BMW X3 MK3 Factory Tow bar

Ok thanks LL1. Thinking about it, you are probably right.

I will find a solution if needs be. Ear plugs spring to mind.

Fysh

In view of the fact that AlKo hitches are in such widespread use throughout Europe and in in AlKo's home country Germany, factory-fitted towbars are almost universal (because this avoids having to have the car re-MOT'd in Germany following retrofitment of a towbar) I would assume that the car manufacturers are well aware of the minimum requirements for clearance.

So would I but clearly they dont pass this information on down the line to customer facing staff. 

BMW UK customer service at the time of writing this message still have not come back to my dealer after 3 days!

Its cost them a £45k sale (but saved me £10k)

Perhaps we should have a sticky. Car caravan an towbar combinations that work in the real world?

Even in the case of the Tiguan where VW seem to have overlooked the issue, AlKo did perform a clearance check at various angles of articulation and found it to be tight but still adequate. Under such circumstances, it is unlikely that very many combinations will be found to warrant being declared unworkable.

That would not suit me at all. I want things done properly and a few mm clearance is just not right. Others may have a different view and thats fine. 

New car coming in 2 weeks without any of these issues and the dealer is a pleasure to do business with.

Sorry to see my FL2 go, its been the best car I have had.

Fair enough, but as that is your own personal opinion, you can't expect a sticky here in this forum listing "combinations that work in the real world" as you requested, in line with what you are expecting. 

Are you saying those examples do not meet Alko criteria? It either meets Alko requirements or it doesn’t, just because someone thinks there should be more clearance is another issue. I have also found there is also sometimes confusion with how or where the clearance measurement is taken (edge of ball to bumper or centre of ball to bumper). I have a previous B7 Passat Alltrack with factory detachable towbar and whilst it is tight the clearance meets Alko spec. If I catch the bumper with the hitch it is my fault. The latest B8 Alltrack has been tested by various organisations as a towcar and I do not recall any reference to a towball clearance issue. 

There is some interesting information here concerning factory towbars.

I have been a member for 47 years and have never had a factory fitted towbar mainly because I do not buy new cars.

I have had 5 BMW's of late all have had the tow bar fitted by a local specialist fitter with full electrics and no problems either with the towbar or the BMW dealer who service my cars. Currently, I have a 63 plate X1 with 190 bhp engine and automatic gear box. This is a good tow car and I have no hitch clearance problems with my Witter hitch. This has a bumper to centre of tow ball distance of 87mm.

Caravan has a ALKO stabiliser and 1314kg MTLPM.

If I may pose a question-  could members with this model of vehicles give an opinion on towing a caravan of the above weight with a Tiguan 150 bhp. I knows that torque is more important than bhp and there is only 59 NM difference in this engine and a 190 bhp.

My 5 series has a factory fitted electric tow hitch, plenty of space for the Alko hitch. If you google alko hitch spec for towballs, there is a dimensional diagram that should give you peace of mind.

In order to reduce the forces acting on the vehicle underbody, manufacturers will always try to keep as close as possible to the minimum.