BMW 3 series estate Plug in hybrid: towing performance

[owlman]

Does anyone tow or know anyone who tows with this BMW or Mercedes C300e estate? I'm interested in a hybrid because we have a charger at home, but on researching these 2 cars, found out that the manufacturers de-tune the 2.0L engine on the hybrids. So how well do these cars tow when the electric motor isn't working and just the de-tuned engine is pulling the caravan and heavy car? I currently have a BMW X1 petrol and Swift Aventura caravan 1462kg, but am up for a change of towcar soon.

 

[AndrewAventura]

I tow with a BMW 330e X drive touring. I am more than delighted by its performance and economy, both solo and towing. Coming from a BMW X1, you'll be very impressed with both. I also pull a Swift Aventura van, though mine's an A4, a bit lighter than yours.
I've read those things about degraded performance when the battery's discharged, but in real life struggle to encounter circumstances when it actually happens. Even when the battery display says 'zero' there is always enough for the electric motor to contribute its share of full power acceleration up to 90mph or so. Which seems enough, since once its up to speed there's plenty of spare power to recharge the battery. Anyway, when towing I usually keep it in Sport mode which ensures that there's always enough battery charge to get you to the top of an Alpine Pass whilst towing.
What I would massively recommend, if you're buying a new or nearly new car (applies to everything, not just BMW), is that you absolutely hold out for one with an original BMW factory installed towbar. It's electrically deployable, which is nice, but these days the main issue is integration with vehicle control software and electronics and I don't believe any aftermarket installer is able to achieve that now.

 

[otherclive]

I tow with a BMW 330e X drive touring. I am more than delighted by its performance and economy, both solo and towing. Coming from a BMW X1, you'll be very impressed with both. I also pull a Swift Aventura van, though mine's an A4, a bit lighter than yours.
I've read those things about degraded performance when the battery's discharged, but in real life struggle to encounter circumstances when it actually happens. Even when the battery display says 'zero' there is always enough for the electric motor to contribute its share of full power acceleration up to 90mph or so. Which seems enough, since once its up to speed there's plenty of spare power to recharge the battery. Anyway, when towing I usually keep it in Sport mode which ensures that there's always enough battery charge to get you to the top of an Alpine Pass whilst towing.
What I would massively recommend, if you're buying a new or nearly new car (applies to everything, not just BMW), is that you absolutely hold out for one with an original BMW factory installed towbar. It's electrically deployable, which is nice, but these days the main issue is integration with vehicle control software and electronics and I don't believe any aftermarket installer is able to achieve that now.

Your comments mirror those of others on the Forum who have experience of towing with PHEV. Even if a motor is slightly detuned, how often is max power really needed on a modern car, and as you confirm the electric support doesn’t disappear completely.

 

[cooky1]

I agree the BMW 330e is an excellent towcar. I personally would not get one with a BMW retractable towbar. Mine failed and it cost almost 1K to replace. 18 months later that one failed as well. Cost me £800 to have it removed and decoded from the car before an aftermarket one was fitted, then another £800 to have a non BMW bar fitted.
My current BMW is a 2022 car and I had an aftermarket towbar fitted with dedicated electrics and everything works perfectly - even the fridge on the van when towing, which is something that a factory fitted BMW towbar often doesn't have.

My brothers BMW also had a factory fitted towbar and it failed last year!

 

[Jcloughie]

I agree the BMW 330e is an excellent towcar. I personally would not get one with a BMW retractable towbar. Mine failed and it cost almost 1K to replace. 18 months later that one failed as well. Cost me £800 to have it removed and decoded from the car before an aftermarket one was fitted, then another £800 to have a non BMW bar fitted.
My current BMW is a 2022 car and I had an aftermarket towbar fitted with dedicated electrics and everything works perfectly - even the fridge on the van when towing, which is something that a factory fitted BMW towbar often doesn't have.

My brothers BMW also had a factory fitted towbar and it failed last year!

Where these failures electrical or physical.

John

 

[cooky1]

Physical. Apparently there is are nylon cogs as part of the mechanism and they can wear and strip so the bar stick either retracted or extended.

 

[owlman]

I tow with a BMW 330e X drive touring. I am more than delighted by its performance and economy, both solo and towing. Coming from a BMW X1, you'll be very impressed with both. I also pull a Swift Aventura van, though mine's an A4, a bit lighter than yours.
I've read those things about degraded performance when the battery's discharged, but in real life struggle to encounter circumstances when it actually happens. Even when the battery display says 'zero' there is always enough for the electric motor to contribute its share of full power acceleration up to 90mph or so. Which seems enough, since once its up to speed there's plenty of spare power to recharge the battery. Anyway, when towing I usually keep it in Sport mode which ensures that there's always enough battery charge to get you to the top of an Alpine Pass whilst towing.
What I would massively recommend, if you're buying a new or nearly new car (applies to everything, not just BMW), is that you absolutely hold out for one with an original BMW factory installed towbar. It's electrically deployable, which is nice, but these days the main issue is integration with vehicle control software and electronics and I don't believe any aftermarket installer is able to achieve that now.

Thanks for that Andrew, it's reassuring to know so is your a diesel or petrol? I'm probably going to go for a petrol one in today's market.

 

[AndrewAventura]

Thanks for that Andrew, it's reassuring to know so is your a diesel or petrol? I'm probably going to go for a petrol one in today's market.

All 330e are plug-in petrol hybrid. The petrol engine develops 184hp and the electric motor adds another 109hp.

 

[AndrewAventura]

I agree the BMW 330e is an excellent towcar. I personally would not get one with a BMW retractable towbar. Mine failed and it cost almost 1K to replace. 18 months later that one failed as well. Cost me £800 to have it removed and decoded from the car before an aftermarket one was fitted, then another £800 to have a non BMW bar fitted.
My current BMW is a 2022 car and I had an aftermarket towbar fitted with dedicated electrics and everything works perfectly - even the fridge on the van when towing, which is something that a factory fitted BMW towbar often doesn't have.

My brothers BMW also had a factory fitted towbar and it failed last year!

Eeek! I'll keep my fingers crossed, then, since I'm out of warranty now.

 

[ProfJohnL]

In the last century, caravans were towed successfully by many cars who's BHP were less than 60. And even in those days the advice was to have 40BHP per Ton. In practice you do not need the prodigious power outputs of modern cars. It may be clever, and sometimes fun when on a track day, but the reality is you don't need sub 10 sec 0 to 60 in normal UK driving.

I am confident that as long as the caravan does weigh more than the cars permitted maximum towed weight the any car should be capable of towing. It may not match your expecations in which case you have the wrong expectations.