XC90 retractable tow bar (dealer fit)

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by thisisbeaker

Thanks everyone for the insights and comments. Agree with @nu11eaf that fitting one would be a case of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, given it's just for a bike carrier. I am a bit of a neat freak though, so like the idea of it looking much better! Might hinge on what level of discount I could get!

I had a retractable towbar fitted (mine was a factory fit) solely for a bike carrier, the ease of operation is so effective and neat.
As regards a discount, if you are a VOC member then you will be able to ask for at least 10%.........

[Mytholmroyd60]

I had a retractable towbar fitted to my V90 last Friday, quoted £1150 by a couple of dealers, Clive Brook Bradford did it (and the recall software update) for £995. It is a nice bit of kit, I use mine for a bike carrier and occasionally a trailer.

I know this sounds obvious, but I’ve had the car 6 months and should of had it fitted immediately then the cost is spread over the longest time of ownership. So if you are ever going to get one fitted, get it fitted now!

[thisisbeaker]

Have taken the plunge. All booked in and negotiated East London Volvo down to £1k. Was a bit wary as put a towbar on our previous Skoda Karoq but only kept it a year, as we have a tendency to change cars fairly regular, but TBH, the XC90 is all the car we've ever wanted, so hoping to be able to get full value from the investment! Thanks for all the advice and comments.

[Rustyfrog]

Just had mine fitted. £975 incl VAT and a loan car for the day, after a little negotiation. Please bear in mind, we is very poor up North!

Looks a nice piece of kit.

[Philip Fisher]

I hope you are all going to be childish like me and stand, legs astride at the bumper then deploy the towbar.....

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

I had a retractable towbar fitted (mine was a factory fit) solely for a bike carrier, the ease of operation is so effective and neat.
As regards a discount, if you are a VOC member then you will be able to ask for at least 10%.........

Like me you may have ordered it as a factory option but the factory do not actually fit them, the dealer fits them after delivery to them and before they hand them over to you.
If they were factory fitted the bumpers would not have to be cut. They would fit preformed bumpers.

[volvocamper]

From January 18 the electric towbar can definitely be installed at the factory, as can the side steps. Both are quite ‘invasive’ for the dealers to fit so Volvo decided it would be a good option to offer the opportunity to include these options during build. My MY2018.5 car was fitted with the towbar at the factory but it was the first one my dealer had ordered in this way and initially he said it was not possible, until he had this confirmed by Volvo. I didnt decide on the steps until quite late in the process and these were fitted by the dealer. I saw my car the day it arrived at the dealer and the first thing i checked was the towbar was fitted and it was. There is still a very small cut-out in the bumper but it is perfectly shaped and smooth.

[nu11eaf]

Well you learn something new every day, I was going off what my dealer service manager told me.

[thisisbeaker]

So really happy with the towbar. Small cut out is hardly noticeable. I was wondering however, if anyone knew what panels (if any) would need to be removed for it to be fitted? I noticed the other day that the rear wheel arch panel has slightly come away and is not flush with the bumper panel. I'm presuming the bumper panel would have needed to be removed, in which case I feel like contacting the dealer as it seems too much of a coincidence that the adjacent panel is now loose

[Adrian888]

I have had two cars with factory fitted towbars, paperwork proved they were fitted on the production line. One car was a 2006 Audi with retractable system, very good too.