What's the maximum towing weight for the E34?

4953 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by IvanDias, Jan 22, 2008

ASBO

Discussion Starter · Jan 18, 2008

Right, before you all have a coronary, I'm not about to hitch up and go caravaning :blink:.

What I am considerring however, is towing a track prepped ///M car of some description with my M5 as it happens to have a BMW factory towbar.

Does anyone therefore know what maximum weight the old girl will pull?

Tar,

Asbert.

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D_T_W

· #2 · Jan 18, 2008

Told you, it was only a matter of time

Stevie

· #3 · Jan 18, 2008

Have posted max towing weights for most e34s before, but M5 is 1400kg as per the instruction manual.

ASBO

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 18, 2008

:thumbsup: Cheers.

{Note to self, check owners manual before asking stupid questions on the interweb}

So in theory, one might if one was so inclined, be able to tow a stripped out E36?

cherrsagai

nebpor

· #5 · Jan 18, 2008

Good question - I'm considering traillering my Honda ITR to Spa this year using the M5.

IvanDias

· #6 · Jan 18, 2008

It has been discussed before, I will try and find the thread.

Bear in mind that factory figure is the total including the trailer.

Also, if you are young or maybe have son/daughter as relief driver, check your licence as youngsters are missing the necessary catagory on their newer driving licences (UK) and are limited to lower total weights permitted than us older folk.

Regards

Ivan

Stevie

· #7 · Jan 19, 2008

ASBO said:
:thumbsup: Cheers.

{Note to self, check owners manual before asking stupid questions on the interweb}

So in theory, one might if one was so inclined, be able to tow a stripped out E36?

cherrsagai

Perhaps one might.....

:nono:

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2

Phlem5

· #8 · Jan 20, 2008 (Edited)

nice wheels on that there trailer.

ASBO

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 21, 2008

Stevie said:
Perhaps one might.....

:nono:

That first pic is cooler than a snow man's cold bits though. IIRC that camper is powered by the 3.4l variocam from a 993.

Stevie

· #10 · Jan 21, 2008

ASBO said:
That first pic is cooler than a snow man's cold bits though. IIRC that camper is powered by the 3.4l variocam from a 993.

Nah, that bus is not a Claer. It's member Konstantin using his weekend car to tow his daily in both photo's, as the 728i replaced the T3 2.1 as a daily.

IvanDias

· #11 · Jan 21, 2008 (Edited)

ASBO posted from Aberdeen.

The pictures of the van and car on the trailer are on non-UK plates.

In the UK, a standard driving licence issued before 1997 allows you to pull a trailer and load up to the unladen weight of the vehicle doing the towing, to a combined maximum 8250kg.

That means that the towing of that five series would be illegal on a UK licence as the weight of the trailer and car is more than the towing car (i'd guess)

The van would be legal if its weight with the trailer was less than the E34's factory unladen weight.

Pre-1997 licences are even stricter,

Here's what I found out in a previous post in 2007.

It is normally recommended, but not a legal requirement, that you limit the towing gross weight to a maximum of 85% of the towing vehicles weight.

You can exceed this, up to the maximum towing weight specified by the towing cars manufacturer, but for safety, the 85% rule is good for an unbraked trailer.

The law changed in 1997 with respect to the catagories specified within the standard UK car driving license. The government website is not easy reading.

As far as I can make out, they changed the licensing after 1st Jan 1997.

If you have a post 1st Jan 1997 license, you do not have catagory B+E, you only get B which means you can drive up to:

A 3500kg vehicle with up to eight seats, with a 750kg maximum trailer.

A vehicle and trailer, where the total combination of the trailer, its load to be carried, plus the maximum legal laden weight of the towing car (even if you are driving alone so it's not at this maximum of car + passenger limit) is no more than 3500kg.

That means that most people with a license issued after 1996 will not be allowed to drive a car towing another car on a trailer, unless the car being towed is very light.

(Eg, an E34 M5 weighs about 1750kg, so the max laden weight, I'd guess five passengers at over 120kg each, means roughly 2350kg+, add a trailer, (250kg?), leaves only 900kg for the car. Doh!)

Pre 1997 licences have catagory B+E and retain it, so can drive "Combinations of vehicles consisting of a vehicle in category B and a trailer, where the combination does not come within category B" which isn't very helpful with regards to maximum weight, but presumably the C1E catagory kicks in with it's pre 1997 8250kg maximum weight total. But, also note the caveat that the total weight being towed, trailer plus load, must not be more than the unladen weight of the towing car.

That means that basically you can't tow an E34 with another E34 unless you've stripped more than the weight of the trailer out of the car being trailered about!

Please remember that I hate all rules and am pointing this out not because I care a whit about your personal safety, but do wish you to retain a clean licence.

Regards

Ivan

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beemerchris

· #12 · Jan 21, 2008

Plates on the pictures are munich in germany both cars van and touring seem to be reged taxed and tested. I'm sure the german police would get a fit seeing that. They would for sure get him to drive on a weighing bridge to see if it checks out ok. Not that I would wanna buy the touring but you have to give it to the guy he travels in style.
The whole issue of towed weight is a real pain in the bum. Glad that my licence is from 1984.

Chris

Stevie

· #13 · Jan 21, 2008

beemerchris said:
Plates on the pictures are munich in germany both cars van and touring seem to be reged taxed and tested. I'm sure the german police would get a fit seeing that. They would for sure get him to drive on a weighing bridge to see if it checks out ok.

No they would not have a fit, as German TuV allows higher towing weights to be registered after checking over the car. IIRC this car has a registered maximum towing capacity of 2100kg.

ASBO

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 22, 2008

Hmmm, well seeing as my lisence was issued in 2000, I'd probably better mind how I go.

I'm just curious as to what options I have. Also, seeeing as how I have a towbar, I be aswell use it.

IvanDias

· #15 · Jan 22, 2008

Stevie said:
No they would not have a fit, as German TuV allows higher towing weights to be registered after checking over the car. IIRC this car has a registered maximum towing capacity of 2100kg.

Ah, a sensible option. Germany - Check you and your car, then sign off a heavier limit whilst still being safe. UK - No mate, can't do it. More'n my jobs worth.

Grrr!! I'd buy a 535i or 540i Touring if I could tow the M5 about.

Ivan

IvanDias

· #16 · Jan 22, 2008

ASBO said:
Hmmm, well seeing as my lisence was issued in 2000, I'd probably better mind how I go.

I'm just curious as to what options I have. Also, seeeing as how I have a towbar, I be aswell use it.

The pain in the neck is if you are sharing the driving, eg. Your Dad can drive you halfway, but when you come to take over, your licence doesn't cover it.

Bear in mind you can apply for a test for the missing catagory on your UK and get it added. (The removal was basically a UK Government "safety" issue in that by removing it, you don't get new drivers hauling a theoretical 8 tonnes about!)

Best of luck with all the weight and towing sums.

Regards

Ivan

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