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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) Local Forums UK Westfalia Tow Bar

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      06-29-2020, 05:08 PM   #1
Jonnyf320D
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Westfalia Tow Bar

Hi,

My car was in stock at the dealer and need to fit a tow bar, BMW quoted over £4K for this to be done but Westfalia offered for just over £600 my question is if anyone has had this done and did it require bumper cuts ?
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      06-30-2020, 05:36 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonnyf320D View Post
Hi,

My car was in stock at the dealer and need to fit a tow bar, BMW quoted over £4K for this to be done but Westfalia offered for just over £600 my question is if anyone has had this done and did it require bumper cuts ?
No experience of BMW yet, but on a previous car I fitted a non factory towbar. Got the dealer to do it and big mistake. It took the 2 days! Stick with the professional towbar fitters. I suspect the dealers are asked to do so few.
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      06-30-2020, 02:42 PM   #3
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had westaflia on last MSport F31 and towtrust on X3 - no issues. No bumper cuts for the removeable type (although the alu shield underneath does get cut.....you wont notice that though). If you have the fancy diffuser, then maybe......

I looked at OEM on F31 and think it was just over £2k for the bits and some extra cooling rad they said for the 'box or diff or something. That is perhalps the only thing to check. I checked around and noone had heard of that on the 335d
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      07-22-2021, 08:01 PM   #4
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Holy thread revival!

Bit of in the same boat as the OP, re fitting a Westfalia tow bar, this one in fact

https://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/tow...MpIDIwMTkgLSA=

On the drop down menu there’s some blurb about a software/coding option, from what I read into it it’s to sync lights?

Can anyone enlighten me of what to do re this particular problem? Is it needed, is it a dealer only install (coding)? Appreciate any help or push in the direction of a reliable/reputable tow bar fitting shop in central Scotland

Dealer prices for supply and fit are extortionate, £1.7 - 2.7k for a detachable tow bar, upwards of £3k for a fully electric one

At @ £700 to purchase with all the required options from the link above, my only sticking point is the ‘coding’

Christ, things have changed since I fitted a tow bar and electrics to my dads old Volvo 144DL
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      07-24-2021, 03:18 PM   #5
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I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
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      07-25-2021, 03:16 AM   #6
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Quote:
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I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
That’s still some price! So I’ve dug around a bit more and I’m going to give this lot a try https://www.lomondmotormovers.com/

They apparently take care of all coding, I’ll talk to them on Monday, and post what they say
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      07-25-2021, 10:33 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
Not sure whereabouts in Yorkshire you are but a friend of mine used Harrogate Trailer and Towbar Centre for a towbar on his Volvo - it's a few years ago now but he was very happy with their work and I think they were quite competitive on price as well (which is quite unusual for a business based in Harrogate!).
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      07-25-2021, 11:28 AM   #8
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
Not sure whereabouts in Yorkshire you are but a friend of mine used Harrogate Trailer and Towbar Centre for a towbar on his Volvo - it's a few years ago now but he was very happy with their work and I think they were quite competitive on price as well (which is quite unusual for a business based in Harrogate!).
Not far mate near Selby
I will give them a call
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      07-25-2021, 12:24 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
Not sure whereabouts in Yorkshire you are but a friend of mine used Harrogate Trailer and Towbar Centre for a towbar on his Volvo - it's a few years ago now but he was very happy with their work and I think they were quite competitive on price as well (which is quite unusual for a business based in Harrogate!).
Not far mate near Selby
I will give them a call
I had a quote from them for a towbar on my F31 335d; the bloke in there seemed pretty knowledgeable and from memory their price was around £800 - admittedly that's about 3 or 4 years ago now but it was roughly a third of what the local main dealer was quoting!

In the event I never had a towbar fitted but if I'd had the job done I'd have been happy to give these people the work. And as others have said, a specialist company fitting these things every week is probably if anything more likely to make a decent job than a main dealer who fits one once in a blue moon.

Good luck with it all!
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      07-25-2021, 01:49 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
I have had a quote to retrofit fit oe BMW Westfalia for £2600 from Cartronics including coding job done
Not sure whereabouts in Yorkshire you are but a friend of mine used Harrogate Trailer and Towbar Centre for a towbar on his Volvo - it's a few years ago now but he was very happy with their work and I think they were quite competitive on price as well (which is quite unusual for a business based in Harrogate!).
Not far mate near Selby
I will give them a call
I had a quote from them for a towbar on my F31 335d; the bloke in there seemed pretty knowledgeable and from memory their price was around £800 - admittedly that's about 3 or 4 years ago now but it was roughly a third of what the local main dealer was quoting!

In the event I never had a towbar fitted but if I'd had the job done I'd have been happy to give these people the work. And as others have said, a specialist company fitting these things every week is probably if anything more likely to make a decent job than a main dealer who fits one once in a blue moon.

Good luck with it all!
My only concern is warranty and I don't want anyone cutting into the loom!

Im told BMW fit cooling system upgrades as well
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      07-25-2021, 03:51 PM   #11
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Quote:
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My only concern is warranty and I don't want anyone cutting into the loom!

Im told BMW fit cooling system upgrades as well
I understand your concern re warranty, but what cooling upgrades are needed for a towbar

Where did this ‘info’ come from?
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      07-25-2021, 03:55 PM   #12
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
My only concern is warranty and I don't want anyone cutting into the loom!

Im told BMW fit cooling system upgrades as well
I understand your concern re warranty, but what cooling upgrades are needed for a towbar

Where did this ‘info’ come from?
From Cartec and BMW its to cope with extreme heat and hills when towing cant see it being a problem in UK but apparently this is an upgrade
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      07-25-2021, 04:10 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeebieJeebies View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by njw1967 View Post
My only concern is warranty and I don't want anyone cutting into the loom!

Im told BMW fit cooling system upgrades as well
I understand your concern re warranty, but what cooling upgrades are needed for a towbar

Where did this ‘info’ come from?
Additional oil cooler for the engine and transmission - had this on my G01 X3. Assume it's the same for the G20/21.
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      07-26-2021, 09:35 AM   #14
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when my brother was in the trade they outsourced the fitting of the bar anyway and just did the electrics and any intercooler or similar upgrades...
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      07-26-2021, 03:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeebieJeebies View Post
That’s still some price! So I’ve dug around a bit more and I’m going to give this lot a try https://www.lomondmotormovers.com/

They apparently take care of all coding, I’ll talk to them on Monday, and post what they say
As promised, they’ve sent me a quote of £610 fitted with 13pin vehicle electrics . Need to dig into that price a bit more and, the Westfalia is not in stock atm.

Seems too cheap that . Anyway I’ve asked for clarification on it all being the same as the Westfalia detachable link that I’ve posted ^^^ further up and supplied them with it.

Not particularly sure of any oil cooler upgrade required, that seems overkill, to tow a trailer or light caravan
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      09-04-2021, 03:54 AM   #16
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Wee update, Westfalia detachable tow bars back in stock at Witter, so I’ve booked a mobile fitter through them (good news is it’s the company that I preferred to deal with).

Not getting it fitted until 22nd Oct, could’ve got sooner but my rest days didn’t fit in.

£703 fully fitted at the door
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      09-04-2021, 05:19 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeebieJeebies View Post
Wee update, Westfalia detachable tow bars back in stock at Witter, so I’ve booked a mobile fitter through them (good news is it’s the company that I preferred to deal with).

Not getting it fitted until 22nd Oct, could’ve got sooner but my rest days didn’t fit in.

£703 fully fitted at the door
Thats not too bad really. Do you know if it includes enabling DSC etc in the car?
(or Trailer Stability Control I think BMW calls it)
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      09-04-2021, 07:01 AM   #18
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Thats not too bad really. Do you know if it includes enabling DSC etc in the car?
(or Trailer Stability Control I think BMW calls it)
Don’t really know, on Witters site there is mention of coding, however when you stipulate a 13 pin connection, it then says ‘no coding required’

The company that’s fitting it have several BMW’s on their gallery, modern X1, X3, 4 series and a couple of others, I’m assuming they’ll know or at least be able to guide me on this.
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      10-23-2021, 05:32 AM   #19
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Update! Got the tow-bar fitted yesterday, extremely well put together kit, good instructions, to a point, the fitter had to download the electrical connection instructions, link and scan code in the supplied instructions (I’ve pdf’d Them if anyone needs them).

All working fine, all the parking sensors, lights etc all working correctly. No warning indications on the dash or warning messages via the idrive. It’s only been tested on the fitters trailer board but works perfectly.

I’ll get some pics up today at some point

Edit: no coding required
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      10-23-2021, 01:09 PM   #20
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Could you post a link to that installation doc please?
I've my towbar metalworks fitted now and the wire routed into the inside of the boot but for the life of me cannot locate the correct wires inside about the fuse box. I pulled off the driver's side light module and confirmed the following wires-functions, Blue brown: Right Indicator, GREYyellow: Right side light, GREENgrey: Right Brake, BROWN: 0V.

Bumper removal and cutting of the tray cover underneath was handy but fitting the bypass box it proving the challenge :-(
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      10-24-2021, 03:56 AM   #21
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Here’s a link for the instructions for my supplied wiring kit, 13pin. The access code is 1234, Select multi, then the model (high speed G21), then take it from there


If you’ve any probs let me know but my IT skills are limited


https://www.rightconnections.co.uk/c...ns/70/516/4304

This is a link to the supplied wiring kit and cost from Witter

https://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/ele...530%7C%7C%7C13

Last edited by HeebieJeebies; 10-24-2021 at 04:03 AM..
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      10-24-2021, 04:24 AM   #22
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I downloaded those instructions, pretty comprehensive!

It illustrates the various wire bundles of interest and how to get the interior panels off. With panels off I'm sure the correct wires will reveal themselves!

I'm just going to wire the lights into the bypass box and give the CAN bus a miss as I'll only be using a bike carrier. That way there's no coding to mess with. Could be a while before I get to this with mid-term hols now but it does look a goer again
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