E30 Zone

Hey guys,

I need something to tow a trailer and my E30 racer - any ideas? Either something cheap and cheerful (Disco?) or £7-10k and fun..

330d or 530d?

Can you tow a trailer on your licence?

Leigh

I have a lovely van crew cab tow bar and ready to pull a trailer. Will take you and 5 others in comfort and carry tools and spares. Come and have a look make me an offer and who knows

Cheap and cheerful - Tdi Sharan (or Galaxy). Take the back seat row out (they just unclip) and you have loads of space for tools/spares, and still room to take mates/family. Sensible mpg and drives more like a car than a truck (Disco).

ive got a nice transit van here to do the job perfect

Brian28 wrote:Cheap and cheerful - Tdi Sharan (or Galaxy). Take the back seat row out (they just unclip) and you have loads of space for tools/spares, and still room to take mates/family. Sensible mpg and drives more like a car than a truck (Disco).

& you can sleep in the back as they'll take a double air bed

Altrezia wrote:Hey guys,

I need something to tow a trailer and my E30 racer - any ideas? Either something cheap and cheerful (Disco?) or £7-10k and fun..

Towing a trailer and race car, plus tools and tyres is gonna be around 2 tonne. Only a 5 series touring can tow 2 tonne legally, all other cars will be illegal. You need a 4x4 as you say, or a large Van. I tow mine with a Isuzu Trooper 3.1TD, can tow 3.6 tonne. I used to tow with a LWB Transit mk5 2.5, was really slow going up hill.

I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing

S38B38 wrote:I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing

Now thats wipes the floor with anything else.

Any pics?

Blitz wrote:

S38B38 wrote:I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing

Now thats wipes the floor with anything else.

Any pics?

I havent been towing any car ,, but these pick-up trucks were made for hard work..

Cummins/Dodge-Ram 3500 and Chevy Duramax 3500
are also similair vehicles,, and i totally love these mighty cars

No.. i dont have picture of this truck i have ,,"2006"



but here is one in the same colorcombo,,

My E39 530D will be for sale at the end of Feb.



No problem towing

How about one of these....



I don't expect you'd get a lot of change from half a mill though

Jesus325iTouring wrote:How about one of these....



I don't expect you'd get a lot of change from half a mill though

Sorry,, i must do an OT,,some years ago an Italian RW came to Iceland,, a luxury type,, and on a camping place the back of this vehicle opened and a small toyota Aygo,, came out,,
some thought it was Ace Ventura style

My dad and I use an e39 540 touring auto. We do a lot of type 2 camper vans and most need all four off the ground. Armed with tools and the like makes for an effortless drive home every time.

Another vote for an E39 towing barge. I've towed assorted trailers at assorted weights a few 1000s of miles with my 528 touring over the last couple of years and find it perfect for the job.
I actually return a better MPG when towing than in normal day to day driving.

Only because the trailer was holding you back from flooring it Brian

4.4 V8 works well, with the cruise on its easy to forget your towing!

What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons

I'm in the same situation Harry, missed it by 18 months, very annoying as the trailer test isn't exactly cheap to do!

Might sound like a daft idea but why not just get a transit flat bed/low loader/transporter??

harry_p wrote:What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons

If you passed too late, then you need a trailer license to tow anything above 750kgs.

harry_p wrote:What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons

My E39 weighs in at about 1800 Kg on the road, with tool kits, etc. on board.
An E30 in race trim is going to be in the 1000 - 1100 Kg range, so you've at least 600 Kg for a trailer before reaching 3500 Kg.

steve_k wrote:Might sound like a daft idea but why not just get a transit flat bed/low loader/transporter??

Because an E39 serves a dual purpose, doubling up as a quality daily driver, while the transit flat bed makes the area look like a council estate, needing tax and insurance while it spends 99% of its life parked up.

He's from Mansfield, a Transit flatbed can only raise the tone of the area.

Cloggy Saint wrote:He's from Mansfield, a Transit flatbed can only raise the tone of the area.

You must know the area well

I know you guy's use cars to tow with but speaking from experience you need a setup which allows safe towing, you don't want the trailer wagging the car!!

I use either the van shown below or my Discovery, the trailer I use is heavy at 800kgs and then the weight of the car.

The Ford Maverick I used to move this back in the summer was well up to the task, I reckon it would pull an E30 no bother at all, and I should imagine you could pick one up pretty cheap too...

E39 towing limit is 2000 Kg, with max. 90 Kg tow bar load. It's 100 % stable at that weight at speeds well in excess of what's allowed in this country and in Europe.

If 2000kg is a bit tight on the weight budget bear in mind the old style Jeep Cherokee. It is plated for 3250kg if you get the 4.0 petrol. I'd recommend a 97-99 model year and check underneath for rust which is easily done without jacking it up. They're not as handy a daily as a 5 series (until winter) because they're pretty slow and noisy but they do get where they are going, eventually. Also the 4.0/AW4 engine/trans combo is right up there for longevity and rightly regarded as a classic by people who like this sort of thing

You can pick up a nice unconverted Cherokee for £1-1.5k and expect to pay a little more for one with LPG fitted. With your budget I'd get the nicest one I could find on petrol and get it converted. Firstly, the petrol ones tend to have less miles on them due to the cost of fuel. Secondly, second hand LPG conversions are a bit specialist and the technology has moved on quite a bit in the last ten years. Unless you're up for a DIY you'd probably be better off getting a conversion from a good local company who can support you. Not a "done in a day" outfit.

Tinley Tech still sell the combo petrol/gas tank arrangement for these old sheds which allows you to keep your boot space. Have a look, I hated the thought of a 4x4 until my wife bought one and made me drive it. Now I'm hooked

Jesus325iTouring wrote:The Ford Maverick I used to move this back in the summer was well up to the task, I reckon it would pull an E30 no bother at all, and I should imagine you could pick one up pretty cheap too...

Now that's council