the bumper up while I finally tightened the inner nuts to hold it all in the correct position. Then I did it again twice more when realising I hadn't got it quite right - but you get the drift:-).

The kit includes the bracket for securing the swan-neck/tow hitch alongside the spare wheel and I am quite sure all the parts are the same as in the BMW kit. Did I mention it's only half the price of the latter:-) The final proof is that a BMW supplied towhitch not only looks identical to mine, but is interchangeable in the actual socket, so IMO it IS the same kit.

All in all it probably did take a surprising 6 hours, but undoubtedly half that if I had to do it again. Probably the most irritating aspect of the whole job is that every time I leant against the tailgate, the electic release would click/clack and the Navigation DVD would start whirring. Quite why I ALWAYS seemd to lean on exactly that spot I don't know. Next time I may just disconnect the battery first:-)