[derekh929]

I was looking to fit Westfilia Detachable towbar to my F31 330d m sport to tow trailer for sons off roader, was quoted £450 inc fitting with fold down 7 pin electric from Westfilia approved installer , pretty good hands and used to be auto electrician many moons ago. Has anyone done this after purchase and could you tell my type and tow ball height would be great help.
Also is there any fitting guides on here.

How have you found it for towing and fuel and what are you towing

I could put the towbar on wife's small car but would limit weight

How is auto box towing , thanks Derek

[Proftinkerpot]

The autobox will be no bother. I towed a caravan with an X3 35sd with the 6 speed auto and it was an absolute dream. I have ordered a towbar on my 335d and am entirely confident in it as a towcar. I think Westfalia make the oem bars for the car. The 330d will have buckets of torque so towing will be fine.

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Proftinkerpot

The autobox will be no bother. I towed a caravan with an X3 35sd with the 6 speed auto and it was an absolute dream. I have ordered a towbar on my 335d and am entirely confident in it as a towcar. I think Westfalia make the oem bars for the car. The 330d will have buckets of torque so towing will be fine.

Thanks yes OEM Westfilia , just was concerned not to load the clutch never towed with auto but towed loads with caravans trailers all manual , how did you find fuel?

[Proftinkerpot]

The X3 dropped a few mpg but probably more down to the drag coefficient going to pot. The engine never felt under strain and I would have been more concerned when I was towing with a manual car. I think you will find the 8 speed will cope brilliantly as it has a wider range to choose from so it won't need to hold gears so long.

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Proftinkerpot

The X3 dropped a few mpg but probably more down to the drag coefficient going to pot. The engine never felt under strain and I would have been more concerned when I was towing with a manual car. I think you will find the 8 speed will cope brilliantly as it has a wider range to choose from so it won't need to hold gears so long.

Thanks for that

[RichardM]

Derek, I was beginning to think you weren't talking to us it's been so long

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Derek, I was beginning to think you weren't talking to us it's been so long

Lol it was the buggy project that drained the life out of me and work been manic as well, good to here from you Richard, only done just over 4k miles in 6months. How are you doing

[Hprice1099]

I found this website very useful, it tells you how much weight the car will take depending on the caravan/trailer.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

[Captain Cow Pat]

I found my car great for towing. I was towing a 1.5 tonne trailer carrying a 200kg lump of marble + lifting gear. You noticed the weight on initial take off and stopping but apart from that it was effortless. I managed 32mpg.
I have surround view/reversing camera and the tow ball camera was a really handy feature when it came to the coupling process.

[Steve33]

Originally Posted by Hprice1099

I found this website very useful, it tells you how much weight the car will take depending on the caravan/trailer.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

max gradient 50 degrees?!

[Hprice1099]

Originally Posted by Steve33

max gradient 50 degrees?!

Did you input all the details?

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Hprice1099

I found this website very useful, it tells you how much weight the car will take depending on the caravan/trailer.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

Had a look at that site but I was not convinced they had actually tested the cars when I looked at a few option, thanks Derek

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Captain Cow Pat

I found my car great for towing. I was towing a 1.5 tonne trailer carrying a 200kg lump of marble + lifting gear. You noticed the weight on initial take off and stopping but apart from that it was effortless. I managed 32mpg.
I have surround view/reversing camera and the tow ball camera was a really handy feature when it came to the coupling process.

Sounds great and thanks for feed back

[derekh929]

Anyone else any feed back and towbar options

[Ciprian]

I have the factory towbar on mine and works a treat, first drive I had with the car was towing my race trailer and did a fantastic job. And people are amazed how the towbar hides behind the bumper at the touch of a button, its ace!!

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Ciprian

I have the factory towbar on mine and works a treat, first drive I had with the car was towing my race trailer and did a fantastic job. And people are amazed how the towbar hides behind the bumper at the touch of a button, its ace!!

Hi are you towing a BJT and what sort of gross weights I was looking at 3m BJT flat bed for off road buggy go kart and other duties ,was just wear on auto box that worried me, but it seems the auto is better, I see you can get the electric one westfilia for retro fit I may check it out. Where you racing knockhill ?

[Betoni]

I have spent the night towing Santa in his sleigh - I find the car had a little judder at low speeds bearing in mind we are going street to street with Santa on board so 15 mph max. Found having it in sport rather than eco more stable at >30mph (without Santa of course )

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Betoni

I have spent the night towing Santa in his sleigh - I find the car had a little judder at low speeds bearing in mind we are going street to street with Santa on board so 15 mph max. Found having it in sport rather than eco more stable at >30mph (without Santa of course )

Thanks that great to know better in sport if towing Santa is it manual box you have?

[Captain Cow Pat]

Originally Posted by Betoni

I have spent the night towing Santa in his sleigh - I find the car had a little judder at low speeds bearing in mind we are going street to street with Santa on board so 15 mph max. Found having it in sport rather than eco more stable at >30mph (without Santa of course )

So is that how Santa gets round soooo quickly, in sports Mode?

[Betoni]

Originally Posted by Captain Cow Pat

So is that how Santa gets round soooo quickly, in sports Mode?

A little girl came up to me tonight as I was towing Santa again for a town light switch on and said "is your car called Rudolph!" to which I obviously replied "of course although its the MSport Rudolph" - well the Dad laughed! Pictures attached to prove I am not a complete nut (or to prove I am depending on your viewpoint!)

I have the Sport Auto 8sp. I think because its a very tall and double axel trailer it bounces a lot hence the judder I get.

I also trial a racing dingy sailboat which does not judder at all and is fine in eco pro although I tend to use comfort for that one.

I have the fully electric factory fit tow bar which is awesome and a real talking point with people when being deployed! It still amazes me.

[derekh929]

Wow Santa is very lucky this year so will my kids have to leave a ltr of Mobil 1 instead of a carrot lol , love your trailer

[Ciprian]

Originally Posted by derekh929

Hi are you towing a BJT and what sort of gross weights I was looking at 3m BJT flat bed for off road buggy go kart and other duties ,was just wear on auto box that worried me, but it seems the auto is better, I see you can get the electric one westfilia for retro fit I may check it out. Where you racing knockhill ?

Aye, my BJT is 3.5m long and covered, plated to 750kg tho, single axle. The auto is defo better, so smooth and confy! Knockhill for this year, Scottish Formula Ford.