A4 Tow Bar

[Discretion]

This morning I sent the following email to sales@towbarsdirect.co.uk ...and a few other sites...I will post reply for everyone else to see.

Good morning.

I have just been looking at an Audi forum and your web site has come up http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk . I need your help please.
I have just ordered a new Audi A4 which will arrive in December (with a bit of luck) I would like to fit a tow bar to my new vehicle so that I may pull a motorcycle trailer (1bike total weight no more than 500kg). The Audi dealer has quoted me an extortionate amount of money to fit one. Could you please advise me on what options you have that would suite my new car?
Audi A4 20TDI S-Line Special Edition 2007 Saloon 170ps with an exhaust on both sides of the car.
Ideally I would like:
1. Detachable tow bar.
2. No cut to bumper or unseen cut.
3. Supplied with all necessary electrical connections including any car specific requirements
4. A full list of any other parts a may need to purchase.
5. Your opinion on what is the best for my car.
6. A full breakdown of costs including VAT and postage
Many many thanks in advance

[Discretion]

Reply 1

We list a number of different detachable towbars for your vehicle, however the one we would recommend is the Westfalia. Westfalia are the largest towbar manufacturer in Europe and are one, if not the main suppliers of original equipment towbars to Audi as well as many other car manufacturers such Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and The Westfalia is in our opinion the easiest detachable system to use and normally the neatest. In most cases it is completely invisible when detached, with the electrics normally on a swivel plate that pushes up inside the bumper out of site when not in use.

All towbars we list are EC Type Approved upto the maximum towing capacity for the Audi A4 which is 2000kg (Some models with in the A4 range may have a lower towing capacity – check your vehicle handbook for details). The detachable neck has an inbuilt lock to protect against theft when attached to the towbar and comes complete with two keys.

All towbars for the Audi A4 2004onwards models require a bumper cut. This is due to the location of the Audi specified mounting points and the design of the rear bumpers on this model. The cut should be non visible on all towbars (see fitting instructions for details).
On the electrics we only supply universal electric kits to the public for this vehicle on the recommendations of both the manufacturers/supplies of these kits plus are own technical department. This is due to the complex nature of fitting the vehicle specific plus the high chance of damage to the cars wiring system during fitting. Please note in order to work some of the towing functions available on the Audi A4 such as TSP (Trailer stability program) a vehicle specific kit is required and does requires a dealer download to activate some of these functions.

Price of parts is below:
EC Type Approved towbar to fit Audi A4 Saloon 2004 – 2008 Inc S-Line & Quattro Not S4/RS4 models
Towbar Type: Vertical quick release swanneck detachable
Manufacturer: Westfalia towbar RRP: £289.05
Part Number: 305302
Maximum towing capacity: 2000kg
Comes complete with all nuts, bolts, washers and fitting instructions
http://www.westfalia-automotive.de/f...302691101.pdf" for fitting instructions

Electrics Single Electrical Kit with 7way bypass relay- £26.45
Includes the following:
Inc 12N prewired socket with 2 meters of 7 core
EC Type 7 way bypass relay with inbuilt audible monitor
Power feed cable with fuse and fuse holder
Snap lock type connectors & earth terminals
Grommet
Cross wire
Fitting Instructions

Carriage:
UK Mainland (excluding IV & KW postcode areas) - £10.00
Collection – Free of charge
From our premises between Warrington and Northwich in Cheshire, just off junction 10 of the M56

If you have any further questions please get back to us.

Towbars Direct
Norbrook Trailers Ltd
Tarporley Road (A49)
Whitley
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 4DS
01925 730 005
http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk

[Discretion]

To fit a detachable towbar to the Audi A4 Saloon would cost £380.00 inc vat.
That is for the towbar fitted with single electrics.
This includes the relayed wiring system.
There is an unseen bumper cut with this towbar.

If you want to order the towbar directly, this can be done via our website www.towbarsni.co.uk or I can organise that for you as the relay costs an extra £20.00 + vat ontop of the internet price. £322.83 + £23.50 = £346.33 inc vat and postage.

Thanks

[Discretion]

Hi there

Thank you for your e-mail
Please find details of the towbar kit for your Audi A4 S-line Saloon 07
There is no towbar for this model that will fit without having a bumper cut to fit.
Witter tow bar Detach Towbar Audi A4 Sal 05>>AD44Q
Was £368.90
Now £217.65
Postage £8.00

Bumper Cut to Fit? Yes
85 x 50

12n Single Full Wiring Kit for towbars 12nkit
Was £11.99
Now £8.95

Towbar Twin Tow Bar Upgrade Electrics Upgrade Pack - Inc Relays
Was £25.00
Now £19.00

Also please note that your vehicle will need a bypass relay if you decide to go with one of the universal electric kits listed above to protect the vehicle electrical managment system please find details of this item listed below

Full Bypass Relay - Protect Your Management System TF2217Ukit
Was £35.00
Now £26.00
All these prices Include VAT!

Kind Regards
Towequipe Limited www.towequipe.co.uk

[Discretion]

I also phoned the main dealer and was quoted £359.91 + VAT.... Just for the wiring kit

£1000 including VAT for the complete towbar fitted.

[john from Staffs]

Same sort of response with my car when I ordered it. Got a towbar fitted in Telford for £300 and everything works fine.

In general the Audi agent here has been excellent, but when will they learn that a 50% return on sales of zero is still zero.

with best regards to all mark up sufferers.

john from Staffs