Towing with Bmw 520d

Green farmer

I have a 8 year old Bmw 520d. She's the model that had timing belt issues. Luckily I never had any bother with mine and got the "enhancement " upgrade " done last year by bmw as a precautionary measure. Anyway I was thinking about putting a tow bar on her as I have a need to pull a trailer. The car is rated for 1.8tonne but I'd only load her up to 1.5 tonne. seeing as she's rear wheel drive and isn't short on horse power, I think she'd make a good towcar. Am I mad ? Anybody any experience of towing with these cars ? Am I risking putting undue pressure on engine with the timing belt issues ? Any advice would be appreciated , thanks in advance. ?

Atlantic Dawn

It will be fine loading that amount but your licence might not cover it, there were changes of weight limits recently that a B licence could cover...
https://www.ndls.ie/cars-and-trailers.html#what-trailers-does-my-category-b-licence-cover

Green farmer

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It will be fine loading that amount but your licence might not cover it, there were changes of weight limits recently that a B licence could cover...
https://www.ndls.ie/cars-and-trailers.html#what-trailers-does-my-category-b-licence-cover

Have that covered. Did the trailer test a few years ago,

CiniO

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It will be fine loading that amount but your licence might not cover it, there were changes of weight limits recently that a B licence could cover...

There were changes indeed, but effect was actually that you can tow more with B licence after those changes than before.

CiniO

Green farmer wrote: »

Am I risking putting undue pressure on engine with the timing belt issues ? Any advice would be appreciated , thanks in advance. ?

I think it's timing chain problems, not the belt.
Anyway I can't see any relation between faulty timing chain and towing.

Green farmer

CiniO wrote: »

I think it's timing chain problems, not the belt.
Anyway I can't see any relation between faulty timing chain and towing.

Ya , sorry , chain issues. They replaced mine (free of charge, when I rang up about a service ) and installed a modified chain tensioner. Said was only partial wear on old chain, I was but just unsure if towing would strain the chain ?

shietpilot

No, towing will not add any extra load on the timing belt/chain whatsoever. The only load the timing belt or chain has is spinning the camshaft pulley, etc and you're not towing with your camshafts so no issues there

Titzon Toast

Is it a manual or an automatic OP?
If it's a manual be careful not to damage your DMF by overloading it or making the engine struggle, keep the revs up.

Green farmer

Titzon Toast wrote: »

Is it a manual or an automatic OP?
If it's a manual be careful not to damage your DMF by overloading it or making the engine struggle, keep the revs up.

Ya she's manual, what's the DMF short for ? Are automatics of any car more suited to towing ? Have her along time , but might have to change her if I cannt tow with her. Maybe 2-3 times a month .

jimgoose

Green farmer wrote: »

Ya she's manual, what's the DMF short for ? Are automatics of any car more suited to towing ? Have her along time , but might have to change her if I cannt tow with her. Maybe 2-3 times a month .

Dual-mass flywheel. A manual 520d will pull the Lusitania. As the man said, let it breathe and use the gearbox.

The Sidewards Man

jimgoose wrote: »

Dual-mass flywheel. A manual 520d will pull the Lusitania. As the man said, let it breathe and use the gearbox.

The engine delivers the power alot of good a box is if it dont get it.

Special Circumstances

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

The engine delivers the power alot of good a box is if it dont get it.

Deep.
Will the OP have a problem or not do you think?

shietpilot

Special Circumstances wrote: »

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

The engine delivers the power alot of good a box is if it dont get it.

Deep.
Will the OP have a problem or not do you think?

jimgoose

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

The engine delivers the power alot of good a box is if it dont get it.

A 2008 520d runs around 170 brake with a torque-curve like a three-phase motor. They have no shortage of pull. The manual 'box allows you to dial in more revs and keep them, to keep the DMF from getting knocked about too much.

Green farmer

Thanks lads, gives me more comfort putting a towbar on it now.