XC90 retractable tow bar (dealer fit)

[thisisbeaker]

Hi All. Has anyone has a retractable tow bar fitted to their XC90? We have a bike carrier that we can't use at the moment. I'd put bikes on the roof, but we also have a roof box as we don't travel light!

East London Volvo has quoted £1125 but will knock 10% off if I take a service plan with them.

Thanks!

[Baconbaronen]

Originally Posted by thisisbeaker

Hi All. Has anyone has a retractable tow bar fitted to their XC90? We have a bike carrier that we can't use at the moment. I'd put bikes on the roof, but we also have a roof box as we don't travel light!

East London Volvo has quoted £1125 but will knock 10% off if I take a service plan with them.

Thanks!

Yes, we’ve got it on ours, what’s your question?

[thisisbeaker]

Ah yes. Would have been helpful to ask a specific question! I guess it would be what (if any) difference is there between a retro/dealer fit versus a factory one?

[Wizzpop]

Originally Posted by thisisbeaker

Ah yes. Would have been helpful to ask a specific question! I guess it would be what (if any) difference is there between a retro/dealer fit versus a factory one?

I think you will find all towbars are dealer fit. Certainly the one on my V60 was fitted by the dealer before handover.

[Whyman]

Volvo price on a new car is £1075 so must be some room for negotiation.

Service plans can be expensive if you take the dealer one but Volvo do a 3 years and 5 year deal can be good value if you can get one!

[nu11eaf]

As mentioned above even new cars ordered with a tow bar do not have them fitted by the factory, the dealer always fits them before handover.
You should be able to get a small discount without buying another product, especially from your supplying dealer. Just ask for it.
The retractable tow bar is a very good product but wasted if you are only using it for a bike rack, but they do look better when not in use, remember if you used a rack with lighting, once plugged in BLISS is deactivated.

[thisisbeaker]

Thanks everyone for the insights and comments. Agree with @nu11eaf that fitting one would be a case of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, given it's just for a bike carrier. I am a bit of a neat freak though, so like the idea of it looking much better! Might hinge on what level of discount I could get!

[Philip Fisher]

As NU11EAF said, the retractable is very neat and very swish when it drops out from under the bumper.

You can impress people by standing astride the middle of the bumper and pressing the button. The tow bar then swings out between your legs making it look like you are hung like a donkey!

[warwick]

Best to ask for a dealer fit, I asked for a factory fit where it was actually fitted I don`t know but never been 100% happy with the electrics and whilst the dealer has looked at it, he did`nt fit it. For some reason mine has always interrupted the supply to the ATC so on connection it self checks then starting the engine it again self checks.

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by warwick

Best to ask for a dealer fit, I asked for a factory fit where it was actually fitted I don`t know but never been 100% happy with the electrics and whilst the dealer has looked at it, he did`nt fit it. For some reason mine has always interrupted the supply to the ATC so on connection it self checks then starting the engine it again self checks.

They all do that, power is sapped by starter, the 12 volt socket does the same when you start the engine, you can here a phone go back on charge after engine starts.
The power supply to the caravan is strange on the spa cars, it shuts down and you sometimes have to open the car door to wake it up or turn start switch to get the self check to start.