Z3 Registered < 1st Aug 98 VIN plate towing?

Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan

Newbie
Joined
Aug 15, 2016
Points
4
I'm thinking of getting a Z3 and one of the many things in its favour are that I think I could possibly (legally) tow a small, lightweight sailing boat with it.

I think two things are critical for this:
  1. The car will have to be registered before 1 August 1998 as after this date the towbar has to be EU type approved which I understand BMW didn't do, however, provided I get a car that is earlier than that date this is fine.
  2. The VIN plate on the car will need to allow towing (useful details here : http://www.towbarexpress.co.uk/maximum-towing-weight ).
So my question is please on the 2nd point, would any pre 1 Aug 1998 registered Z3 owners be able to look at their VIN plate and tell me what the second number is please? An example from an Audi would look like this :

vin-plate.jpg


It's this second number that the police or DVLA inspectors check if stopped not the handbook so it's the important detail I think. Does the Z3 of the age I'm thinking of have a Gross Train Mass specified? Thanks.
 
Chris Ryan said:
.........
So my question is please on the 2nd point, would any pre 1 Aug 1998 registered Z3 owners be able to look at their VIN plate and tell me what the second number is please?.........
Click to expand...

Can have a look at mine later today ( 1.9 M44 - 12/97 build - 04/98 registered) if nobody else comes up with info.

EDIT . Just found it on an old photo

IMG_1535.webp
 
Last edited:
Thanks Stevo & Jonco.

So from the plate above :

1490kg - Gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload.

2765kg - Gross train weight, the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.

750kg & 820kg - Maximum axle loads front and rear respectively.

The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. The vehicle identification plate detailed in the above picture has a towing capacity of 1275kg. That's a generous limit, I'm guessing probably the car's kerb weight, I would be towing well within that but good to know.

2765kg – 1490kg = 1275kg

If you won't mind checking the gross train weight on yours Jonco, just as a double check for a car in the timeframe that would be super.

Brilliant, so I think the hunt for a Z3 is on. Looks like I could tow a boat when needed. I think there is some fun to be had!
 
Welcome Chris!
The Zed should look sexy with a bike or a boat trailer! Can't wait to see it!
Glad you joined the forum!
Dan
 
I've seen a couple of UK Z3's with tow bars, as to whether they are type approved or not. Seen US zeds with tow bars though.

Struggling to find the UK pictures though, but plenty of US zeds towing stuff.
 
Thanks guys. Great to know there is a friendly and knowledgeable bunch of people on this forum.
 
Chris Ryan said:
...........
If you won't mind checking the gross train weight on yours Jonco, just as a double check for a car in the timeframe that would be super.
Click to expand...
Sorry Chris I don't understand what you mean. My plate info in the edited pic is the same as Stevo7682's, except for rear axle which is 10kg less - presume the difference is due to the facelift upgrade. HTH
 
Hi Jonco, I posted that comment before you uploaded or I noticed your photo.
Yes, yours is the same 1275kg towing limit I calculate. Thanks, Chris
 
Chris Ryan said:
Hi Jonco, I posted that comment before you uploaded or I noticed your photo.
Yes, yours is the same 1275kg towing limit I calculate. Thanks, Chris
Click to expand...
Chris another point i would make just now is that both cars are 1.9 so hopefully another member with a 6cyl engine can post some info tow limit may be higher on the larger engines
 
Don't think you will find anyone manufactures a tow bar for the Z3 if anyone has fitted one I would expect that they have custom built one. If you have to go down that road it probably means you have to remove the spare wheel and its carrier from under the car to get a tow bar in.
 
I saw a U.K. Car years ago (black 3.0l) for sale and it had a tow bar for a jet ski.
 
Stevo7682 said:
Chris another point i would make just now is that both cars are 1.9 so hopefully another member with a 6cyl engine can post some info tow limit may be higher on the larger engines
Click to expand...
Or lower! Usualy the bigger engines are heavyer so could decrease the trailer weight. I'm curious if it's so!
 
Brian4 said:
BMW did make a tow bar so it might even be type approved.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CN52-EUR-06-2000-Z3-BMW-Z3_30i&diagId=03_1069
Click to expand...

That's good to know. It looks like my assumption that to tow I would be limited to cars registered earlier than 1 Aug 98 due to type approval is probably incorrect and provided the second figure is stated on the VIN plate (gross train weight) has a value then we are all good to tow.

Can anyone confirm, that later cars (to 2002 51 Reg) also have a gross train weight stated (second figure on the VIN plate)?
 
I take it you have had a look at the regulations here https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weight-and-width-limits.
It seems to be that unless the train weight is displayed on the Vin plate the vehicle should not be used for towing if you have a train weight on the Vin plate then it must have an approved towbar fitted unless
your car was first used before 1 August 1998, your tow bar doesn’t need to be type-approved as you previously stated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top