Coming soon to the DIY: Westfalia towbar install
04-02-2010, 08:30 PM
#11
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My Ride: 2006 550i, 1984 Mercedes Gelandewagen
i would suggest using the steptronic (assuming you have it) to shift rather than let it go into and out of overdrive (6th gear) constantly
even with a trans cooler, the car will be working to keep up and avoiding the constant gear shifts (due to slight hills and decents on the hw) will save some wear on your trans
I would stay away from 6th gear alltogether..
even with a trans cooler, the car will be working to keep up and avoiding the constant gear shifts (due to slight hills and decents on the hw) will save some wear on your trans
I would stay away from 6th gear alltogether..
04-02-2010, 11:20 PM
#12
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My Ride: 2008 550i Sport (6-speed)
04-05-2010, 09:36 AM
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My Ride: 2006 550i, 1984 Mercedes Gelandewagen
Well, the towbar is on but there was a little problem. The US spec'd metal bumper (51127050405) seems to have a different bolt size than the European (51127033712) version.
I left it off. The reason is that the towbar is beefier and supports the same area. Pictures and video's to come.
I left it off. The reason is that the towbar is beefier and supports the same area. Pictures and video's to come.
06-14-2010, 10:06 PM
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My Ride: 2006 550i, 1984 Mercedes Gelandewagen
Ok! I made a 1200 mile trip hauling a 2200 lbs trailer. Car drove great. Portland, OR to Nevada City, CA. Drove over the Siskiyou Summit (4,310 ft/1,313.7 m) with 6% grades with out any trouble.
Got lots of looks.
I would suggest electric brakes for a trailer heavier than 2200 lbs. We never had any problems stopping with four people in the car, luggage, and the trailer.
The one issue I had with the trailer lights was combining the brake light relay signal and the turn signals together. The European trailer lights have a dedicated brake signal whereas the US combines brakes and turn. I ended up making two sets of an XOR gate with two relays to combine the brake and turn relay signals:
Got lots of looks.
I would suggest electric brakes for a trailer heavier than 2200 lbs. We never had any problems stopping with four people in the car, luggage, and the trailer.
The one issue I had with the trailer lights was combining the brake light relay signal and the turn signals together. The European trailer lights have a dedicated brake signal whereas the US combines brakes and turn. I ended up making two sets of an XOR gate with two relays to combine the brake and turn relay signals:
07-10-2010, 12:44 PM
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My Ride: 2006 titanium silver metallic
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Great write up, thanks for the info. I've really been toying around with gettign a trailer lately and it;s nice to know the E60 can pull a small one! The X3 is rated for 3500 lbs and the the X5 for 6500. Isn't our chassis more similar to the X5 then X3? I'm thinking an E60 could tow 3500 lbs no problem.
My car has Hill Decent Control (HDC), I'm guessing that is used when towing? Not that it's a big deal I live in the middle of the praries
My car has Hill Decent Control (HDC), I'm guessing that is used when towing? Not that it's a big deal I live in the middle of the praries
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