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[aaronjb]

I realise this might be a bit 'how long is a piece of string', but does anyone know if a pre-facelift Estate towbar (on a diesel) is likely to fit a post-facelift (V6)?

If not, I won't bother pulling the bar off the tractor, otherwise.. I will

[Andy B]

I realise this might be a bit 'how long is a piece of string', but does anyone know if a pre-facelift Estate towbar (on a diesel) is likely to fit a post-facelift (V6)?

If not, I won't bother pulling the bar off the tractor, otherwise.. I will

This assumes that estate rear bumpers are like the saloon's ie deeper.
If the prefacelift towbar was designed specifically for an early car, then the ball will be very close to the facelift bumper.

[Welung666]

The bumpers are deeper on a facelift, it will fit but the hitch will get close to the paintwork on the bumper. Get one of these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOWBAR-TOWBALL-TOWING-SPACER-PLATE-25mm-/120618816768?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item1c15711500

[Andy B]

The bumpers are deeper on a facelift, it will fit but the hitch will get close to the paintwork on the bumper. Get one of these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOWBAR-TOWBALL-TOWING-SPACER-PLATE-25mm-/120618816768?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item1c15711500

but what if it's a swan neck?          

[Welung666]

The bumpers are deeper on a facelift, it will fit but the hitch will get close to the paintwork on the bumper. Get one of these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOWBAR-TOWBALL-TOWING-SPACER-PLATE-25mm-/120618816768?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item1c15711500

but what if it's a swan neck?          

Good point

[aaronjb]

Cheers guys - it's not fancy enough to be a swan neck (it's rather industrial looking - to be fair it will somewhat ruin the back of the Elite!), but I don't think the FL bumper is deeper on the Estate, so it might well fit straight off.

Thanks, seems it's worth crawling under the car on Saturday then

[Seth]

The bumpers are deeper on a facelift, it will fit but the hitch will get close to the paintwork on the bumper. Get one of these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOWBAR-TOWBALL-TOWING-SPACER-PLATE-25mm-/120618816768?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item1c15711500

And one of these: http://www.towsure.com/product/2792-Stainless_Bumper_Guard
 

[Welung666]

Cheers guys - it's not fancy enough to be a swan neck (it's rather industrial looking - to be fair it will somewhat ruin the back of the Elite!), but I don't think the FL bumper is deeper on the Estate, so it might well fit straight off.

Thanks, seems it's worth crawling under the car on Saturday then

It is, roughly [ch8541]"

[aaronjb]

Cheers guys - it's not fancy enough to be a swan neck (it's rather industrial looking - to be fair it will somewhat ruin the back of the Elite!), but I don't think the FL bumper is deeper on the Estate, so it might well fit straight off.

Thanks, seems it's worth crawling under the car on Saturday then

It is, roughly [ch8541]"

Ahh.. apparently I need to recalibrate my Eyeball Mk1

[Welung666]

Cheers guys - it's not fancy enough to be a swan neck (it's rather industrial looking - to be fair it will somewhat ruin the back of the Elite!), but I don't think the FL bumper is deeper on the Estate, so it might well fit straight off.

Thanks, seems it's worth crawling under the car on Saturday then

It is, roughly [ch8541]"

Ahh.. apparently I need to recalibrate my Eyeball Mk1

It might be because you're used to working in milimetres

[aaronjb]

   

[Entwood]

If you are thinking about sticking a old towbar on a FL .. DON'T .. it is technically illegal..

All towbars fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 August 1998 MUST be "type approved" for specific cars ... and I'm pretty sure a PFL bar is NOT approved for a FL

Towbars are now part of the MOT (if fitted), so any "gash" fittings may well cause failures, and an insurance company may well have "wriggle room" if an un-approved bar is used.

The information I have been given, which may be wrong, is that only VOSA inspectors will have the resources and knowledge to declare a towbar "unfit" if it is not type approved... MOT's will NOT check for type approval...

HTH

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/towbars/type_approval.aspx

HTH

[aaronjb]

Ah. Hm. Bugger.

I suppose someone had to invent some legislation to keep the towbar manufacturers in business

[robson]

I fitted a bumper guard to my facelift but it masked some of the number plate so I took it off Dont want to give the police a reason to stop me .My 1996 omega did not show this problem ( number plate higher or bumper lower)