I have towed a little more than 1000 kilo with my 118i E87 (load of oak firewood). I have no issues with control or anything else. My trailer was pretty ballanced as well so maybe 40-50 kilo ball weight with the load. I would reccomend the BMW wire harness and get it coded by BMW.

 

Thanks David, I had already decided on the BMW wiring kit so this is reassuring!

Cheers

 

Check out the manufacturers plate. It will give the max weights for each axle; the max vehicle weight and the train weight (max weight of car fully loaded and max weight of trailer).

To work out the max trailer weight incl load is take the max car weight away from train weight.

Eg

2900
1400
690
890

Biggest weight is the train; then the next biggest is the max weight for the car loaded. Then comes axle 1 max weight and axle 2 comes next.

HTH

 

I would reccomend the BMW wire harness and get it coded by BMW.

I've looked into this and I thought the BMW kit didn't need coded. There is a good website

http://www.pfjones.co.uk

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; with all the details. It states in their specific electrics kit that it doesn't require coding.

 

120d max unbraked is 705kg, braked 1200kg. Looks like you wont be legal/insured for 1400, even if you dont break your car. Nose weight of 75kg is same as car spec (but you really should balance any trailer better than that anyway). 75 kg a couple of feet behind the rear axle is gonna mess with your steering if you get out of shape or need to take evasive action to avoid muppets with pushchairs.

Engine and gearbox are not the limiting factor - its the bolts and mounting points that take the strain, and dont forget, its not just pulling and normal acceleration, but the emergency stop forces that count (on brakes and mountings).

I think the pfjones electrics is a "compatible", not the genuine BMW. Its better than hacking the wiring loom for the "standard" non specific version, but not as integrated as the real deal. I'd assume the BMW genuine article needs coding to make all the bells ring and whistles, well, whistle (I've not actually got one, so defer to those who do).

 

Here you go mate. More vehicles are available at the bottom. When it refers to braked and unbraked it refers to the trailer having brakes (not upgraded brakes on the car!!). Some confusion over this on caravan forums.

http://www.uktow.com/towing capacity.asp?make=BMW#tab1

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

If you have rear PDC you will have to buy the correct wiring kit to dissengage them when you hook up your trailer.

 

The wiring kit I was planning to get is the "electrical additional parts retrofit kit" BMW part # 71602156298. I'm pretty sure you just add $235 to the CAS and FRM before fitting the trailer module.

Nottsknots where did you find that info, is it from the user manual?

The uktow site has so many different listings for the 120d. Mine is an automatic 2006 model which lists 1400kg as the limit, but then again the kerb weight of the vehicle they have there doesn't look right.

Cheers

 

Check out the manufacturers plate. It will give the max weights for each axle; the max vehicle weight and the train weight (max weight of car fully loaded and max weight of trailer).

I don't mean to sound daft but is this in the engine bay? I found a plate with the VIN and build date but it didn't have this info.

Cheers

 

Check out the manufacturers plate. It will give the max weights for each axle; the max vehicle weight and the train weight (max weight of car fully loaded and max weight of trailer).

I don't mean to sound daft but is this in the engine bay? I found a plate with the VIN and build date but it didn't have this info.

Cheers

I believe its in the drivers door sil

e87 118d sapphire black, bmwp goodies, bc br coilovers, stage 2 ecotune remap, m3 control arms, polybushes, 130i front brakes...

 

The wiring kit I was planning to get is the "electrical additional parts retrofit kit" BMW part # 71602156298. I'm pretty sure you just add $235 to the CAS and FRM before fitting the trailer module.

Nottsknots where did you find that info, is it from the user manual?

The uktow site has so many different listings for the 120d. Mine is an automatic 2006 model which lists 1400kg as the limit, but then again the kerb weight of the vehicle they have there doesn't look right.

Cheers

Yessiree, straight from the book.

 

I would reccomend the BMW wire harness and get it coded by BMW.

I've looked into this and I thought the BMW kit didn't need coded. There is a good website

http://www.pfjones.co.uk

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; with all the details. It states in their specific electrics kit that it doesn't require coding.

Pdc needs to be coded off when trailer is connected. If you don't code it it will iritate the crap out of you whenever you back a trailer.

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