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121
Correct, secure loading of the roof rack will
prevent items from shifting or falling off
during the journey.
Drive smoothly and avoid violent accelera-
tion, braking or cornering.
Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
When a trailer is towed, the demands on
both car and driver are more severe.
A trailer reduces manoeuvrability, the
ability to climb hills, acceleration and
braking capacity and makes the car handle
and corner differently.
The trailer load limit and the permissible
trailer towbar downthrust are given in
Technical data, see page 292. The trailer
load limit is also recorded in the car's regis-
tration documents. Consult a BMW Service
regarding increased trailer weights.
Trailer tow hitch
*
The suspension settings of your BMW
afford optimum safety, ride comfort and
sports performance.
If a trailer tow hitch is fitted by the manufac-
turer, the vehicle will be equipped with
uprated suspension
*
at the rear as
standard. This compensates for the weight
of the tow hitch and also ensures optimum
road behaviour when the trailer is not being
towed.
If a trailer tow hitch is retrofitted, it must be
of a type approved by BMW and must be
expertly installed by BMW Service. You are
recommended to have uprated suspension
fitted as well. On models with self-levelling
suspension, the trailer-towing suspension
need not be retrofitted.
BMW does not approve of any other
suspension systems offered by the auto-
motive trade for trailer towing purposes.
Look after a detachable ball end in accord-
ance with the manufacturer's operating
instructions that are supplied with it, to
ensure that it can be fitted and removed
without difficulty.
If a trailer tow hitch is installed, the
self-regenerating action of the rear
bumper system may not be able to take
effect.
<
The use of a stabilising device can be
recommended, particularly if the trailer is a
heavy one. Information can be obtained
from BMW Service.
Cover flap
Removing:
Hold the cover flap for the trailer tow hitch
by the cutout at its base, and pull off to the
rear.
For attaching and removing the ball head,
please see the separate instructions.
Attaching:
Hold the cover cap up against the trim,
push it in the guide and press on fully.
Nose weight
This is the weight which the trailer towbar
exerts downwards on the ball head of the
car's trailer tow hitch it can for example
be measured with bathroom scales.
In Germany: a minimum nose weight of
25 kg (55 lb) is stipulated by law.
The nose weight limit, see page 292,may
not be exceeded, but should always be
utilised to the full, in particular when towing
large, heavy trailers which are prone to
snaking.
The trailer's nose weight affects the towing
vehicle, and must not lead to the car's
gross weight limit or rear axle load limit
being exceeded if a trailer is being towed.
ba.book Page 121 Thursday, December 19, 2002 8:13 PM
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