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Help With Towbar

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
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lizzie
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Help With Towbar

Post by lizzie » Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:53 am

Hi clutching at straws here but here goes! I've got a witter detachable towbar but no keys. Have rung witter and they don't carry any spares for my model anymore. I was wondereing if anyone has a 2001 model or any model with the witter detachable towbar and if they would be willing to get a key cut for me. I will pay of course, the barrel no is ACS4 this is actually on the barrel on the towbar itself. Hope someone can help.
Thanks Liz :(

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CondorX5
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by CondorX5 » Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:57 pm

Lizzie, can you take a photo of the detachable part ie the hitch section and post it up? I can't see that there is any great difference as the ones I've seen all look the same and the website states key can be obtained. Is yours locked or can you pull the wheel out and use it? You could take the unit to a reputable locksmith and let them inspect it and cut a key - a good one will be able to do it.
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by lizzie » Thu Sep 02, 2010 2:16 pm

Hi CondorX5
Thanks for your help. Yes can use the towbar but just cannot lock it. Will maybe try a locksmith but Witter don't stock the key for mine anymore as they change the barrels every so often but anyone with ACS4 on their barrel would have the same key as would have come with mine as it is a standard key.

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Motor84
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by Motor84 » Thu Sep 02, 2010 3:30 pm

Hi Lizzie, I had a Witter towbar on mine, sold the car so can't help with a key I'm afraid! But I have seen the detachable towball only pop up on Ebay every now and then. I'm sure the connection to the main unit bolted to the car is the same on all models. Or maybe Witter will sell you just that part, that should come with keys!
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CondorX5
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by CondorX5 » Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:32 pm

I think Westfalia took over from Witter as the official OEM towbar from facelift models on, I could be wrong. It may be helpful to check if the Witter detachable unit is interchangeable with the Westfalia one, as Westfalia detachable units pop up quite often on their own on ebay and sell for anything from £10 - £50 or so - a locksmith doing a bespoke key from the unit wouldn't cost much less.If you can, attend a meet and compare the Witter detachable with someone elses Westfalia unit as it may be easier to find a Westfalia detachable hitch unit than have the key reconstructed from the lock!!!
X5 2005 Le Mans Blue 4.8is
Fully loaded but Now semi-retired! 

X5 2012 Alpine White 40d MSport 21" style 215 black alloys, rear entertainment, media package, comfort seats and a load of other options.

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Sherwood
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by Sherwood » Fri Sep 03, 2010 2:10 pm

I got replacement keys from Westfalia but I did know which keys I needed.

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/itemlist.htm ... 4wodjDF03w

Have you checked that the keys are not in the tool roll or behind either side panel in the boot?
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lizzie
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by lizzie » Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:18 am

Hi just to say thanks for all the help, still keyless but at least it's useable. :)

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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by Motor84 » Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:58 pm

[quote=""sherwood""]Have you checked that the keys are not in the tool roll or behind either side panel in the boot?[/quote]

When I fitted my towbar I discovered just how huge the boot is below the main boot floor with loads of components. There are loads of nooks and crannies the keys could be hiding, I almost dropped mine down there a few times. :o
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MarkFrome
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by MarkFrome » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:52 pm

Hih Liz

I am just about to list an acs4 Witter towbar (with 2 keys) on eBay; the auction will run for 10 days (my eBay name is fiftyshilling-tailor), so you could either bid on the towbar or get a key copied before I sell it; I am in Frome. Cheers, Mark.

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Help With Towbar

Post by lizzie » Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:43 pm

Hi Mark
Thanks for that. I'm not going to be able to get to Frome to get a key cut. If you were able to get one cut I would be willing to pay for it and postage. Could pay you through paypal, don't know whether this is an option? But thanks for letting me know. Liz


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lezmtaylor
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by lezmtaylor » Wed Oct 13, 2010 2:18 pm

I would of thought that Mark would get a key cut and take up LIzzie's offer or just send her the spare key for a nominal payment.
That is what I thought this forum was about.
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Re: Help With Towbar

Post by Sherwood » Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:20 pm

How do we know it's the same key?
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lizzie
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Help With Towbar

Post by lizzie » Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:52 pm

When I rang witter they used sell spare keys and they were all the same that matched the ACS4 barrel. So anyone with a witter towbar and ACS4 on the barrel then that key will fit mine. One key fits all.
Thanks Liz

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