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      07-06-2014, 12:55 PM   #1
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Thinking about F31 328d / Towing?

Guys im ready to replace my Golf Tdi thats my daily driver with a 328d wagon. My wife has the 328d and the fuel economy is even better than my golfs, plus im getting 1000 bucks off eco credit so its the same price as a 328i. Im thinking also about getting a small 18 ft jet boat. The weight of the jet boat with a braked trailer is around 3100 with all fluids and has a tongue weight of 195 .

If i add a trailer brake controller, invisi hitch that is rated to 5000 pounds, do you think it will be ok to use the wagon as a tow vehicle every time the boat needs to be serviced? The boat will stay at the dock so i will only be towing when it needs to go in for service so maybe once or twice a year. if i recall correctly i read somewhere the wagons european spec towing data was around 4000 pounds with a braked trailer but i cant find any info on the US spec car. BTW the wagon im ordering will be M-Sport if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance.
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      07-07-2014, 12:34 AM   #2
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Anyone with experience in towing with the f-30/ f-31?
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      07-07-2014, 01:22 AM   #3
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In Sweden it's allowed to tow 3530 pounds with F31 320d and a braked trailer.

I personally don't have experience of towing more than 3000 pounds with 320d, but that worked without problems.
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      07-07-2014, 10:01 AM   #4
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Ive been towing with my 328i all the time a double trailer. Its about 2500lbs fully loaded.

Its not too bad.
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      07-07-2014, 10:08 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by john08135i View Post
Ive been towing with my 328i all the time a double trailer. Its about 2500lbs fully loaded.

Its not too bad.
This is so full of win!!! Cant wait to get my wagon. BTW do you know the tongue weight of what you are hauling?

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Originally Posted by ss0803 View Post
In Sweden it's allowed to tow 3530 pounds with F31 320d and a braked trailer.

I personally don't have experience of towing more than 3000 pounds with 320d, but that worked without problems.
Do you by any chance know the maximum allowed tongue weight? BTW you have a beautiful Country, cant wait to go back.
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      07-07-2014, 10:13 AM   #6
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I have always towed ski's with my cars. This is my first double ski trailer setup though. I have the weight under 200lbs for the tongue. The car pulls great. I usually run it in sport mode so it doesn't use 8th gear.

With trailer brakes you should be fine. I have zero spin or issues pulling out from any boat ramp.
And i haul at 80mph easily.
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      07-07-2014, 12:18 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
Do you by any chance know the maximum allowed tongue weight?
No I don't!

3530 pounds is what the Swedish Transport Agency allow me to tow with my 320d (US 328d), it's possible that number is higher in other countries.
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BTW you have a beautiful Country, cant wait to go back.
Thank you!

You're more than welcome back!
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      07-07-2014, 03:10 PM   #8
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Just pulled the trigger guys, she gets here on friday from another dealer.

F31 328d M-sport

-Alpine White
-Black Nappa leather
-Aluminium hex trim
-High gloss black finishers
-Premium
-Tech
-Harman Kardon
-Drivers Assistance
-Black Kidney grills
-Lightning package

Have some parts on the way as well
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      07-07-2014, 03:18 PM   #9
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Great choice!

Don't forget to post pics.
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      07-07-2014, 06:59 PM   #10
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Congrats! Love our 328d F31.
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      07-07-2014, 10:47 PM   #11
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Congrats!!

My Car is currently on it's way in the Atlantic! can't wait to pick it up.

Could you let us know what hitch you get installed and for how much? I may get one installed as well.
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      07-08-2014, 07:19 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ss0803 View Post
In Sweden it's allowed to tow 3530 pounds with F31 320d and a braked trailer.
I looked once more in the registration documents. Maximum allowed towing weight for 320d in Sweden is 4870 pounds with extended driving license.
Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
Do you by any chance know the maximum allowed tongue weight?
I also found the maximum allowed tongue weight, it's only 165 pounds in Sweden. But remember that towbars looks very different in Europe compared to the US.
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      07-08-2014, 09:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F31Bimmerman View Post
Congrats!!

My Car is currently on it's way in the Atlantic! can't wait to pick it up.

Could you let us know what hitch you get installed and for how much? I may get one installed as well.
Congrats as well man. Im getting this: http://execuhitch.com/tow-hitches/bm...2-current.html
As soon as i have it installed i will post pics and a review, if you call them they can work out a better deal for you than whats on the website.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss0803 View Post
Great choice!

Don't forget to post pics.
Thanks man




Quote:
Originally Posted by ss0803 View Post
I looked once more in the registration documents. Maximum allowed towing weight for 320d in Sweden is 4870 pounds with extended driving license.

I also found the maximum allowed tongue weight, it's only 165 pounds in Sweden. But remember that towbars looks very different in Europe compared to the US.
I called the hitch company and said their hitch is rated at 400 pounds tongue weight and 5000 pounds for towing so i think i should be good. Thanks for the info man.
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      07-08-2014, 10:07 AM   #14
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The guys at invisihitch told me my tonge weight of my hitch is 350 pounds, which is more than enough for a properly balanced trailer and even 4 bikes on a bike hitch.
However when I do put 4 bikes on my hitch, I notice the bikes moving around a lot, and it appears to me the rather thin bumper itself as my hitch is super solid and pretty much un-bendable. So the 3 series bumper flexes a bit. A bike rack with a few hundred pounds of weight sticking out 3 feet acts like a lever and when bouncing must produce way more weight briefly than their static weight. Owner of bike store didn't feel it was a problem as many cars are this way, he said.
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      07-09-2014, 10:34 AM   #15
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For those of you that are towing i have one last question:

Are you lowered? Im thinking about getting kw v1's and dropping her just 1 inch all around. I wonder if this will affect anything since my tongue weight is around 260-280.
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      07-09-2014, 11:03 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
For those of you that are towing i have one last question:

Are you lowered? Im thinking about getting kw v1's and dropping her just 1 inch all around. I wonder if this will affect anything since my tongue weight is around 260-280.
When I back my stock Msport X-drive F31 out of my driveway with 4 bikes on my rear hitch-mount rack, the ground clearance is frightening. If you are going to tow while loading your trunk with gear, I would not lower your suspension one bit.
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      07-09-2014, 12:05 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
For those of you that are towing i have one last question:

Are you lowered? Im thinking about getting kw v1's and dropping her just 1 inch all around. I wonder if this will affect anything since my tongue weight is around 260-280.
You are also not going to be able to drop it around an 1" all around. KW V1 drop the fronts 1.0" to 2.1" and rear by 1.4" to 2.4". Fronts in our cars are already 0.5" higher in the rear, so the least you will be able to drop so you are equal all around is about 1.5"
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      07-09-2014, 11:21 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
Congrats as well man. Im getting this: http://execuhitch.com/tow-hitches/bm...2-current.html
As soon as i have it installed i will post pics and a review, if you call them they can work out a better deal for you than whats on the website.
Thanks for the info, I'll definitely be checking it out!
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      07-10-2014, 01:53 PM   #19
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Quote:
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You are also not going to be able to drop it around an 1" all around. KW V1 drop the fronts 1.0" to 2.1" and rear by 1.4" to 2.4". Fronts in our cars are already 0.5" higher in the rear, so the least you will be able to drop so you are equal all around is about 1.5"
Hmm any other suggestion on suspension that might not drop that much?
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      07-10-2014, 05:01 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimminez View Post
You are also not going to be able to drop it around an 1" all around. KW V1 drop the fronts 1.0" to 2.1" and rear by 1.4" to 2.4". Fronts in our cars are already 0.5" higher in the rear, so the least you will be able to drop so you are equal all around is about 1.5"
Hmm any other suggestion on suspension that might not drop that much?
Any springs that are available will provide less of a drop. H&R Springs, AC Schnitzer and Eibach have sets for the F31 (Eibach I've only found on European vendor's sites) and drop about 30mm, with the H&Rs claiming 45mm in the front.
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      07-10-2014, 10:53 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimminez View Post
Any springs that are available will provide less of a drop. H&R Springs, AC Schnitzer and Eibach have sets for the F31 (Eibach I've only found on European vendor's sites) and drop about 30mm, with the H&Rs claiming 45mm in the front.
I wish H&R released the OE Sport springs which lower a little bit less. Im wondering if F30 Suspension will fit the wagon.
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      03-08-2016, 09:00 AM   #22
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Time to restart an old topic. I am looking to buy a camping trailer it has a tongue weight of 250lbs and a loaded weight of 2500lbs so I guess it shouldn't be a problem for a F31 328xd. Which hitch and brake controler are you using? Is a brake controler necessary for that kind of weight?
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