V60 series II towbar Fitting

[DenisP]

Sorry if this question has been asked before but most of the towbar posts refer to Pre 2018 cars.

Anyway I am looking to get an aftermarket detachable towbar (witter or similar) fitted to my 2019 d4 r-design. I reckon I’d go for 13 pin electrics as I’d like to tow a caravan. I can get the towbar and dedicated electrics kit for about £400 from pf Jones but am wondering what the Volvo OEM parts cost would be. They are not listed in the Volvo parts site., or at least I can’t find them. Also wonder if the car computer would need setting up, or is that done automatically by the system noticing the towbar electrics are in use.

Has anyone fitted a towbar to a series 2 car and how hard is it to do. Looking at the instructions then the physical towbar fit looks fairly straight forward with the difficulty being the electrics and the various body parts that need removing.

Any help/advice gratefully received

Denis

[Whyman]

Can’t answer most of the questions but can confirm that the genuine Volvo electrics do need setting up at a dealer.

Once done it means that the car knows when the caravan or trailer is attached and not only checks all the lights for you but also updates the traction control which may help you with stability problems without you even knowing you had one.

[Easington]

I have a 2013 S60 and ordered a Witter from PF Jones but a genuine Volvo 13 pin electrics kit from Volvo. The electrics were cheaper than the "dedicated" one from PF Jones.

I then went to a local dealer and got it coded in for about £45.

Best of both worlds as the towbar is almost invisible, definitely better hidden than the Volvo one

[Easington]

Just checked the prices:

£252 for the towbar
£110 for the electrics (Volvopartshop . com)
£45 coding

[DenisP]

Originally Posted by Easington

Just checked the prices:

£252 for the towbar
£110 for the electrics (Volvopartshop . com)
£45 coding

Thanks ... I contacted Volvo today and they said ... the tow bar has the electrical socket attached to the bar and comes as one unit. We then fit a trailer module, which is the part that connects the tow bar unit to the vehicle. The trailer module is £114.66 inclusive of V.A.T. The trailer module is the item that needs programming to the car.

The software costs £20 and programming it costs approx £85.

If I buy all the parts then it’s about £865 and the the coding is done on top. Alternatively to get them to fit its £1125.

Am wondering what the downside is of getting a kit from pf Jones is @ £380 inc dedicated electrics.

[Easington]

Originally Posted by DenisP

Thanks ... I contacted Volvo today and they said ... the tow bar has the electrical socket attached to the bar and comes as one unit. We then fit a trailer module, which is the part that connects the tow bar unit to the vehicle. The trailer module is £114.66 inclusive of V.A.T. The trailer module is the item that needs programming to the car.

The software costs £20 and programming it costs approx £85.

If I buy all the parts then it’s about £865 and the the coding is done on top. Alternatively to get them to fit its £1125.

Am wondering what the downside is of getting a kit from pf Jones is @ £380 inc dedicated electrics.

If you buy the electrics kit from Volvopartshop it contains everything to connect to the car inc the module, 13 pin connector etc. It all plugs into the car harness then they need to just code it in.

If they are charging you £105 then they aren't doing you any favours. Just checked my invoice and the software was £21 + vat and another £17.44 + vat labour. Total inc vat of £46.13 - this was Claytons of Mansfield

[Easington]

Invoice attached