Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > Regional Forums > Australia Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-24-2010, 11:32 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 69
jammit is on a distinguished road
$4000 for a tow bar!

I've just been quoted $4000 by an Aust BMW dealer for a trailer hitch on my 2010 3d!
I called several dealers and they were all within $100.

approx costs:
$2500 for fit of std tow bar
$700 for electric brakes (my boat trailer needs these)
$800 for a LED light module ( my trailer has LED lights)
====
$4000 incl GST

This is outrageous. The dealer claims it will take 2 days in the workshop and includes a complete reload of car software which "takes 5 hrs if it works first time". Software upgrade gives rear camera zoom on towball, adjusts the engine coolant program and turns off PDC.
The dealer claims the 7 pin plug is wired with an optic fibre! No wonder it costs so much......

Does anyone else have experience with tow bars in Aust? Is the LED module really necessary?? I took a look at the LED module and its a locally made box with a few resisters in it. How they can charge $800 is beyond me.

It seems I have very little option. I'm sure a $1000 towbar from a local workshop will not be properly integrated into the car electronics....
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 09-28-2010, 07:30 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 297
anzer is on a distinguished road
Yep - sounds about right. They need to setup for rear camera and sensors etc etc ... plus the usual BMW aftermarket 'markup'/margin. Rip off but if you need one then go with BMW OEM to save any downstream issues (i.e. warranty etc etc)
__________________
2010 35d Innovations
AW with great Tint

AW is the new black you know
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-28-2010, 09:58 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 69
jammit is on a distinguished road
Decided to bite the bullet and pay the $4K this week. I couldn't really see any other option, but to do this propoerly.
Tow ball zoom feature is probably the best part of the fit-out.

Seemed to also include a minor s/w upgrade on the idrive. I guess this is normal when you get a service or add something to the vehicle?

Next time I go down this path, I will factor in the additional $4K into the purchase price. When I bought the X5 the dealer told me it would cost "only $2K" - which is simply not true......

Last edited by jammit; 10-05-2010 at 06:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-05-2010, 04:19 AM
NBTBRV8's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 182
NBTBRV8 is on a distinguished road
A bit late now, but always try www.bmminiparts.com and compare the pricing. You'll be plesantly suprised.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-05-2010, 07:30 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 69
jammit is on a distinguished road
Sorry mate - www.bmminiparts.com appears to be a UK-based parts dealer - can't imagine shipping a tow bar from the UK (which is non-Aust stds compliant) and then fitting it myself, and then upgrading the software for the vehicle - all myself plus special wiring!

At this stage I can't find any plausible way around getting BMW to do it and gauging their customers.

Please - no more recommendations for overseas parts dealers!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-05-2010, 05:48 PM
BAD BAD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 16
BAD is on a distinguished road
Does anyone have a fitted towbar for an LCI yet? My dealer is still saying they're waiting on ADR compliance.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-06-2010, 03:09 AM
NBTBRV8's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 182
NBTBRV8 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jammit View Post
Sorry mate - www.bmminiparts.com appears to be a UK-based parts dealer - can't imagine shipping a tow bar from the UK (which is non-Aust stds compliant) and then fitting it myself, and then upgrading the software for the vehicle - all myself plus special wiring!

At this stage I can't find any plausible way around getting BMW to do it and gauging their customers.

Please - no more recommendations for overseas parts dealers!
You are doing yourself an injustice here by not looking at it. There are guys who have shipped complete bumper bars over from the UK and landed them here for less than BMW Aus can supply. The tow bar you buy here if it is a genuine BMW part is exactly the same as you buy from any dealer globally.
I buy alot of my genuine parts overseas and have the local dealer fit them, you don't have to tell them that they are from overseas and they don't have any issues as they are genuine BMW parts. Next time you need something price the difference.

See this thread:
Cheapest way to get BMW OEM accessories in Australia - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com

BMW Aus have a locked market here, so if you want genuine you have to go overseas for better pricing, otherwise don't complain about the price!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-18-2012, 03:25 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 218
frozenwaffles is on a distinguished road
Hi, can you please give anymore info about the entire tow hitch system. i need one too for my X5 2001 4.4 i just bought, but at a current price of around $4500 it would be roughly a quater of the price i paid for the X5!
i see options from Hayman Reece, but i too dont want to cause any problems for the vehicle.
But i also dont want to loose the PDC! why would this be turned off permantly, it has a swicth...???
any please lend me some advice on this one...and part numbers too
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-18-2012, 03:34 AM
NBTBRV8's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 182
NBTBRV8 is on a distinguished road
I guess you want item 1:
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0d Towing hitch, detachable

Here is the price from bmminiparts in the UK
www.bmminiparts.com - Part Details
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-18-2012, 12:04 PM
ECS Tuning's Avatar
Vendor
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,399
ECS Tuning is on a distinguished road
Wow! Aus market is wild compared to state side. We ship to Australia all the time and can get the E70 hitch kits (Click HERE). Also the genuine BMW kit we have is a complete kit from BMW to install a trailer hitch onto your E70 X5. Includes module and wiring harness needed for a complete plug & play installation.

ECS Tuning



Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:01 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.