[Guest]

Hi

Need a towbar for my 09 TDI 170 S-line........been quoted ?322 for fitting a detachable towbar and single electrics....and ?2200 by Audi......lots of tales about the car needing a cooling upgrade.......

Do I need to pay any attention to this? The extra cooling sounded like marketing bollocks.......yes I might need extra cooling if I was planning to tow 4 tons through the Nevada desert but all I need is a towbar to pull a trailer with a couple of race bikes on around the UK.....

My question is has anyone fitted a non-Audi towbar and if so did they have any problems with the electrics etc? My car has the full technology pack and reversing sensors?

Any advice gratefully received.......

 

[Guest]

I can't offer a personal opinion but I do remember reading a thread on this US forum about the tow bar and extra cooling issue. From memory, the conculsion was that the cooling story was just that - a story. But please don't believe me, I'm just trying to point you to more information.

From what I can find, there are 4 after market options for the Q5 that are worth considering:

• 
  [*:2116i3p9]Westfarlia
  [*:2116i3p9]Witter
  [*:2116i3p9]Bosal
  [*:2116i3p9]Thule

These guy's sell 3 of the 4. I'm looking at getting the Bosal as it has the highest load rating (2400kg/100kg). By the time I get it landed here (Aus) including the electronics interface module I'm going to be up for around AU$1,000 and then it needs to be fitted. The only local choice we have in Aus is the dealer fitted bar which is a huge ugly looking thing that sticks out the back of the car like dogs bollocks.

 

[Guest]

Thanks......I will let you know if I have any issues when I get it fited on Thursday

 

[Guest]

Where are you getting it done and which one are you going for?

If they install a bumper cover to cover up the cut in the bumper when the bar is off, I'd really like to get the part number for this item. Please let me know.

 

[Guest]

Hi

I got the Thule system fitted. I don't know if they had to cut the bumper or not but you just remove a small hatch in the middle of the bumper and slot the towball in. Works perfectly and no issues with the electrics at all.........my engine hasn't overheated and blown up either like Audi said it would unless I install more cooling on the vehicle

?322 fitted. Bloke did it at my office in about 90 minutes

 

[Hooplescat]

Hi Jim

Got any photos?

Also, do you have to manually kill the parking sensors when you tow something?

Regards

Matt

 

[Guest]

Hi sorry no photos. My camera was last seen when my mother in law borrowed it at Christmas. It really is neat and you can't see any changes in the bumper.

The parking sensors do go nuts if you reverse with the towball in place because they can see it but it doesn't cause any other adverse effect.

 

[Hooplescat]

mother in laws hey...

Sounds good - I am trying to see on my photos of the dash if there is a park sensor kill switch, most cars have them, but so far haven't spotted one - can you do it via the mmi if not?

One of the towbar places does dedicated looms - there is not one for the audi q5 yet, but I am hoping when there is it will kill the sensors when you connect the electrics. Mind you it will then probably cost as much as the factory fit one I should have ordered...

 

[smo]

The car needs recoding to make the sensors etc work properly with the towbar. I aksed around both audi and aftermarket places and it works out cheaper and more reliable with a better finish just to go factory fit.

 

[Guest]

Dont fall for Audi bullshit! Mine works fine. ?320 fitted!

 

[smo]

No it doesnt, your sensors go off if you have the towball fitted when reversing - i dread to think what would happen if i had the car trailer on the back with your setup!

Also the advice to go genuine came from ALL the aftermarket fitters, most of them national well known suppliers rather than from audi who simply advised on the cost of retro fitting and confirmed the problems which were mentioned by the aftermarket fitters.