Electrics for towbar...

[jmc330i]

Having fitted a Westfalia towbar to my touring last week, I figured I should finish the electrics off!

I've got the complete plug and play loom and it has a large rubber grommet (about 2p size) for the cable to pass through the body, but I can't find anywhere obvious for it to go - I know I'll need to drill, but is there a specific place for the cable to pass through the body that has a marked area to drill?

When drilling the rear panel for the upper supports, BMW helpfully marked the area to drill with some indents.

Just wondering if they did the same for the cable?

Cheers

[rob4x4s]

hi there, Im a mobile towbar fitter. there wont be a specific place to drill. just choose a good location, check and check again theres no wiring etc at the back of where your drilling and go for it.

[Sanchez]

I ran my wiring behind the bumper and into the passenger side hole in the plastic air vent then up to the wiring in the passenger side boot compartment. Mine isnt BMW wiring though, but the correct removable tow ball.

[Brianmoooore]

hi there, Im a mobile towbar fitter. there wont be a specific place to drill. just choose a good location, check and check again theres no wiring etc at the back of where your drilling and go for it.

Ah, but this is BMW, and FULL instructions are supplied for every detail.
Correct place on a touring, is referenced from the centre of the outermost hole you have drilled in the rear panel, just above the LH bumper mount.
The hole for the grommet should be 36mm diameter, with its centre 75mm to the left of the reference hole, and 5.5mm above it.

[jmc330i]

Thanks Brian and welcome back
I guessed there must be a particular spot. Once its stopped raining again, I'll get the bumper off and take a look

[pacerpete]

James, IIRC , the hole (35 mm sounds about right) was between the centreline of the rear of the car and the R/H/S bumper mount. Lay the loom out just to be sure.

[jmc330i]

Thanks Pete
I just untangled the wiring from the bag and laid it out. That looks about right as the wires to the socket are too short to go anywhere else - I guess whoever fitted the bar to the previous car took the shortest route with the wiring.

The bar works perfectly btw
The ball was a little crusty under the cap, but a good rub down and liberal amounts of lube soon had it sorted!

[Sanchez]

no one likes a crusty ball under a clean cap now.