Electric Towbar Retrofit

[DrKevM5]

My recent foray at the track had me wishing for a better solution for lugging all my track wheels, tools, etc. to the track. I'd love to get a small trailer to throw all this stuff into. I've been looking at the trick retractible towbar you can order in Europe and was wondering how hard it would be to retrofit to my car. I am appealing to my sensei in all that is retrofitted, avlnch, to investigate the possibilities. I hope wdimagineer is still a part of this board and can offer some insight. I know hcclemes ordered this from the factory and would like to get his thoughts on its use.

[dhirm5]

Originally Posted by DrKevM5

My recent foray at the track had me wishing for a better solution for lugging all my track wheels, tools, etc. to the track. I'd love to get a small trailer to throw all this stuff into. I've been looking at the trick retractible towbar you can order in Europe and was wondering how hard it would be to retrofit to my car. I am appealing to my sensei in all that is retrofitted, avlnch, to investigate the possibilities. I hope wdimagineer is still a part of this board and can offer some insight. I know hcclemes ordered this from the factory and would like to get his thoughts on its use.

Vid doesn't work..

[DrKevM5]

Not sure why it's not embedding. If interested YouTube search BMW F10 Electric tow bar.

[dhirm5]

That's pretty damn cool!

[avlnch]

@DrKevM5 that is the definition of trick. Very cool.. tow bars are ugly and would look funny on the M5, so that electronic folding one is defiantly the type of tow bar to get for a car like the M5.

BMW installs a tow bar on their "workshop vehicles" - some of which are F10 M5's. I am not sure about this, but I think BMW Individual offers this as an off the books option as well.

I think retrofitting a tow bar to the M5 is defiantly possible - however keep in mind that the bar is attached to the chassis at some location. That's the only mount location with enough strength for towing.

This is of a different retrofit league than our last project though. In the sense that a retrofit like this would involve a permanent modification to the car. The tow bar would need to be (TIG?) welded to the chassis.

So you should research to find a good ship capable of doing this and doing a quality job with the proper tools.

[DrKevM5]

Thanks for your insight on this project. This is not a custom install. It's an ordered factory option on M5s in Europe and other markets. Since this should be an OEM part, shouldn't this be a relatively easy retrofit? 850 euros option cost.

[avlnch]

Originally Posted by DrKevM5

Thanks for your insight on this project. This is not a custom install. It's an ordered factory option on M5s in Europe and other markets. Since this should be an OEM part, shouldn't this be a relatively easy retrofit? 850 euros option cost.

I thought it was an option.. but wasn't positive - the electronic one is aftermarket right?

My thoughts:

A good start would be to find out if BMW offers this as a retrofit part (they offer retrofit kits in Europe). Also would be helpful to look at a parts diagram that shows it and it's related parts. Probably will need to contact a parts department at a BMW dealership in Europe. US BMW ETK most likely won't show the part as it's a ECE part, and therefore not in the ETK US parts catalog.

Need information like that before you can plan out the best install route to take. That's how I would start.

- Can I buy a tow retrofit kit
- What parts are included
- What parts (if any) on the M5 are different for this option. Find out all related parts..
- Where is the OEM mount location

[Boss330]

The parts catalogues that I have looked at doesn't offer the electric tow bar as a separate part, but I had it replaced on my car due to a electric failure believed to be in the tow bar mechanism itself (turned out to be just a wonky cable...). So it must be at least partially available through BMW.

Here is the diagram that shows that it's attached to the rear crossmember.



You will also need to change the diffuser insert (the black plastic insert between the exhaust pipes, part # 25 below), since the tow bar takes some of the Space behind it. It also has a little cut out on the bottom to make room for the tow bar when in use.



But, for the non M5 models they offer a retrofit tow bar that doesn't have the electric folding function. However it's detachable and doesn't show when you unhook the tow bar. It's VERY easy to use and was the same system they had as a factory option on the E60 5-series.

Part # tow bar: 71606850160
Part # electrical parts fitting kit: 71602296616 (or 71602296617)

[DrKevM5]

Thanks Boss330 and avlnch for the excellent info. The electric hitch is a factory item, not aftermarket. The non-electric, though not as trick, is very intriguing, and may be a simpler alternative. I'll research further and report back on the feasibility of this project.

[boots]

You can borrow my Yukon bro.

[DrKevM5]

Originally Posted by boots

You can borrow my Yukon bro.

And tow the car? Overkill, Son!

[Boss330]

Here you can see the different diffuser:

[hcclemes]

Originally Posted by DrKevM5

My recent foray at the track had me wishing for a better solution for lugging all my track wheels, tools, etc. to the track. I'd love to get a small trailer to throw all this stuff into. I've been looking at the trick retractible towbar you can order in Europe and was wondering how hard it would be to retrofit to my car. I am appealing to my sensei in all that is retrofitted, avlnch, to investigate the possibilities. I hope wdimagineer is still a part of this board and can offer some insight. I know hcclemes ordered this from the factory and would like to get his thoughts on its use.

I did indeed. It was the one main reason that forced my decision to purchase the M5 instead of the E63.
I can only say it's brilliant. When not in use no one would ever know the car had a towbar. When you need it one button press and it magically appears ready to use in 20 seconds. It is an option for £800 here in the UK.
The car also tows extremely well as it's relatively heavy and has good low down torque.

[hcclemes]

Here's a pic

[DrKevM5]

Originally Posted by hcclemes

Here's a pic

Thanks for responding. I'm trying to procure part numbers now.

[hcclemes]

I enquired about retrofitting the electric towbar to an X5 and BMW were happy to do it but the parts alone came to UK sterling 2000. Fitting would have been around another 1000.
So nearly 4 times dearer than ordering from factory when car in build.

[DrKevM5]

Originally Posted by hcclemes

I enquired about retrofitting the electric towbar to an X5 and BMW were happy to do it but the parts alone came to UK sterling 2000. Fitting would have been around another 1000.
So nearly 4 times dearer than ordering from factory when car in build.

Wow. I'm trying to see if the non-electric one is feasible. Thanks for all your help.

[cslut]

Originally Posted by DrKevM5

Wow. I'm trying to see if the non-electric one is feasible. Thanks for all your help.

Hi.Did you get anywhere with this? Just got my '12 f10 m5 and looking to do exactly the same, for sumilar reasons ;-)
Bmw quoted £2,500+ to retrofit the electric one!!

[deanspoors]

Hi, to resurect an old thread, has anyone went ahead and fitted the BMW retrofit kit, have the bmw instructions? and know what exactly I need to order?

So far it looks that I will need to order (for a 10/2013 M5)

Towbar (item 1 as seen in Boss330's diagram)
Electrical fitting kit (not shown in diagrams)
control unit (item 5 as seen in Boss330's diagram)
diffuser cut out panel (item 7 as seen in Boss330's diagram)
panel (item 25 as seen in Boss330's diagram)

Anything i'm missing?

Has anyone got a good website that I can order OEM BMW parts from, I have noticed a few german websites which sell these parts at a reasonable price, probably 30-40% less than BMW UK.


Thanks guys,
Dean

[Bigmuz7]

Had mine (OEM) fitted a couple of months back .. expensive .. but works well .. the dealer will need to re code the car though

[deanspoors]

Hi Bigmuz, I've sent you a PM regarding your towbar

[deanspoors]

For those that are interested, I got a quote from BMW today; latest part numbers are;
71.60.6.874.904 - Towbar assy.
71.60.2.357.457 - Retrofit kit.
71.60.6.872.319 - control unit.

Was quoted £1256 from BMW, parts only, but I reckon parts can be bought from europe for nearer to £900.

this is for a late 2013 car.