Golf Mk5 Tow Bars - Q&A - All you need to know Guide!! Advice, Tips...

[fras83]

Fitted my towbar last night. Had wired up most bits the night before so it was just a case of bumper off, fit towbar, run cable up to relay and connect and refit new bumper with insert fitted. Job done. Was all made a lot easier thanks to this forum though! Really helps when you know what your looking for, where things are etc before you start. So a big thanks to everyone on here!

For those interested I fitted a Westfalia dectachable towbar and TEB7AS
bypass relay to my 2006 MK5 golf GTTDI.

[christt777]

Great thread!

I'm planning to fit a Westfalia detachable tow bar on my 2005 mk5, but I'm going for the "Golf V Kit B All Models 13 Pin Dedicated Wiring Kit Sept 2003 >"from PF Jones.

Have anyone of you tried to wire up this kit?

[Brit Rider]

Hey Guys,

Rather interestingly I called my Local VW dealer today (Crewe Volkswagen) and was told the rear valance (just lower section and cover) are 2 seperate parts and I was quoted around £80.00

Has there been a price hike or was i ripped off? I pressed hard for extra discount and said I knew the part should only be £45 but he wouldn't budge an inch....

Mike

[markuk767]

Hi Mike

I recently purchased (early May 2010) the tow-hitch compatible rear valance for 2006 Golf from VW dealer in Taunton, it cost £60 (inc VAT) and is 1 part! It came packaged as complete unit consisting of bumper + cover plate.

Your dealer may be adding the cover plate as a separate part, they may not realise the tow-hitch compatible valance comes with the cover plate?

I'm guessing if you had to replace the cover plate (ie: got stolen or fell off?) it probably would cost around £15-20, which would make £80ish?

Suggest you clarify with your dealer what they are ordering?

FYI: The tow-hitch compatible rear valance doesn't come with the little cover plate for the towing hook, you just swap that over from your original bumper!

Hope that hepls, Mark

---------------------------
Golf GT-TDI 4-Motion (2006)
)

[Brit Rider]

Hi Mark,

That certainly could make sense... thanks for highlighting it.

I'll leave my order as it is now and when I go to pick up I'll inspect whats there and just take what I need. Hopefully this will be 1 not 2 parts!! Glad to mentioned tis though as I may well have walked off with more than I needed and £20 poorer otherwise!

Here's another one, has anyone worked out a way to disarm their OEM parking sensors when the trailers hooked up?

Come install time I'll photograph the process of the install to add to the archive here... It's been a cracking resource thus far!

Mike

[Brit Rider]

Hey guys,

Just to let you know I installed the Westfalia detachable bar and a smart relay from towbars direct last night.

Took 3-4 hours total and was very straight forward.

Nothing compicated about the install but I'll add a few pointers!

1. Do not try and test the lights for signal with a multimeter when they are unplugged... the CAN bus system gets clever and turns them off! had me puzzled for a good 5 mins! Just poke your probe into the back of the connector when its on.
2. Do not attempt this without a multimeter... Mine was invaluable
3. some panels have far more torq bolts holding them in than you'd expect... i found myself trying to prematurely yank off a few panels without checking fully for more bolts. if it doesn't come off smoothly then its likely still attached!
4. seperating the lower spoiler from the bumper was tricky. It requiresa bit of fettling. make sure you have a large clean dust sheet to hand to lay the bumper out on to ensure you dont scratch it before hand.
5. start with a clean car... the car I was working on had quite a lot of grime up in the wheel arches so finding bolts became more tricky. if I'd have cleaned the cars arches first it would have been easier... getting dust off the rear bumper also helps against scratching it when you're wrestling it apart to fit the new one.

I cannot recommend Towbars Direct enough: Absolutely brilliant service and great advice. When calling to order they knew the car well, knew which bars would work and recommended the westfalia. Quality of the bar is top notch and the quick release/mount system is awesome... no mess or fuss just locks into place when you offer it up and drops out with the twist of a knob.

This has been a brill resource! Hope my few notes help others. If anyone wants wiring diagrams or to know what does what just drop me a PM... I'd be glad to help.

Cheers Guys!

Mike

[Mini Mark]

Hi guys a quick question for you does the towinf hitch compatable rear valeance come in the tandard black finish?

[Brit Rider]

Yup, all identical in colour and style to the bits you take off.

[Mini Mark]

Thats good my old MK5 TDI had a towbar on so we brought a bike rack to go on there and our new one doesn't so we need one and I don't want iot on there all the time

[ConnorJohn]

I need to know if a Mk5 Golf (car version) towbar will fit a Golf Mk6 Estate, have been told that the chassis is the same. Any help much appreciated.