Towing Hook

[1199Panigale]

No I'm in NZ, would that make a difference?

[doodlebug]

Yes....it's not available from the factory in the UK.

[PetrolDave]

Yes....it's not available from the factory in the UK.

Neither the B7 RS4 nor the B8 RS4 have been homologated with the tow bar and in the EU it's illegal to fit a towbar if the vehicle hasn't been homologated with a towbar.

I guess the rules are less strict in NZ?

[1199Panigale]

Ok now I'm confused. My tow hook was supplied as a genuine part by the dealer and I had to wait a few weeks for a special wiring loom to come from Germany so the electrics on the trailer would work correctly and not interfer with the on board electrics in my RS4. I have managed to take the attached photo of the label on the tounge of the tow bar, it was very difficult to take and I couldn't get my iPhone to focus correctly but you should get the idea.

[PetrolDave]

Ok now I'm confused. My tow hook was supplied as a genuine part by the dealer and I had to wait a few weeks for a special wiring loom to come from Germany so the electrics on the trailer would work correctly and not interfer with the on board electrics in my RS4. I have managed to take the attached photo of the label on the tounge of the tow bar, it was very difficult to take and I couldn't get my iPhone to focus correctly but you should get the idea.

So what you have is a genuine Audi part - it's just that it's illegal for it to be fitted to an RS4 in the EU (because Audi didn't think it was worth the extra cost of the homologation testing with a towbar fitted on the RS4).

But that doesn't mean it isn't 100% fit for purpose and legal in other countries, such as NZ.

[mikeyw]

tried several dealers and third party and none would supply or fit here in the UK. Shame as I only wanted to use my bike carrier.

[Ian_C]

Same with the S3 8V. Not homologated. Daft when the nigh-identical underneath 1.8 TFSI quattro 180 bhp has it as a factory option on the config etc......

[PetrolDave]

Daft when the nigh-identical underneath 1.8 TFSI quattro 180 bhp has it as a factory option on the config etc......

It's yet another example of the EU "Nanny State" interfering with personal freedom.

Here's the background and how to tell if a vehicle is homologated in the EU to tow http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/typeapproval.htm

[Ian_C]

So frustrating. We only need it to tow a Laser dinghy probably once a quarter. A couple of passengers weigh more than the road trailer, launch trailer, boat, masts and rigging

[Graeme4130]

So frustrating. We only need it to tow a Laser dinghy probably once a quarter. A couple of passengers weigh more than the road trailer, launch trailer, boat, masts and rigging

Bloody pain
My track bike weighs circa 150kg and the trailer around 60, so that's 210kg or around 2.5 adult men in weight
It's not exactly a caravan, but I still can't tow it

[boff]

time to vote out.

[PetrolDave]

time to vote out.

+1

[MB2]

I agree it is frustrating but surely it is Audi's fault they have decided not to spend the money on testing the towbar not the EU's ?

The EU directive in the link which replaced our Type Approval just seems to specify criteria for a safe install - I don't see how voting out is going to allow you to fit an unapproved towbar ?

Best case surely is it can be homologated to a UK standard (which would need to be set) and then allowed for use in the UK. This could be higher or lower than the current EU standard but is unlikely to be independent of the vehicle manufacturer's opinion and ratings. Although to be sold outside of the UK it will still need to meet the EU criteria of course, so more likely will be tested to that standard alone anyway by the towbar manufacturer if both are accepted in the UK and one accepted in the rest of Europe.

[PetrolDave]

I don't see how voting out is going to allow you to fit an unapproved towbar ?

Because it's an EU Directive which has not been turned into a UK Law (no need when we're in the EU as EU Law automatically applies in all EU countries), so if/when we leave the EU we will be back to UK Law - which doesn't require a vehicle to be homologated with a towbar, instead it relies on simple safety rules.

The basic difference is that under UK Law something is legal unless it's specifically legislated against but much EU Law is driven by the Napoleonic principle that everything is illegal unless there's an Act that says it's legal.