C5 X7 Tourer 2.2HDI/170 - towbar installation again

[navnet]

Hello everyone.

I am installing a towbar to my C5 x7 2.2HDI/170 and I have a few questions. I bought a new towbar, which according to the catalog fits all C5 X7 Tourers, except "GT 2.2 HDI". I do not know the "GT" version with this engine, but I noticed what the problem is. The left bracket (marked with an arrow in the photo below) originally almost touches the muffler.



The towbar manufacturer wrote in the instructions "one exhaust pipe", but I assumed that he meant the version with a wide muffler and two exhaust pipes on both sides of the rear of the car. To prevent the vibrating muffler from hitting the towbar, I modified the bracket by bent on a press brake (8mm thick sheet metal) and everything fits.




I would like to ask about the electrical installation. I bought a used BSC A0100 module and I want to use it, using the 6-pin electrical connector and the adapter for the module. Please help me determine whether BSC 0100 will work with my BSI. VIN: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] and what is the correct wiring diagram for this VIN.




Please also advise whether the module can directly power the "stop" lamp in the trailer from output 6 (21A0), or does it have to be a relay (the famous double relay 8801 on the wiring diagram).

I will add that the car will only tow standard trailers with a 13-pin plug, so +12V is not needed.

[wurlycorner]

Hi
What brand of towbar did you buy and how did you get on with this installation in the end (electrics and bumper fit)?

I'm looking into fitting a towbar to my X7 3.0 V6 and - in reference to the first part of your post - as far as I can make out online, the 3.0 V6 and 2.2 HDi need a different towbar to all the rest of the range - because of the exhaust being different on those two engines and/or because of the battery being in the boot (rather than in the engine bay).
Given you had a clash, I assume you bought a towbar for all the other models and have evidently then worked your way round the clash?

The 3.0/2.2 towbars seem to cost more than the model that fits all the rest of the range. I bet they justify that by lower volume of sales for that type, but it's annoying, because I suspect (?) the design that fits the 3.0 and 2.2 WOULD fit the rest of the range - so they should have dropped the original design and just gone with the second revised design for all, to get volume up and price down!

[GiveMeABreak]

Hello everyone.

I am installing a towbar to my C5 x7 2.2HDI/170 and I have a few questions. I bought a new towbar, which according to the catalog fits all C5 X7 Tourers, except "GT 2.2 HDI". I do not know the "GT" version with this engine, but I noticed what the problem is. The left bracket (marked with an arrow in the photo below) originally almost touches the muffler.

The towbar manufacturer wrote in the instructions "one exhaust pipe", but I assumed that he meant the version with a wide muffler and two exhaust pipes on both sides of the rear of the car. To prevent the vibrating muffler from hitting the towbar, I modified the bracket by bent on a press brake (8mm thick sheet metal) and everything fits.

I would like to ask about the electrical installation. I bought a used BSC A0100 module and I want to use it, using the 6-pin electrical connector and the adapter for the module. Please help me determine whether BSC 0100 will work with my BSI. VIN: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] and what is the correct wiring diagram for this VIN.

Please also advise whether the module can directly power the "stop" lamp in the trailer from output 6 (21A0), or does it have to be a relay (the famous double relay 8801 on the wiring diagram).

I will add that the car will only tow standard trailers with a 13-pin plug, so +12V is not needed.

Sorry, only just seen this post. I can only provide you with the official Towbar and Official Electrical Harness part numbers that are listed for the specific vehicle. The electrical harness will include the BSU (trailer Fuse Box) that is specific for the vehicle being fitted.

The 13 Channel Electrical Harness is part: 9428F6 and includes the relevant Trainer Fuse box in the kit.
The Fuse box is available separately and is part: 9688EL.

This is the Sales info provided for the electrical Harness 9428F6:

• This harness is particularly suitable for providing the lighting supply to trailers or cycle-carriers on tow bars.
• This harness has been developed to incorporate all of the vehicle special features.
• It also provides an electrical supply to the fog lights and reversing lights.
• Comes with a 13-way socket to correspond to the trailer socket.
• It incorporates all the features needed for good compatibility with this vehicle and is SAFE, RELIABLE and EASY to fit.
• The functionality of the harness will be obtained by configuration of the BSI (fitting by the network is imperative).

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi
What brand of towbar did you buy and how did you get on with this installation in the end (electrics and bumper fit)?

I'm looking into fitting a towbar to my X7 3.0 V6 and - in reference to the first part of your post - as far as I can make out online, the 3.0 V6 and 2.2 HDi need a different towbar to all the rest of the range - because of the exhaust being different on those two engines and/or because of the battery being in the boot (rather than in the engine bay).
Given you had a clash, I assume you bought a towbar for all the other models and have evidently then worked your way round the clash?

The 3.0/2.2 towbars seem to cost more than the model that fits all the rest of the range. I bet they justify that by lower volume of sales for that type, but it's annoying, because I suspect (?) the design that fits the 3.0 and 2.2 WOULD fit the rest of the range - so they should have dropped the original design and just gone with the second revised design for all, to get volume up and price down!

Iain

The specific harness for your vehicle is part: 9428F8 (Different to the other person above).
Swan's Neck Towbar is part: 9427CX
Towbar that can be removed without Tools is part: 9427EA

Trailer Fuse box is as I mentioned in the earlier post - compatible with the vehicle's ESP systems that enables a special mode when towing.

[wurlycorner]

Thank you Marc, much appreciated.

[TwoSee5s]

I have finished tow bar instalation on my 3.0hdi tourer TWIN EXHAUSTS......Brink part no. 482100 bought from PF Jones fits superbly.
I spent months of being told no towbar available and ours might fit but we havent seen that model.
Hope this helps.
Also my exhaust box hangers were very corroded part no.1755RS..got 2 on Autodoc part 231-950 1/3 of price from citroen

[wurlycorner]

That’s good news and thanks for the update.

[Repmoj]

Thanks for that update. I have the twin exhaust 2.2 diesel and also came to the conclusion (after a ton of googling) that the Brink 482100 should fit. I still haven't found the correct harness though... Shame that the parts finding service stopped just as I bought the car.

[navnet]

I hadn't noticed that this discussion had progressed so much! Just to add some more info: the towbar I installed on my 2.2 HDi is made by a Polish company called Auto-Hak (from Słupsk) – they’ve been manufacturing towbars for years. It’s the basic P-33 version, which cost around €150. It’s a very solid bit of kit. They also offer the P33A and P33V versions with detachable tow balls.

Regarding the towbar module and the wiring: I used a second-hand OEM module (as seen in my previous photos), but I built the wiring loom myself using heavy-duty multi-core cable typically used in industrial automation (Helukabel).

The only real challenge was sourcing a trailer socket equipped with a microswitch (the sensor that detects a trailer plug). I could only find sockets with an NC (Normally Closed) switch, which required a small modification. I know some people just install a hidden manual switch in the boot for towing mode, but if you skip this switch entirely, the BSI won't monitor the trailer's indicators or deactivate the rear parking sensors (PDC). It could also affect the stability control logic (ESP), as the car needs to 'know' it’s towing a load.

A quick note on the brake light relay (8801) shown in the wiring diagrams: it's not actually necessary. Instead, you can simply bridge the three outputs from the module and run a direct wire to the lamps. The car has been towing frequently for over a year now, and everything works perfectly.

I’m well aware that you can just buy a ready-made OEM loom, but as a service technician for CNC machines and industrial automation, doing that would have been an insult to my professional pride!

[wurlycorner]

Thanks for updating and glad you got a solution you're happy with - well done on the DIY/professional pride

[MattBLancs]

Excellent, thanks for the update. I will add links to my thread with some more pictures of towbar install onto my 2.2 HDi X7 tourer.

[MattBLancs]

I'm looking into fitting a towbar to my X7 3.0 V6 and - in reference to the first part of your post - as far as I can make out online, the 3.0 V6 and 2.2 HDi need a different towbar to all the rest of the range - because of the exhaust being different on those two engines and/or because of the battery being in the boot (rather than in the engine bay).

Just to answer this bit:

V6 HDi battery in the boot, but 2.2 HDi it's in the engine bay.

The V6 HDi has, I think, twin err, pretend, chrome exhaust tips (actually part of the bumper) I wonder if the "2.2 HDi GT" mentioned got the same bumper treatment with the fake exhausts??

My 2009 had the single silencer with twin tailpipes as per the pictures - completely hidden, no embellishment on the bumper

[MattBLancs]

Excellent, thanks for the update. I will add links to my thread with some more pictures of towbar install onto my 2.2 HDi X7 tourer.

Can't lay my hands in the right thread, so I'll add them here directly:
(Also some fixing of broken plastics - hence the pop rivets and bits of scrap aluminium)

I didn't have the exhaust fouling issue - it's pretty close but never clanged against it.