How Difficult is it

[smiley]

Hi All

Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to take off and replace to new car the towbar and electrics? Plus what new ellectrics would I need?

the car is a ford mondeo. Have been to a garage and the want £375 to do job is that the going rate?

Don't think we could fit it but hopefully if we can take it off it save us £80.

thanks

 

[smiley]

the most expensive was £600 to have one fitted to new car only.

 

[Raywood]

With modern electrics you can do a lot of damage unless you know what you are doing so I would not advise it. £350 seems a reasonable deal as we paid over £400 for ours to be fitted. It took a specialist four hours so if you have not done it before allow all day.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Smiley.
difficult question to answer straight off as there are so many variables involved, I will put a quick list down to give you some idea what I am talking about, but essentialy it is possible to DIY as I have done it several times in the past,
1. first is obvious, have you checked that the old bar will fit new car, subtle differences in models can make a difference for instance the bar for a mk3 may well not fit a mk4, the bar for a saloon may well be different to a hatch or estate.
2. have you enough DIY experience and the correct tools to do the job, (also a workshop manual would be a good idea) as this highlights the order things are removed and replaced plus hidden fastners torque figures ect,
3, are you intending to transfer the whole lot like for like ie electrics same plugs wiring and so on, in this case everything on the old car must be removed relays, feed wires, ect, with a notes attached to the wires where they came from colour codes ect,
4. be aware that modifications may also be required, panels cut (behind the bumper foam) modified or removed and it is allways a good idea to replace old bolts ,nuts ect with new ones,
5. make a mental note of the job in hand before starting (how things are routed like wires?, what goes where? which way round bolts are inserted? things like that.
removing the old one is pretty straight forwards, replacing it is a little more complex but is possible,

ps, I have no idea of the going rate for a new bar if £375 is for fitting the old one thats exessive if its the cost of a new one fully fitted is not too bad, try priceing one for diy fit and see what the labour charge is,

 

[Surfer]

Hi All
Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to take off and replace to new car the towbar and electrics? Plus what new ellectrics would I need?
the car is a ford mondeo. Have been to a garage and the want £375 to do job is that the going rate?
Don't think we could fit it but hopefully if we can take it off it save us £80.
thanks

To fit a towbar onto our 2010 Ford Mondeo estate cost us £240 with a 13 pin plug. We used a mobile technician who came to our residence. We did a search on www.yell.co.uk I think £375 is taking the mickey! Look elsewhere.

 

[smiley]

Hi
I should have said the price does not include a new bar. that is to take old bar off and refitto new car.
Our mondeo is 58, we would most probably leave electrics it's just the towbar we want off.
New car is mondeo but we don't have it yet, it was supposed to be the 10th this month but is now delayed.

As far as we know the floor pan is still the same and no changes made, but if our old one didn't fit we would then have to get a new, which we haven't costed for at all.
So we want to get the bar off ready, there is not panic to refit to new immediately but we would not attempt to refit ourselves.

any help removing would help us
thanks

 

[JohnGriffiths]

I suspect a lot of the cost is going to be removal of the old towbar, they are probably allowing for rusted bolts etc and a new bar won't cost as much. Just leave the old one where it is in my opinion.

 

[Raywood]

Fitting the towbar is not a problem, the holes should be pre drilled in the chasis, its the electrics that need expert attention but £375 to remove and refit the old one looks high but are they quoting for new electrics.

 

[Raywood]

Fitting the towbar is not a problem, the holes should be pre drilled in the chasis, its the electrics that need expert attention, but £375 to remove and refit the old one looks high, but are they quoting for new electrics.

 

[otherclive]

Try getting another quotation to compare prices. But overall I agree with an earlier post that it may be better just to get a new one for the new car. The labour charge getting the old one off will counter act to some extent the cost of a new assembly. But do try alternative quotes for both options.

 

[Sproket]

You can buy a new towbar complete with wiring for you mondeo estate for less than your quote to remove the old towbar.......
A dedicated wiring kit costs more but well worth it

 

[otherclive]

Do you have the spammers and wrenches to properly torque up all of the fasteners?

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Smiley, given the new info, I'm with Raywood leave it alone, unless you intend to sell the old one on fleabay.
10mins on internet found a new one for £77.00 post free. average fitting price with 13pin electrics for a mobile fitter £125/175 plus bar.
or £225 all in, not worth the hassle sorry.
in my original post I assumed you intended to remove and refit yourself to save money, but if you are having part of the work done professonally there is very little that can be saved, and you would probably have to buy new bolts and fastners anyway.considering the cost of a new car, having a bar fitted is quite small.

 

[Steve L]

I agree with the guys, leaving your old tow bar and going for a new bar fitted to your mondeo is the best bet. I have a X type Jag estate which runs on a mondeo floorpan. If you ring your local tow bar supplier rather than a Ford franchise garage , you will get a reasonable quote and a guarantee of satisfaction not only with you, but also your insurance company who you should make aware of the fitment and keep a copy of that letter in your car file.
I regularly cross reference my car against the ford derivative with my local family owned ford specialist garage. They were dropped as a full Ford agent by Ford because they wouldn't spend thousands on a new Ford spec show room. Howenewver, they can supply ford cars new and have a parts department that all operate in many cases better than the official franchise garage just a mile away. Google Watsons motor works to see them or use this link http://www.watsonsmotorworks.co.uk/POWELLc2010

Which ever way you go it is a must that you use the correct socket wiring loom for your new car. Cars today have a lot of delecate wiring looms and computers that have a hissy fit or worse still flames if you try the old school method of sctotch locking behind the rear light clusters.