BMW want €3500 to supply and fit a tow bar

comerla

..to a 5 year old 520.

Seems a bit mad. I’m guessing they’re taking the piss?

Toyotafanboi

No, they just dont want to do it.

I'm all for using main dealers but not for stuff like that.

comerla

Makes sense. We’d found the reasonable with most things so now suddenly it seems obvious now that you mention it.

Thanks for the two cents!

bazz26

What's nearly as mad is that you went and asked them for a price to fit a tow bar on a 5 year old car.

comerla

Just starting to dol my research on it! I never knew there was such a thing as a tow bar fitter..

bazz26

Yep, lots of them around and they will be significantly cheaper too.

jamfer

I've never paid more than €400 to get a tow bar fitted.

Wailin

Malcolms towbars in dublin. Did my old f10 with a detachable swan neck towbar so it can be easily removed when not in use. Cost around €500.

vurstflavor

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QGXtRhcVFus

Stallingrad

Wailin wrote: »

Malcolms towbars in dublin. Did my old f10 with a detachable swan neck towbar so it can be easily removed when not in use. Cost around €500.

Same as Wailin.

€3500?! Must be a fully electric retractable at that price.

Yakuza

It's a grand to have one added when ordering from the factory (an X3 at least). I'd imagine there's a lot more work having to retrofit the same one to an existing car, which probably contributes to the the "PFO" quote.

Mango Joe

€3,500 - Did that include the lube so you could have a sit and think afterwards????

mikeecho

Don't know where you're located, but if in cork. I've used these guys a few times.

Never had a problem, and find them well priced.

http://www.murraytowbars.com/

NoBread

With the 520d, the BMW factory recommendation is that you upgrade the radiator fan when fitting a towbar to assist cooling. Standard fan is 400W, the recommended one with the towbar is 600W.
If you're going to be towing a caravan, probably wise to do that work. If only something light, then I wouldn't bother.
Either way, I'd avoid main dealer for that work. But something to consider.
Also - there are plenty of guther's out there that will "fit" a towbar, so choose carefully! Take recommendations from someone who is mechanically minded, most people only look at the car before, see no towbar, drop it to man x - pay him as little as possible, see car after - towbar! Great, I'll recommend man x highly... he's great.
They'd have no clue as to the quality of work done.

kirving

Was it a bare minimum for a bike rack, or electric folding option, with wiring installation and upgrade of fan as NoBread mentioned?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i assume its so someone can tow the beemer ?

RandomViewer

NoBread wrote: »

With the 520d, the BMW factory recommendation is that you upgrade the radiator fan when fitting a towbar to assist cooling. Standard fan is 400W, the recommended one with the towbar is 600W.
If you're going to be towing a caravan, probably wise to do that work. If only something light, then I wouldn't bother.
Either way, I'd avoid main dealer for that work. But something to consider.
Also - there are plenty of guther's out there that will "fit" a towbar, so choose carefully! Take recommendations from someone who is mechanically minded, most people only look at the car before, see no towbar, drop it to man x - pay him as little as possible, see car after - towbar! Great, I'll recommend man x highly... he's great.
They'd have no clue as to the quality of work done.

That's just chancing their arm, fan will hardly ever cut in unless you are trying to pull a full cow trailer up a steep incline

RandomViewer

NoBread wrote: »

With the 520d, the BMW factory recommendation is that you upgrade the radiator fan when fitting a towbar to assist cooling. Standard fan is 400W, the recommended one with the towbar is 600W.
If you're going to be towing a caravan, probably wise to do that work. If only something light, then I wouldn't bother.
Either way, I'd avoid main dealer for that work. But something to consider.
Also - there are plenty of guther's out there that will "fit" a towbar, so choose carefully! Take recommendations from someone who is mechanically minded, most people only look at the car before, see no towbar, drop it to man x - pay him as little as possible, see car after - towbar! Great, I'll recommend man x highly... he's great.
They'd have no clue as to the quality of work done.

Main dealers rarely fit towbars themselves, they'll have an agreement with a nearby quick fitting outfit to farm the work out, handy money charging full MD rates to the customer

comerla

I got a quote today for 395/ 595 for non-detachable/ detachable options by a crowd that look to be ok.

This will be for a bike rack.

Thanks all for the comments.