BMW X5

If this is true, and I'm not doubting you, I think it needs to be on a discussion thread not a story. It may get more noticed that way. Hopefully a mod will move it for you. Quite a frightening tale.

This is not a 'story': it's a 'rant' with a bit of gratuitous blasphemy thrown in for good measure. You should hope that the Mods delete it before the BMW lawyers take notice.

Having owned my X5 for over 3y and unable to fault it in any way, sounds to me like there's a bit of incompetence on your behav more than BMW.

I think a clue to the situation that Tony found himself in is the 'new to caravanning' comment.

We bought a Audi Q5 4 years ago and luckily for me a fellow club member told me, on a rally, to make sure that I specified, in writing, that I needed a fully functioning 13 pin socket. He was quite clear that, unless I did so, I would probably get a socket without 13 pins as, and this is where the connection is, German cars generally come with a socket that will power road lights only.

I called 5 dealers and asked, quoting their brochure, what the 'additional wiring' was and how much was it-none of them could tell me.

So armed with this information I made it quite clear what I needed and, feeling that it was unacceptable that I should pay more on top of the cost of the towbar, contacted Audi UK who agreed to pay for the cost of the additional wiring kit and the fitting. 

So that will be OK then?

No it wouldn't, and the supplying dealer called me the day before I was to collect the car and asked me what it was that I expected the 'kit' to do as his Master Technician said that I did not need it.

I made it quite clear that without the kit I could not power the required items, fridge and batter charger, in my caravan and he told me that I would need to return the car because, as they had decided it was not required, they had not fitted it.

Bottom line is that German, and other nations, caravans do not use a leisure battery but a damped transformer provideing 12v so do not need the pins that we do in the socket and I knew this having owned a Hobby.

It is also clear that even having specified, in writing, and having the manufacturer pay for the supply and fitting of the required parts, there is no guarantee that you will get what you specified even if you are a 'well informed', thanks to others, caravanner.

I have had both BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne from new. When ordering I specifically requested, in writing, that I needed all 13 pins wiring. Both cars arrived with only 7 pins. Neither dealer had a clue, and in fact the Porsche dealer tried to sell me a 13 to 7 converter!!!

I had both cars wired correctly at a local caravn place, and both BMW and Porsche picked up the tab.

Bit puzzled by the OP,s comment about his sat dish and fridge(not switching from gas automatically). Neither of thees are anything to do with the car wiring. Fold the dish down before hitching up, and swith the fridge over to battery using the buttons on the front. That's what they are for.

Paul

I think the OP needs to take a step back from his story (rant....) and do some reading/research from experienced caravanners.... The original wiring issue is annoying but common to German Cars. To the best of my knowledge Sattellite dishes need folding away manually and fridges need switching over to different fuel supply by hand. 

Some automatic satellite dishes have the facility to fold automatically when the habitation relay is energised by the towcar (unless it is german), the answer to that is to purchase a vehicle that is built with towing in mind.

I think the OP is referring to the fact that if you have an auto power/fuel sensing fridge, it'll change over automatically when it sees another power source. My fridge will find 240AC when on hook up & also find 12DC when I plug my caravan into the back of my car  .... I need to do nothing (better than the last caravan as I was usually miles down the road before I'd remembered to change my fridge over to 12DC)

I can only assume that the OP 'auto'  satellite is also clever enough to stow itself away when it sees 12DC when the car is plugged in ..... some auto movers do the same.

Having read the original comment I couldn't agree more. I collected my new X5 in December and have had no problems. When I ordered it, my salesman specifically asked me how I wanted the tow bar wiring, which they did to 13pin and everything works fine with no issues. It is also a cracking tow car and I can not fault it so far. I wouldn't let this deter you from looking at a BMW.

The issue with the BMW X5 as most German made cars is not a design fault.

Over the last 12 years every car I order with Factory fit towbar is specified with twin electrics. As a caravaner you should check what you need.

This an extra no different to picking your colour.

I have just taken delivery of my new x3 and despite the dealer telling me it would be wired with twin electrics it wasn`t. They tried to blame BMW wiring diagram to not being experienced at this. It is now wired as was in my spec.

It also appears on investigation that there are 2 adaptor kits, with a large difference in costs.

Towbar with electric extension and retraction. Concealed when not in use.

Additional wiring connectors may be required depending on towing usage.

Trailer Stability Control is included when this option is specified.For a twin-electrics solution an additional adaptor cable and further programming are required, which must be purchased separately.”

For the twin –electrics option an adapter can be purchased from our parts department for £62.00 incl VAT, this however will NOT power the fridge although it will power the caravan battery.

If you require the fridge to be powered whilst towing an addition part is required (approx. £150.00) and 3 hrs labour to connect/ activate it. Labour is £125.00 per hour.

 Buyer responsibility. VW now detail twin electrics in their options details.