I know its an M3, but I fitted a towbar!

[Shatterproof]

So, this weekend, decided to fit a towbar. Only going to use it for carrying bikes, so I don't see any problem with it.

Duly purchased a Westfalia detachable towbar for a F30, and started work.

Remove Bumper




Remove original crashbar and heatshield, and test fit towbar - yay!! it fits




Modify the original heat-shield, fit in place then refit tow-bar. The edges of the heat-shield were bent back to keep strength, and managed to retain the lower screw holes for the bumper.




Refit the bumper, and voila!




Didn't need to trim the stock diffuser, and made some minor trimming of the support mesh behind the diffuser. Overall very happy with the results. When the tow-bar is removed, it's invisible. It can also be returned to stock, and no one would know.

Next challenge will be the electrics. I've got some ideas for how to fit them. I think it will be possible to make the plug invisible as well when detached, but will need some work on that. However, the electrics are not vital, just a "would be nice"

Must say big thanks to my mate M3ankeen, and a fab BBQ afterwards to boot!!

[erictrainer]

Awesome! Great post... Where did you buy the tow bar?

[Shatterproof]

Originally Posted by erictrainer

Awesome! Great post... Where did you buy the tow bar?

Part no for the towbar is 303352
It's a Westfalia - easy to find with google

[RalphyBMW]

Nice work!
If I get an M3 then I plan on this too, delighted that it fits without needing to alter the bumper

[Fake News 2017]

Wow, I don't need a tow bar but nice job

[Mandi90TT]

Agreed, well done.

[ciaranob]

Exactly what I had on my E91 Sport Wagon here in Houston - purchased whole setup from the UK (expensive but was totally worth it to me) - also had the Westfalia bike carrier with linked reverse/indicator/brake lights - awesome setup and really miss it actually. Had looked at doing this back in 2014 after I ordered my car but the clearances I was told would not work - this is a great update and now you have me thinking again - just love the hidden hitch design as it is 100% not visible when not on use, also great quality product. Thx for sharing!

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

nice, cant find the part on google tho

[ciaranob]

OP,

The PF Jones site (where I ordered my kit for the E91) has this option - is this the exact same model you used - it is listed here as 303352 (extra digit an update or PFJ code?). It states quite specifically as I recall that M3's are excluded and in fact back in '14 the salesperson at PFJ would not sell me the kit when i told hime I was going to retrofit to my M4!! I can easily get around that but would need to be very certain of fitment before shipping from UK. Trying to think if the M3 rear is specifically different than the M4?

I also highlighted the electrical kit - you'd think that the hook up might not be very different form F30 to F8X but would be a bit of a gamble I guess - may also hold off on that!

Can you re-confirm that this is the kit you used - thx?

Link to page:
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/bmw-3-seri...le-towbar.html

and items:

[Shatterproof]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

OP,

The PF Jones site (where I ordered my kit for the E91) has this option - is this the exact same model you used - it is listed here as 303352 (extra digit an update or PFJ code?). It states quite specifically as I recall that M3's are excluded and in fact back in '14 the salesperson at PFJ would not sell me the kit when i told hime I was going to retrofit to my M4!! I can easily get around that but would need to be very certain of fitment before shipping from UK. Trying to think if the M3 rear is specifically different than the M4?

I also highlighted the electrical kit - you'd think that the hook up might not be very different form F30 to F8X but would be a bit of a gamble I guess - may also hold off on that!

Can you re-confirm that this is the kit you used - thx?

Link to page:
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/bmw-3-seri...le-towbar.html

and items:

Yeah, that's the part I ordered (got mine from PF Jones too)

Regarding the electrics, I've checked the instructions, and compared my car to them - looks the same as an F30. The only thing is, the 13 pin socket is going to be quite close to the exhaust, so I plan to make a mount using carbon fibre, which will protect the socket

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by Shatterproof

Yeah, that's the part I ordered (got mine from PF Jones too)

Regarding the electrics, I've checked the instructions, and compared my car to them - looks the same as an F30. The only thing is, the 13 pin socket is going to be quite close to the exhaust, so I plan to make a mount using carbon fibre, which will protect the socket

Excellent - thx again for the info - I also had a custom bracket for the E91 that actually allowed the socket to flip back up on a hinge under the car when not in use - was really slick !

[Mandi90TT]

Also, waiting for the clueless idiot to chime in about how it's an M, you shouldn't tow anything with it, get a truck if you want to two something, forgetting that the M is the quintessential do everything car, in which you tow a small trailer to the racetrack with your track wheels and tires on it.

[Shatterproof]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

Also, waiting for the clueless idiot to chime in about how it's an M, you shouldn't tow anything with it, get a truck if you want to two something, forgetting that the M is the quintessential do everything car, in which you tow a small trailer to the racetrack with your track wheels and tires on it.

Lol!! I'm quite surprised I haven't been chastised yet!!

[ciaranob]

Oh and one other issue to take care of will be the reverse sensors - I had a local shop at the time help with that and they managed to get the sensors to auto shut off when the carrier was installed and come back on when uninstalled as I guess the BMW F30 specific electrical unit should do by default but we had some issues with it here (can't recall exactly what they were - too long ago!).

PS: I meant to say that w/o the electrics installed your bike will have the sensors on constantly!

Originally Posted by Shatterproof

Yeah, that's the part I ordered (got mine from PF Jones too)

Regarding the electrics, I've checked the instructions, and compared my car to them - looks the same as an F30. The only thing is, the 13 pin socket is going to be quite close to the exhaust, so I plan to make a mount using carbon fibre, which will protect the socket

[Shatterproof]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

OP,

The PF Jones site (where I ordered my kit for the E91) has this option - is this the exact same model you used - it is listed here as 303352 (extra digit an update or PFJ code?). It states quite specifically as I recall that M3's are excluded and in fact back in '14 the salesperson at PFJ would not sell me the kit when i told hime I was going to retrofit to my M4!! I can easily get around that but would need to be very certain of fitment before shipping from UK. Trying to think if the M3 rear is specifically different than the M4?

I also highlighted the electrical kit - you'd think that the hook up might not be very different form F30 to F8X but would be a bit of a gamble I guess - may also hold off on that!

Can you re-confirm that this is the kit you used - thx?

Link to page:
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/bmw-3-seri...le-towbar.html

and items:

You might want to hold off ordering for a few days - I'm gonna test a different manufacturers tow-bar to see if it fits without having to mess with the electrics mount. On the Westfalia, the electrics mount is such that when the connector is swung up, it's quite close to the pipes.

The other tow-bar I will test has the mount closer to the centre, so there is more clearance.

- will update and let you know how it goes.

[ciaranob]

Most appreciated - very interested to see where you land - in respect the location on the Westfalia I guess I would end up cutting the OEM mount away and welding a new mount location but clearly if the Witter or other manufacturer's kit will do the job then indeed a likely better way to go. Thx again!

Originally Posted by Shatterproof

You might want to hold off ordering for a few days - I'm gonna test a different manufacturers tow-bar to see if it fits without having to mess with the electrics mount. On the Westfalia, the electrics mount is such that when the connector is swung up, it's quite close to the pipes.

The other tow-bar I will test has the mount closer to the centre, so there is more clearance.

- will update and let you know how it goes.

[Mike991M4]

my buddy has an E90 convertible that he tows a small teardrop camper with.

[ciaranob]

Knew there was something else I wanted to share on the tow bar setup!

Had my car re-coded by ShawnSheridan after the dealership overwrote some stuff on last visit but in the process learned about an entirely new feature of the backup cam that is by default off on the F8X platform.

It is a dedicated towing cam view! Basically the camera is switched (selectable in iDrive) to look directly down at the tow hook if your vehicle has one. Actually pretty useful for final parking position when reverse parked too irrespective of a tow option!!

Was coded on in my car by Shawn and sure it is out there in the coding section. If I get a chance I'll repost with a pic of this alternate cam view.

Cheers, C.

Originally Posted by Shatterproof

The other tow-bar I will test has the mount closer to the centre, so there is more clearance.

- will update and let you know how it goes.

[Shatterproof]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Knew there was something else I wanted to share on the tow bar setup!

Had my car re-coded by ShawnSheridan after the dealership overwrote some stuff on last visit but in the process learned about an entirely new feature of the backup cam that is by default off on the F8X platform.

It is a dedicated towing cam view! Basically the camera is switched (selectable in iDrive) to look directly down at the tow hook if your vehicle has one. Actually pretty useful for final parking position when reverse parked too irrespective of a tow option!!

Was coded on in my car by Shawn and sure it is out there in the coding section. If I get a chance I'll repost with a pic of this alternate cam view.

Cheers, C.

Good to know about the coding options. According to the Instructions, you just manually disable the PDC sensor with the button when it goes off. Personally, I'm not too worried about it, but would be nice to have the PDC buzzer automatically be disabled, so will have to sit down and learn how to code!

The alternate camera view sounds like a nice feature though. I can currently see the towbar in the camera, but would be nice to zoom in a little. Against, not a must-have, but worthwhile.

[derekh929]

That will be perfect for your Caravan , what's the towing weight of the M3?

[gtsussex]

And the point of your post is what? He's already said it's for his bike. I'd probably do the same except given I have coilovers, I haven't got a hope in hell of getting anywhere near where the car park from where I cycle each week. Otherwise I'd do it like a shot - would save having to take the bloody Disco.

Originally Posted by derekh929

That will be perfect for your Caravan , what's the towing weight of the M3?

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

And the point of your post is what? He's already said it's for his bike. I'd probably do the same except given I have coilovers, I haven't got a hope in hell of getting anywhere near where the car park from where I cycle each week. Otherwise I'd do it like a shot - would save having to take the bloody Disco.

it's called banter in Scotland , the op had said along with others that surprised nobody had made coments about towbar on M3