[simonb]

Hi, has anyone fitted a Towbar to a MK2 Q5? What does Towbar prep included actually mean? Is it wiring in place or has the chassis been strengthened? Think I'll have a look under to check. A removable one would be what I'm after so if you have pics show me what you've got.

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[bobf]

simonb,

Depends where you are in Scotland ... just had a removable Westfalia tow bar fitted to my Mk1 by Buchan's in Cambuslang.

Was a bit nervous taking my pride and joy to the east end, but when I pulled into their yard, my Q5 was the cheapest car there!

They did a really neat job, including the coding ... there's now a rectangular opening under rear bumper about the same size as the hatch that would be there if you had the factory option ... unless you knew it was there, you wouldn't know it was there ...

While I was doing my research, pretty sure saw that there are already tow bar offerings for a Mk2 ... posted an enquiry via their web site and got a prompt quote and response to further queries ...

OK, it's not a Mk 2 but can post pic's if you want to see ...

bobf.

 

[TGR]

Hi Simonb,

I've been in contact with 3 local tow bar fitting specialists, there are tow bars already available from other manufactures for the new Q5 but the fitters all strongly advised to wait until October when Westfalia kits to become available.
I'm told fitting is fairly straightforward as are the electrics and the coding, should take 2 hours max.

 

[simonb]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll speak with Buchans at Edinburgh and see what they say regarding the westfalia removable option.

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[ChazAudi199155]

Can I ask does anyone have a cover over where the tow bar would go, looked under my car today and noticed there is a hole in the bumper where there are cables etc is this normal?

 

[Maximus]

Seems to be the standard on the new Sline anyway, Both mine and Simonb cars are the same haven checked them out while he was visiting the other day.

 

[Jdchristie]

Seems to be the standard on the new Sline anyway, Both mine and Simonb cars are the same haven checked them out while he was visiting the other day.

Westfalia bar still not available yet,have had to go to Audi to get bar.£1900 fitted,7 hours labour charge

 

[Jdchristie]

Westfalia bar still not available yet,have had to go to Audi to get bar.£1900 fitted,7 hours labour charge

Update '-car went in last Tuesday for bar fitting,turns out car not ready for tow bar as fuse box missing in boot compartment.turns out batch went thro factory without being fitted.now having to wait for one to be delivered from parts but seem to be in short supply.bar fitted that I cannot use as no electrics.

 

[geoff3]

Beware... I had the dealer fit a tow bar for me at a similar price. The rear bumper wouldn't alight correctly when they refitted it. It had to be replaced then resprayed three times. The first attempts left an orange peel effect. It took weeks and weeks to sort out.

 

[Jdchristie]

Update '-car went in last Tuesday for bar fitting,turns out car not ready for tow bar as fuse box missing in boot compartment.turns out batch went thro factory without being fitted.now having to wait for one to be delivered from parts but seem to be in short supply.bar fitted that I cannot use as no electrics.

Still waiting for fuse box with no delivery date from Audi

 

[Jdchristie]

Update fuse box now here and car back in to finish fitting of towbar

 

[Ninja21]

Can you post pictures when finished please?

21

 

[TGR]

Hi All,
The Westfalia kit is now available, they quoted £840 including electrics, fitting and coding at one of their fitting centres. Local fitter quoted £800 and will be here to install next Wednesday, just hope the weather keeps fine. Will keep you posted on how it all goes.

 

[TGR]

Hi All,
Well tow bar fitted on Wednesday as planned and good to go but not exactly straight forward and the wet weather didn't help.

The instructions are in the form of line diagrams and take a bit of time to get to grips with. This is a task that's not for the faint hearted, the whole of the insides of the boot space has to come out except for the battery and wiring. Then the whole back bumper comes off, strength and courage are needed to unsnap it from the wings and to pull it away from the car. The strong inner steel bumper comes off and is discarded.

All the parts supplied are well made, assembling and installing are reasonably straightforward with reference to the instructions and care and attention to detail by the fitter.

Problem came with the electrics, the wire colours on the supplied diagram didn't correspond with those in the car. Thankfully the fitter worked some magic and untangled the mess and everything worked properly. Then some issues with recoding the car were resolved with mates network support.
A quick wash and brush up of the car and you would never know it had just been pulled apart, thanks Ed, proper job!

 

[TGR]

A few pics to add to my previous post. I've also created a place to store the removable hitch by carefully cutting away the under tray.

 

[j3trooper]

Hi Simonb,

I've been in contact with 3 local tow bar fitting specialists, there are tow bars already available from other manufactures for the new Q5 but the fitters all strongly advised to wait until October when Westfalia kits to become available.
I'm told fitting is fairly straightforward as are the electrics and the coding, should take 2 hours max.

Hi,
I will need to get a towbar fitted to a new 3.0tdi Sline. Did they give a reason why they recommended Westfalia as opposed to any other make of removable towbar?

 

[TGR]

Yes, Westfalia are apparently the Audi approved supplier. Having seen and handled the hardware I can understand why, well made, robust and fitted without a hitch (sic)

 

[j3trooper]

Yes, Westfalia are apparently the Audi approved supplier. Having seen and handled the hardware I can understand why, well made, robust and fitted without a hitch (sic)

Were there any coding issues when you had you towbar fitted? I had a Westfalia towbar fitted last week to my new 3.0tdi Q5 Sline. The installer (who I have used before) did a good job but was not able to complete all the coding. He is awaiting further hardware to allow him to get into the ECU which was an issue with the car being so new. Currently my Audi presence is not working but hoping to take it back to him next week to get it sorted.

 

[TGR]

Hi,

Yes, much the same issues as you, the experienced fitter did the coding but this was the first new model Q5 he had done, he couldn't complete it as his kit wasn't updated. He called in a friend from another tow bar company to finish it but it took him a quite while.

Apparently the coding changes the Audi Presence range to extended it when towing to accommodate the increased braking distance.

 

[j3trooper]

Hi,

Yes, much the same issues as you, the experienced fitter did the coding but this was the first new model Q5 he had done, he couldn't complete it as his kit wasn't updated. He called in a friend from another tow bar company to finish it but it took him a quite while.

Apparently the coding changes the Audi Presence range to extended it when towing to accommodate the increased braking distance.

Hi TGR,
Would you know what software the friend of the fitter used to enable the faults that occurred after you had had the towbar fitted?