MY10 Towbar Costs

[waringb]

I'm sure I've read it somewhere, or perhaps a dealer mentioned it, that the MY10 has the internal towbar wiring fitted at the factory - even if the car is ordered without a towbar.

So when the dealer goes to fit the towbar, the labour time is greatly reduced as they no longer need to run wiring to the front fuse box.

So instead of ~$1400 - $1900 to fit a towbar, the cost should be much lower this year.

Anyone else heard this?

[Swallowtail]

I haven't... sounds interesting. Be interesting to see if there actually is any change in towbar pricing though. Have you asked your dealer?

[waringb]

I've asked, he's checking into it - I'll post a reply once he gets back to me.

[audineil]

I have a MY10 R36 delivered on friday 26/2/10. It is the newest version that has the slightly different A/C controls etc. It has a towbar fitted and came with a short adaptor loom from the car plug (round) to the trailer plug (flat).

No mention of changes to the towbar wiring or reduced cost.

I am not too concerned though as I think I got a fair deal from Gerald Slaven in Belconnen ACT.

Love the car BTW.

Neil

[Caddyman]

yep, my car came with the same deal, short adapter, round euro plug to flat 9 pin plug.

Matthew

[Umai Naa!!]

MY10 is not pre-wired for the trailer control module wiring.

It still takes around 4-6 hours to fit the towbar and wiring from start to finish, but it is slightly easier now, as we (At least I do), run all the wiring down the right side of the car now in accordance to changes to the fuse boxes in the ends of the dash.

The only cars that I'm aware of at this stage that can be ordered pre-wired are the Tiguan and Touareg.

For the above two posters, we are not referring to the external wiring here

[waringb]

Heard back from my dealer. He indicated that the passat is pre-wired (to some extent, don't know the technical details) and that the cost would now be closer to $1000.

The service department hasn't actually fitted a towbar to a MY10 yet, so the exact costs wont be known until they do (once they know how long it takes).

Given they haven't fitted a towbar yet, they must have received updated information regarding the wiring from VWA?

Umai Naa!! - just reporting what my dealer has indicated, I'm not trying to say you are wrong.

[VWR36Fan]

I am awaiting delivery of MY10 125Tdi Wagon, and was given details of MY10 upgrades back in Nov 09 by a dealer. Upgrades clearly states that cars come prewired for towbar fitment. I eventually ordered my car from another dealer last year and have now decided to have towbar fitted prior to delivery. My dealer is quoting around $1500 fitted, how does that figure!!! Sounds expensive to me. Anyone actually receive a written quote from a dealer?

[tryingavw]

I am awaiting delivery of MY10 125Tdi Wagon, and was given details of MY10 upgrades back in Nov 09 by a dealer. Upgrades clearly states that cars come prewired for towbar fitment. I eventually ordered my car from another dealer last year and have now decided to have towbar fitted prior to delivery. My dealer is quoting around $1500 fitted, how does that figure!!! Sounds expensive to me. Anyone actually receive a written quote from a dealer?

i went to a few towbar places all they all said vw can only be got thru the dealers. i was happy to fit my own wiring loom as well but still nothing out there ( but happy to be corrected - just tell me where to go!)

A bit rich when you can get a bar fully fitted for a mazda6 wagon for under $400 including wiring.

[audineil]

Is this

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Trailer-plug-guide-and-wiring-diagrams_W0QQugidZ10000000002022212

and this

http://www.bestbars.co.nz/

Of any assistance?

Neil

[Umai Naa!!]

For those that are interested, I'll look into the situation again on Monday. Our VW sales manager will know.

For the MY09s they changed the fuse box arrangement, and the way they routed all the wiring, so we changed the way we fitted them (unbeknown to VW Technical). We've been wiring the MY10s the same. When done this way, you wouldn't know if the wiring was already there unless you started removing the left side of the interior, which we don't.

[R34]

OK ,I'm interested

[Umai Naa!!]

From what I gather, the cars can be ordered with or without Preparation For Trailer Electronics. I'll find out more tomorrow.

[Rthirsty6]

I'm sure I've read it somewhere, or perhaps a dealer mentioned it, that the MY10 has the internal towbar wiring fitted at the factory - even if the car is ordered without a towbar.

So when the dealer goes to fit the towbar, the labour time is greatly reduced as they no longer need to run wiring to the front fuse box.

So instead of ~$1400 - $1900 to fit a towbar, the cost should be much lower this year.

Anyone else heard this?

I paid just below $ 1,400 for my towbar, which was locally fitted but organised by the Dealer. I believe most towbars for Passat are locally built units.
I am really happy with it, it is demountable and you can hardly notice that a towbar is fitted if the adaptor is removed. It came with a nice adaptor bag with VW logo on it as well.
In the end, this is no different then any other option on your car; you order the car and negotiate the cost of all the individual options with the Dealer. Considering you have already placed your order you probably won't have a lot of bargaining power left to get the towbar for a really cheap price, unless your relationship with the Dealer is excellent. Good luck!

[Caddyman]

. I believe most towbars for Passat are locally built units.
!

All of the dealer fitted towbars are made by Best bars in New Zealand, it says so on both the bar and the sticker that they should put inside the drivers door.

Matthew