yeoman1 Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 Just changed my car to a BMW X3, it is fitted with a BMW detachable tow bar but there is nowhere to clip the breakaway cable, or indeed anywhere to bolt either a plate or eye. A policeman acquaintance has told me it is illegal to put the breakaway cable around the tow ball. Advise please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 (edited) Where a clipping point is not provided, I thought it was legal to wrap it around the tow ball, but it must be a carabiner type, As here : https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/technical-advice/breakaway-cables/ or here: Edited May 5, 2019 by Guest Addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutz Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, yeoman1 said: Just changed my car to a BMW X3, it is fitted with a BMW detachable tow bar but there is nowhere to clip the breakaway cable, or indeed anywhere to bolt either a plate or eye. A policeman acquaintance has told me it is illegal to put the breakaway cable around the tow ball. Advise please When was your car built? I believe since 2015 all cars with factory-fitted towbars have a dedicated anchorage point in accordance with the regulation ECE R55. My late 2015 built BMW X4 definitely has an anchorage point. Edited May 5, 2019 by Lutz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
535i Andrew Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 If its a genuine BMW retro fitted towbar it will be one of the excellent Westfalia detachable units which will have a breakaway point on the receiver possibly tucked up out of sight under the bumper. What age is the X3? My 5 Series has the electrical swivelling towbar from new. When I bought it, I was advised by Westfalia (who make the towbar) that in absence of a breakaway point on my swivelling towbar I was to loop the breakaway around the neck of the towbar and clip the carabineer style connection over the breakaway cable. Perfectly legal. After a careless Peugeot driver tried to shorted my beautiful car, the replacement swivel towbar has a breakaway point on the neck. Issue now resolved for me. Every cloud has a silver lining..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svimes Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 (edited) Our 2012 5 series has no hook so we loop it round. Edited May 7, 2019 by svimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacko1 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 On 05/05/2019 at 15:21, wigandiver said: Where a clipping point is not provided, I thought it was legal to wrap it around the tow ball, but it must be a carabiner type, As here : https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/technical-advice/breakaway-cables/ or here: +1 Quote 2018 Volvo XC60 D4 AWD + Penshurst Premier Plus (AKA Elddis Affinity 550) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R0G Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 Where the tow ball is attached by two bolts then a breakaway cable is needed Where the tow ball is in one piece then no breakaway cable needed The breakaway cable is there as a back up for the two bolts which can rust then shear off 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WispMan Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 Strange. I thought the breakaway cable was law for trailers over 750kg and ensured a heavy trailers brakes were activated in the event of a detachment. You learn something new everyday. 1 Quote Graham Unless otherwise stated all posts are my personal opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderDave Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 Quote Jeep Commander 3. 0 V6 CRD Isuzu D- Max Utah Auto Elddis Crusader Storm 2000 Kgs, Unipart Royal Atlas Mover . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 I believe our governments wording is you must use a secondary coupling to activate the brake, we call it a breakaway cable. I can't see the bolts that are commonly used for the towball rusting away before the car did. Quote Paul B . .......Mondeo Estate & Elddis Avanté 505 (Tobago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutz Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 2 hours ago, R0G said: Where the tow ball is attached by two bolts then a breakaway cable is needed Where the tow ball is in one piece then no breakaway cable needed The breakaway cable is there as a back up for the two bolts which can rust then shear off Where on Earth did you get that information from? It's a new one on me. My understanding is that you always need a breakaway cable and in the UK you even need a so-called secondary coupling for trailers under 750kg which don't have an overrun brake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman Iain Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 AFAIK the breakaway cable, as it is known is there to activate the trailer brakes and stop it in the event of it becoming uncoupled from the towing vehicle. This could undoubtably include the failure of the 2 bolts used to connect the tow-ball.....or a failure of the hitch......or more likely, failure to connect the 2 properly. I can’t see how having a one piece towbar negates the need for a secondary coupling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 I was pulled over by the police over Easter for a spot check. My breakaway cable was looped round the towball and was declared fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchgs1200 Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, Stevan said: I was pulled over by the police over Easter for a spot check. My breakaway cable was looped round the towball and was declared fine. stevan I think its a case of some police know the law and some dont,yours obviously did,mine is a detachable swan neck towbar that has a bit of height to it so the cable sits quite low when attached on the towbar other shorter towbars that are permanently fixed the cable can ride over the top( if your unlucky),that was told to me by the camping and caravan course instructor earlier this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 3 hours ago, R0G said: Where the tow ball is attached by two bolts then a breakaway cable is needed Where the tow ball is in one piece then no breakaway cable needed The breakaway cable is there as a back up for the two bolts which can rust then shear off By the same token, what happens if the coupling bolts rust and shear off? 1 Quote Living the dream, well more of a nightmare if the truth be known ~ Griff Wheels at the front ~ Discovery 4 Towing Machine Wheels at the back ~ 4 of ‘em Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 30 minutes ago, mitchgs1200 said: stevan I think its a case of some police know the law and some dont,yours obviously did,mine is a detachable swan neck towbar that has a bit of height to it so the cable sits quite low when attached on the towbar other shorter towbars that are permanently fixed the cable can ride over the top( if your unlucky),that was told to me by the camping and caravan course instructor earlier this year And if you are really unlucky with a detachable. Quote Living the dream, well more of a nightmare if the truth be known ~ Griff Wheels at the front ~ Discovery 4 Towing Machine Wheels at the back ~ 4 of ‘em Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchgs1200 Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 suppose it saves taking it off and detachable in the true sense of the word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon7912 Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 I don't know if your X3 is the same as an X5 as far as detachable tow bar fitting, but on my X5 I have to remove a plastic plate under the bumper to gain access to fit the tow ball, and as a part of the fitting it has a threaded socket to accept the towing eye (In case of breakdown) . I fit the towing eye and attach breakaway cable to that. My tow bar is a Westfalia. Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tradewinds Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 This is a VW fitted tow bar, Westfalia detachable I believe. The breakaway cable head won't go through the attachment point so it has to be looped round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borussia 1900 Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, Tradewinds said: This is a VW fitted tow bar, Westfalia detachable I believe. The breakaway cable head won't go through the attachment point so it has to be looped round. My Shogun has similar attachment points so I removed the original breakaway cable with clip and replaced it with one with a Carabiner. https://www.amazon.co.uk/BITS4REASONS-MAYPOLE-MP5015B-BREAKAWAY-TRAILER/dp/B07NS8RRFS/ref=pd_sbs_263_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07NS8RRFS&pd_rd_r=645d4d52-7235-11e9-bdb0-97a1e83b9d87&pd_rd_w=EqtIl&pd_rd_wg=SJpLT&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=MAR15VBE1FC49R4XQX7V&psc=1&refRID=MAR15VBE1FC49R4XQX7V Or fit one of these to the mounting bolt: https://towsure.com/towbar-breakaway-cable-bracket Quote 2015 3. 2 Auto Mitsubishi Pajero tugging a 2016 Tabbert Pucinni 2. 5e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 11 minutes ago, Tradewinds said: This is a VW fitted tow bar, Westfalia detachable I believe. The breakaway cable head won't go through the attachment point so it has to be looped round. Use a suitable sized shackle, loop the breakaway cable through the shackle first then fit the pin through the casting to secure the shackle, job done. Quote Living the dream, well more of a nightmare if the truth be known ~ Griff Wheels at the front ~ Discovery 4 Towing Machine Wheels at the back ~ 4 of ‘em Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leedslad Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 Here's my VW foldaway towbar and the clip which I use with it - with no problems. No rattling shackle to fret about! Quote Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does, he'll tell you. If he doesn't, why humiliate him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrchiggles Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 We changed to an E-Pace this year with the factory fitted towbar. There is an eye for the cable but I can't fit the clip at the end of the cable through the eye...should I be asking for it to be changed when I have my service? Seems odd that it shouldn't just work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leedslad Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 7 minutes ago, mrchiggles said: We changed to an E-Pace this year with the factory fitted towbar. There is an eye for the cable but I can't fit the clip at the end of the cable through the eye...should I be asking for it to be changed when I have my service? Seems odd that it shouldn't just work? Breakaway cables are very easy to fit. Just buy one which suits the eye on your towball. John. Quote Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does, he'll tell you. If he doesn't, why humiliate him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tradewinds Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the helpful comments. Just had a look at two caribiner's ( spares in my garage) and neither fit the VW tow bar. However the hook eyes on the cables are different sizes. I assumed that all cables had the same size hook eyes so looks like I will need to find one that does fit my tow bar. Edited May 9, 2019 by Tradewinds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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