bmw m5 as tow car?
28 January 2012, 07:12 PM
#1
bmw m5 as tow car?
Looking around for a tow car at the moment, and a 5 series might well work.
However, it'd be nice if the car was "fun" when it wasn't towing, so could an m5 be used for towing? I'm thinking E39 shape or similar.
The use would be to tow a car trailer with the impreza on it.
Problem is I can't seem to find the max towing weight for an M5 - realistically I'd need around 1800kg I'd have thought.
However, it'd be nice if the car was "fun" when it wasn't towing, so could an m5 be used for towing? I'm thinking E39 shape or similar.
The use would be to tow a car trailer with the impreza on it.
Problem is I can't seem to find the max towing weight for an M5 - realistically I'd need around 1800kg I'd have thought.
28 January 2012, 09:57 PM
#2
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Looking around for a tow car at the moment, and a 5 series might well work.
However, it'd be nice if the car was "fun" when it wasn't towing, so could an m5 be used for towing? I'm thinking E39 shape or similar.
The use would be to tow a car trailer with the impreza on it.
Problem is I can't seem to find the max towing weight for an M5 - realistically I'd need around 1800kg I'd have thought.
However, it'd be nice if the car was "fun" when it wasn't towing, so could an m5 be used for towing? I'm thinking E39 shape or similar.
The use would be to tow a car trailer with the impreza on it.
Problem is I can't seem to find the max towing weight for an M5 - realistically I'd need around 1800kg I'd have thought.
Why don't you just drive the Impreza to wherever you are going rather than towing it?
29 January 2012, 08:38 AM
#3
because it wont pass an MOT real soon now, plus I'm worried that it will break on a track on the other side of the country etc etc. Having independent transport would be ideal, although I may just start renting a car transporter for track days instead.
The M5 seems like an ideal family saloon otherwise... Perhaps a bit heavy on the running costs, but can't think of much else that offer the same kind of performance for similar'ish money.
The M5 seems like an ideal family saloon otherwise... Perhaps a bit heavy on the running costs, but can't think of much else that offer the same kind of performance for similar'ish money.
29 January 2012, 10:18 AM
#7
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I'm afraid relisticly your in need of a 4x4
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my m5 hopes dashed.
30 January 2012, 10:10 AM
#14
I thought the M5 touring was only available as the E34?
Anyway, maybe something like a 540i Touring would work instead. According to Parkers they're allowed to tow 1900kg braked, which should be plenty for a 1300kg car + trailer IMO.
Granted, it wouldn't be an M5 and it would have that hateful slush-o-matic gearbox, but at least it'd sound like a V8 and have a bit of poke. The V8 itch is one I've wanted to scratch for a long time, and with needing a family car, it seems like too good an opportunity to pass up
Anyway, maybe something like a 540i Touring would work instead. According to Parkers they're allowed to tow 1900kg braked, which should be plenty for a 1300kg car + trailer IMO.
Granted, it wouldn't be an M5 and it would have that hateful slush-o-matic gearbox, but at least it'd sound like a V8 and have a bit of poke. The V8 itch is one I've wanted to scratch for a long time, and with needing a family car, it seems like too good an opportunity to pass up
30 January 2012, 10:26 AM
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I thought the M5 touring was only available as the E34?
Anyway, maybe something like a 540i Touring would work instead. According to Parkers they're allowed to tow 1900kg braked, which should be plenty for a 1300kg car + trailer IMO.
O
Granted, it wouldn't be an M5 and it would have that hateful slush-o-matic gearbox, but at least it'd sound like a V8 and have a bit of poke. The V8 itch is one I've wanted to scratch for a long time, and with needing a family car, it seems like too good an opportunity to pass up
Anyway, maybe something like a 540i Touring would work instead. According to Parkers they're allowed to tow 1900kg braked, which should be plenty for a 1300kg car + trailer IMO.
O
Granted, it wouldn't be an M5 and it would have that hateful slush-o-matic gearbox, but at least it'd sound like a V8 and have a bit of poke. The V8 itch is one I've wanted to scratch for a long time, and with needing a family car, it seems like too good an opportunity to pass up
How heavy is your trailer ? And car not a ruff guess an acuraty weight ? As vosa would take you to a waybridge
30 January 2012, 10:29 AM
#16
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Dam phone !
Then the fin is around £60 a kilo your over. Unless you have a light weight single axel trailer and a scooby made of carbon your going to be at the 2100 don't forget to take into account fuel and spares
Also does your lisence cover you for towing ?
Then the fin is around £60 a kilo your over. Unless you have a light weight single axel trailer and a scooby made of carbon your going to be at the 2100 don't forget to take into account fuel and spares
Also does your lisence cover you for towing ?
30 January 2012, 11:16 AM
#17
in the stages of changing my license over to a UK one so I can take the B+E test.. The B license is completely useless of course.
AFAIK the brian james clubman trailers are about 500kg, so it'd be right on the limit, assuming I can get the car light enough. Spares etc could go in the tow car, there'd still be a couple of 100 kg of weight to play with in the car itself.
The above doesn't sound ideal, though, which is a right shame... I was hoping I could get away with a fairly sizeable saloon, but you're right, it's a bit too close to comfort unfortunately.
I might have to just get myself a "normal" car and then rent a ford transit style transporter when I'm on track days (realistically, it'd be less than 5 times a year anyway, so not like I'm off racing every weekend).
A van is out of the question, I'd have to get divorced before that happened, and even a 4x4 is hard enough to get "collateral agreement" on...
AFAIK the brian james clubman trailers are about 500kg, so it'd be right on the limit, assuming I can get the car light enough. Spares etc could go in the tow car, there'd still be a couple of 100 kg of weight to play with in the car itself.
The above doesn't sound ideal, though, which is a right shame... I was hoping I could get away with a fairly sizeable saloon, but you're right, it's a bit too close to comfort unfortunately.
I might have to just get myself a "normal" car and then rent a ford transit style transporter when I'm on track days (realistically, it'd be less than 5 times a year anyway, so not like I'm off racing every weekend).
A van is out of the question, I'd have to get divorced before that happened, and even a 4x4 is hard enough to get "collateral agreement" on...
30 January 2012, 11:47 AM
#18
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in the stages of changing my license over to a UK one so I can take the B+E test.. The B license is completely useless of course.
AFAIK the brian james clubman trailers are about 500kg, so it'd be right on the limit, assuming I can get the car light enough. Spares etc could go in the tow car, there'd still be a couple of 100 kg of weight to play with in the car itself.
The above doesn't sound ideal, though, which is a right shame... I was hoping I could get away with a fairly sizeable saloon, but you're right, it's a bit too close to comfort unfortunately.
I might have to just get myself a "normal" car and then rent a ford transit style transporter when I'm on track days (realistically, it'd be less than 5 times a year anyway, so not like I'm off racing every weekend).
A van is out of the question, I'd have to get divorced before that happened, and even a 4x4 is hard enough to get "collateral agreement" on...
AFAIK the brian james clubman trailers are about 500kg, so it'd be right on the limit, assuming I can get the car light enough. Spares etc could go in the tow car, there'd still be a couple of 100 kg of weight to play with in the car itself.
The above doesn't sound ideal, though, which is a right shame... I was hoping I could get away with a fairly sizeable saloon, but you're right, it's a bit too close to comfort unfortunately.
I might have to just get myself a "normal" car and then rent a ford transit style transporter when I'm on track days (realistically, it'd be less than 5 times a year anyway, so not like I'm off racing every weekend).
A van is out of the question, I'd have to get divorced before that happened, and even a 4x4 is hard enough to get "collateral agreement" on...
You need to know the braked and un-braked towing weights. This refers to the trailer having brakes or not. The brakes are activated by the tow coupling compressing when the car brakes causing the trailer brakes to activate.
braked towing weights are always higher due to the trailer having its own brakes and reducing the risk of jackknifing and or pushing the car along when stopping.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85227
One thing - is there room to fit a tow hitch to the car, does/will it foul the exhaust???
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...t=859105&mid=0
Last edited by The Zohan; 30 January 2012 at 11:48 AM.
30 January 2012, 01:16 PM
#19
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If its only 5 times a year I'd buy a normal car then rent a tow Veichle and trailer. Don't know we're you are but around here the trailer place rents tow veichles too. Just a thought
30 January 2012, 01:34 PM
#20
Max braked towing weight of e39 5 series are huge:
M5 is 1800kg http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/review...on-1996/16093/
540 and 530 is 2000kg!! http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/review...oon-1996/20668
Although check your driver's licence's entitlement...you may need to upgrade it to tow that kind of weight (I don't, but then I have an old school paper one
)Edit to add. BMW removable tow hitches replace the inner bumper 'impact absorbers', so a steel frame bolts betweeen the chasis and bumper. The only thing that protrudes is teh actual socket for the tow ball: Its the black metal part in this picture:
I know its a E46 but the E39 bar fits in the exact same way.
Oh and the reverse sensors hate it.....so make sure its a heavy duty removable one.
Last edited by ALi-B; 30 January 2012 at 01:47 PM.
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