[StevieC]

Thought I'd give this a thread of its own and focus on the coding issue & dealer customer service.

Hmmm.. got dealer to fit OEM towbar Yesterday. Dealer can't get towbar coded in. Says all connected correctly but cannot get coded in correctly.
Says VW's diags and coding PC must connect and link with VW Aus server to correctly code towbar / accessories in. Suspects there is comms issue with VW australia.

Claims tried 3 times both via bluetooth and USB cables direct to car. Their PC talks to car begins coding process and only gets half way through before process stops.

I guess its conceivable their diags connects to VW for online data and updates etc I guess VW would be interested to keep track of vehicles and what options they have etc, but I'm suprised just to code in a towbar? Hadn't heard that one before.

Dealer says has logged issue with VW tech support... should get reply today.

Yesterday picked up car with tow bar fitted to car but have to take it back to get coded in when they have heard back from VW.

What do you think?
Also had a fire side chat with the service admin person about the value of calling people back even if there is no further news (as they nodded profusely in agreement)...

tic toc....Today... You guessed it..... no call or update at all from dealer / person whom promised to get back to me today...:roll: Theres more to say but I'm giving them the opportunity to get back to me tomorrow morning.

 

[noobytoogy]

Take a cactus in with you and shove it up his arse. He'll remember to call you next time!

 

[Ocean TV]

BE nice to know the dealer, so we can all give them a miss.

What was the actual install like, does it look ok, and what was the cost?

I want to get a towbar on my new 2013, but I am waiting until I hear a good dealer who knows what they are doing.

 

[AngryofMayfair]

I'm in the same situation, just bought a 2011 Touareg V6TDI to tow a caravan but currently very dismayed to get a quote of $3300 from my local VW shop to supply and fit a (Hayman-Reece) towing kit. This includes all electrics (LED buffer box and electric brake control) but still seems excessive to me?
So much to learn about fitting tow bars to VW's - these things are a mainframe computer on 4 wheels, it's tempting to just let VW do the whole lot so I am sure it's all under warranty etc but the rip-off price has caused me to join this forum and seek help and opinions - all of which I will be very grateful of!

 

[Colin G]

I'm in the same situation, just bought a 2011 Touareg V6TDI to tow a caravan but currently very dismayed to get a quote of $3300 from my local VW shop to supply and fit a (Hayman-Reece) towing kit. This includes all electrics (LED buffer box and electric brake control) but still seems excessive to me?
So much to learn about fitting tow bars to VW's - these things are a mainframe computer on 4 wheels, it's tempting to just let VW do the whole lot so I am sure it's all under warranty etc but the rip-off price has caused me to join this forum and seek help and opinions - all of which I will be very grateful of!

If you have a look around in here there are many answers to tow bar problems $3300 is to expensive for a hayman reece bar considering they are about $900 to buy outright you would get a genuine bar and electrics cheaper than that i would get a hayman reece dealer to fit the bar and vw to fit up the electrics for you, the genuine electrics dont need an led load box
Colin

 

[CADman_ks]

I'm in the same situation, just bought a 2011 Touareg V6TDI to tow a caravan but currently very dismayed to get a quote of $3300 from my local VW shop to supply and fit a (Hayman-Reece) towing kit. This includes all electrics (LED buffer box and electric brake control) but still seems excessive to me?
...

And I thought that our quoted prices of $1500 in the states was WAY too much!!

That amount just isn't right!! OUCH!!!

 

[AngryofMayfair]

Thanks Colin, yes I think I will be going in that direction. It's all very confusing, Berwick VW quoted me the $3300 and they told me they use the Hayman-Reece dealer (Ford) next door. Frankston VW have quoted me $2200 for what they say is a 'genuine' VW tow bar and the LED buffer box, they won't supply and fit the electric brake controller.
It seems both dealers are saying I will need this LED Buffer box of tricks to stop error messages about blown lamps coming up on the Touareg.
So Frankston VW is looking the better deal but still expensive and then I need to find a brake controller and auto-electrician (or VW Berwick) to fit it.
I also read somewhere on the internet that the genuine VW bar is a vertical rather than horizontal hitch which means that it won't take sway or weight distribution bars?
All of this is total double-dutch to me right now - still working my way through the relevant threads in this forum, which is a superb resource BTW, many thanks.

 

[Colin G]

Thanks Colin, yes I think I will be going in that direction. It's all very confusing, Berwick VW quoted me the $3300 and they told me they use the Hayman-Reece dealer (Ford) next door. Frankston VW have quoted me $2200 for what they say is a 'genuine' VW tow bar and the LED buffer box, they won't supply and fit the electric brake controller.
It seems both dealers are saying I will need this LED Buffer box of tricks to stop error messages about blown lamps coming up on the Touareg.
So Frankston VW is looking the better deal but still expensive and then I need to find a brake controller and auto-electrician (or VW Berwick) to fit it.
I also read somewhere on the internet that the genuine VW bar is a vertical rather than horizontal hitch which means that it won't take sway or weight distribution bars?
All of this is total double-dutch to me right now - still working my way through the relevant threads in this forum, which is a superb resource BTW, many thanks.

Although its expensive ford charge $4000 for a bar on a territory these days i am told if you go H.R. you may loose warranty thats there threat any way you have options go H.R. or go VW and cut the tounge off and have an engineer weld a box hitch on the other is to have a 2010 Touareg bar fitted with the latest electronics and all will work as it should which is what i have done to mine. Get your tekonsha p3 off ebay for $149 and have an auto elec install it for you as for WDH most in here say they havent needed it as yet, you wont need led load box with the new electronics its already taken care of thats why i say have a look at other posts in here as most of this has been dicused good luck
Colin

 

[roalco]

VW makes both vertical and horizontal receiver hitch frame members for the Touareg, different markets...
With a factory hitch member you get full load rating, warranty coverage, and the two rated factory recovery points.
If VW Aus can't get you a horizontal unit, get one from the states shipped down. Might not be that much of a cost difference.

 

[gazaflash]

I had the factory "horizontal type" towbar fitted when the car was built in Europe. No hassle, works correctly normal VW warranty, same trailer load and tongue capacity and was $750 (CAD) option. Works out cheaper in the long run. I have heard of other people complaining of the VW price, but paying more installing aftermarket towbar, not so much the price of the towbar itself, more the cost of the electrics, coding, installation, etc...
Colin G is correct. From 2011, all Touareg electrics have been modified so that you do not have to add a load line for a LED type trailer electrics.
Hope you get your rig fitted without too much hassle.

 

[relster]

With a factory hitch member you get full load rating, warranty coverage, and the two rated factory recovery points.

What are these "rated factory recovery points" you speak of? Is that an AUS thing only?

 

[roalco]

They are the towing/recovery points at each corner of your treg (4, 2 on front bumper, 2 on rear bumper) you thread the (left hand thread) forged tow/recovery eyes into them. VW only supplies one or sometimes two eyes with the vehicle, but some of us carry four, just in case!
The aftermarket hitch cross-members will not have the receptacles.

 

[relster]

They are the towing/recovery points at each corner of your treg (4, 2 on front bumper, 2 on rear bumper) you thread the (left hand thread) forged tow/recovery eyes into them. VW only supplies one or sometimes two eyes with the vehicle, but some of us carry four, just in case!
The aftermarket hitch cross-members will not have the receptacles.

Oh, so it's just the normal four towing eye threaded holes in the bumpers - I wasn't sure if it was something special that specifically said it was rated for recovery options.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm going to see if I can get my dealer to give me one extra (two total) towing eye this weekend at my 1 month check-up, and then I'll think about picking up a couple more to be prepared in sticky situations

 

[Colin G]

Sorry Stevie you original post got hyjacked a bit i would go to another dealer if possible and have them turn the trailer module on with my car they plugged into vagcom did an analysis found trailer module and then turned on the trailer circuits required it took about three minutes and was all done
Colin

 

[AngryofMayfair]

My apologies to Stevie (OP) for hi-jacking your thread - thanks all for the really useful info, will let you know how it all works out...

 

[StevieC]

I have received some followup calls from VW HQ and the dealer. They are keen to see the issue resolved. Am booked in Tuesday morning to get this tow bar /module coded in. Shall keep you posted.

 

[StevieC]

Can now report that I picked up the Touareg from the dealer yesterday and the coding issue was fixed. Turned out to be an fault with a connector in the loom on the Tow bar kit.

I appreciate VW HQ assistance and dealers work to get this issue resolved.

 

[StevieC]

Hitched up the rig today to test the OEM tow bar etc. Needless to say the caravan has LED lighting all round and it worked perfectly without any additional module that the dealer tried to sell me, even though I told him that the latest software in the 2013 dosn't need it.

The additional load on the back of the car was immediately raised by the air suspension the moment the drivers door was opened. Loaded up its about 2100kgs to tug along.
The auto-tailgate is disabled when connected, and that shall be dealt with in due course. A completely unnecessary disablement.


Given the caravan has air suspension as well the whole rig floats on air.

 

[AngryofMayfair]

That looks really great!
It weird that VW disable the hatch lift eh….
Does it also disable the lane and side assist?

Still looking for the right van to tow - went to the show at Morwell today and saw some nice stuff.
Wondering why the Touareg tow ball capacity is 140kg in the rest of the world compared to 280kg here down under - wonder what they did to double the rating?

 

[GazzaK]

Hi Stevie,
Looks fantastic and good news about the fix regarding the coding issue. I've read your posts on the other forum about your van, it sounds like you put alot of thought into it and I especially like the idea of air suspension on the van.
BTW, what type of plug did the dealer supply with the tow bar. My dealer will be putting as he describes a "13 pin plug with 1 pin being a blank". I must say, I haven't heard about 13 pin plugs before.