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F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

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PaulD
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F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by PaulD » Wed Apr 25, 2018 12:02 pm

Hi
I am just changing my E70 after 5 years and 120k miles. I have put a deposit down on a 65plate F15 4.0D MSport which we love. However the dealer is charging me £2,500 for an electric towbar or £2,050 for a standard detachable towbar.
The detachable bar we put on the E70 by an independant fitter was £650 and used all BMW parts.
Is the dealer overcharging or is this true cost for a dealer?
Many thanks
Paul

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by mogsyman » Wed Apr 25, 2018 1:55 pm

I would go with a Jones towbar - they use Westfalia which are identical to the BMW manual bars and as you say are £600 or so to fit.

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by IanP » Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:59 pm

Maybe that includes cooling system upgrade?

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by X5Sport » Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:37 pm

From memory, the retrofit is called up from a Dealer parts menu which says something like 12 hours to fit.

The official retrofit is mainly labour as they take half the car apart.  Necessary if you really want a BMW warranty, but very expensive considering it’s almost the same parts.  I’m sure aftermarket with the OEM parts is just as good.
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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by mogsyman » Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:28 pm

[quote="X5Sport"]
From memory, the retrofit is called up from a Dealer parts menu which says something like 12 hours to fit.

The official retrofit is mainly labour as they take half the car apart.  Necessary if you really want a BMW warranty, but very expensive considering it’s almost the same parts.  I’m sure aftermarket with the OEM parts is just as good.
[/quote]

Prior to having mine fitted I confirmed with the dealer it would have no implications on the BMW warranty.
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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by PaulD » Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:32 pm

Thanks all for the advice - much appreciated. Will go with local firm I have used before but also check on the warranty.

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by BullyB » Wed May 09, 2018 9:53 pm

I had my E70 and F15 detachable hitches installed by PF Jones
No issues and good value
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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by Dogzyboy » Wed May 09, 2018 10:00 pm

[quote="BullyB"]
I had my E70 and F15 detachable hitches installed by PF Jones
No issues and good value
[/quote]
They’re doing mine in a couple of weeks too.

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by elliot330 » Tue May 15, 2018 4:35 pm

I'm pretty sure the dealer has to fit a new torque converter and bigger electric fan. Hence the cost and time

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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2018 5:54 pm

Radiator maybe, but torque converter?
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Re: F15 Tow Bar - dealer fit?

Post by elliot330 » Tue May 15, 2018 8:11 pm

[quote="X5Sport"]
Radiator maybe, but torque converter?
[/quote]

Just checked and my bad. Its just the electric fan that needs swapping. Not sure where I got the torque converter bit from sorry :-[

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