Volvo Towbar (XC60)

[senwar]

Have looked through the search but keen to understand current info.

My XC60 is due next week and I've decided I want a towbar. Can't face throwing the bike into the back of the car to be honest.

Are these still a dealer fit accessory? Is the price negotiable, or is there any way of getting discount (owners club)?

I've looked at non oem swan head towbars but do fancy the oem one now.

[dling]

I installed mine 6 months after I got the car, so the dealer can definitely do it. Price wise... I live in a different country so it wouldn’t be comparable.

[St Evelyn]

Yes, you can normally negotiate price a little - owners club is definitely the best way in my opinion.

I know there are many that don't like them, but Marshalls seem to do the best owners club discount (20% off parts, accessories & fittings I think) - not sure if you've got one of their dealerships anywhere near to you..?

[RussJ759]

Just had one fitted to my newly delivered XC60 T8. I got £100 off as Volvo were doing a promotion so it cost £1000. Even then not exactly a bargain but very convenient and saves grovelling around under the car trying to insert a heavy towhook into its socket.
I'm sure there's some wriggle room there so probably worth shopping around if the offer has finished...
Russ

[senwar]

Originally Posted by St Evelyn

Yes, you can normally negotiate price a little - owners club is definitely the best way in my opinion.

I know there are many that don't like them, but Marshalls seem to do the best owners club discount (20% off parts, accessories & fittings I think) - not sure if you've got one of their dealerships anywhere near to you..?

Ah - thanks for this - I'm actually getting it from Marshall's Leeds so will see what they say. I'm expecting a call from them in the next few days to arrange collection anyway.

Originally Posted by RussJ759

Just had one fitted to my newly delivered XC60 T8. I got £100 off as Volvo were doing a promotion so it cost £1000. Even then not exactly a bargain but very convenient and saves grovelling around under the car trying to insert a heavy towhook into its socket.
I'm sure there's some wriggle room there so probably worth shopping around if the offer has finished...
Russ

Thanks - good to know as a starting point. The convenience is the thing for me as well, so happy to go with it.

[St Evelyn]

I've got the factory towbar on my V90 and had the BMW full-electric factory towbar on my previous car, a 520D.

Although the BMW solution was simpler to use (press the button in the boot and the towball comes out fully motorised and sets in to position all on its own, repeat to put away), I actually found it quite frustrating as it would take what felt like ages to run through the cycle. If you tried to move the car when it was part of the way through the cycle it would stop and you'd have to reactivate it. Apparently, if this happened more than 10 times you were unable to use it again until the fault codes had been read and reset by the dealership!

Whilst you have to finish pushing the Volvo lowball in to place I find it much better as it takes just a few seconds for it to release and be ready for you to do so. I know a few seconds aren't the end of the world, but when you're waiting to move the car in to position to hook up to the caravan it certainly makes a difference.

[warwick]

I had a Merc with the same system as the BMW and now find the Volvo`s to be superior, in the Mercs case I had to use a wooden mallet on more than one occasion to encourage the towbar to release.

[senwar]

Thanks for the additional info all.

Definitely going to get this arranged. I also noticed Marshall’s Leeds are shown as 20% of accessories including labour according to the owners club mag so fingers crossed. Not had chance to call today so will just wait till they call me re collection next week.

Thanks again

[senwar]

Not spoke to Marshalls yet (being called tomorrow to arrange pick up) but have spoken to another dealer via eBay who have said they can do this for £900. Bit of a bargain to be honest.

Just need to decide if I go this route or the roof bars. Roof bar cost in total approx £400 but towbar and carrier about £1100. Far more convenient, but keep thinking the roof bars will be easier to store than the towbar carrier in the garage (and I keep/sell the bars when the car goes).

Decisions!

[Steve XC60]

FWIW, I use roof bars and four thule bike carriers for four mountain bikes. Never had any problems over several thousand miles. A bit tricky to get the bikes on - but good weight training! Easier with a small set of steps which I take with me when the car is not loaded with other stuff. Having four bikes on the roof has a dramatic effect on fuel economy. Also, the bikes can take a bit of a battering from the windspeed, flies etc and once a bird. They get a good wash when it rains though!

If money was no object, I suspect I would have a tow bar and tow bar carrier, as I suspect that is easier and has less impact on the fuel economy. Suspect the bikes would pick up more road grime, but less flies. But then if money was no object I wouldn't care about the fuel economy...