Tow Bar for the Tiguan

[Rescue23]

There are four sensors on the rear bumper. Not one of them is anywhere near the centre of the bumper. As such it’s highly unlikely for the sensors to detect a tow ball. The reason the sensors are switched off is so they don’t detect a trailer when you’re reversing.

On my car I can put the tow ball gooseneck on the car, and then reverse the car onto the trailer using the camera, it actually gives you a little trend vector so you can see where the tow ball will travel as you turn the wheel. Makes it simple to place the ball under the trailer hitch. No beeping from the attached tow ball at all. It does detect the trailer approaching though.

Most aftermarket tow bars have a module that will interface the CANBUS these days. If not, I wouldn’t fit one. Westfalia, the real OEM bar certainly DO come with the OEM electronics module. I know. I’ve fitted it myself.

I assure you the sensors do indeed detect the towball - the situation is exactly as I have described above. I have just gone out and slid the towball mount into the slot with towball attached. Nothing on the towball and no electrics plugged in. As soon as reverse gear is selected the sensor tone sounds continuously, with a red obstacle line displayed immediately at the back of the car. It can be muted via the display. I then slid the towball mount into the slot WITHOUT the towball attached and selected reverse gear - nothing - no tone and no indication of an obstacle immediately behind the car. I have no idea what wiring comes with "most aftermarket tow bars". I can only speak of my experience with the Hayman Reese. The OEM bar from the dealer was another $700 and as I only intend to use it with a bike rack it doesn't seem worth the extra money just to automatically cancel the sensors instead of doing it manually.

[IsDon]

I assure you the sensors do indeed detect the towball - the situation is exactly as I have described above. I have just gone out and slid the towball mount into the slot with towball attached. Nothing on the towball and no electrics plugged in. As soon as reverse gear is selected the sensor tone sounds continuously, with a red obstacle line displayed immediately at the back of the car. It can be muted via the display. I then slid the towball mount into the slot WITHOUT the towball attached and selected reverse gear - nothing - no tone and no indication of an obstacle immediately behind the car. I have no idea what wiring comes with "most aftermarket tow bars". I can only speak of my experience with the Hayman Reese. The OEM bar from the dealer was another $700 and as I only intend to use it with a bike rack it doesn't seem worth the extra money just to automatically cancel the sensors instead of doing it manually.

Since when did this become a p1ssing contest?

Ok. Well that’s poor design. I’d say it’s because you have a non OEM bar that may sit out further than the OEM bar. It makes no sense that the sensor would howl away constantly while your trying to back the car onto the trailer. Knowing how particular za Germans are about these things, they’d be mortified by that outcome.

It may also detect the bar fitted by VW. Which, as I said before, is not really an OEM bar. The car was designed for the European OEM bar, not the poor cuz from NZ.

As I also said before, the towing module detecting a trailer does a lot more than just turning off the sensors. In my car, which is a 2013 model it effects about a dozen different functions of which the rear sensors are but one. I suggest the Tig would have even more given its 5 years newer design. If all you fit is a bike rack then no problem. But if you do borrow a trailer from Bunnings one day you might have an issue.

[dmn]

Since when did this become a p1ssing contest?

Ok. Well that’s poor design. I’d say it’s because you have a non OEM bar that may sit out further than the OEM bar. It makes no sense that the sensor would howl away constantly while your trying to back the car onto the trailer. Knowing how particular za Germans are about these things, they’d be mortified by that outcome.

It may also detect the bar fitted by VW. Which, as I said before, is not really an OEM bar. The car was designed for the European OEM bar, not the poor cuz from NZ.

As I also said before, the towing module detecting a trailer does a lot more than just turning off the sensors. In my car, which is a 2013 model it effects about a dozen different functions of which the rear sensors are but one. I suggest the Tig would have even more given its 5 years newer design. If all you fit is a bike rack then no problem. But if you do borrow a trailer from Bunnings one day you might have an issue.

I'm with IsDon, sounds like poor design to me. Tiguan R-line here...I spent 12 months trying to decide whether to grab the OEM or the Genuine Australian VW towbar which is made by Best Bars, ended up going with the Gen VW bar so was sourced via a colleague at trade price which was around $1150 and ended up fitting it myself which took around 4 hours. There are two components, the towbar kit and the electrical installation kit, both with full instructions. The electrical installation also includes the module and all you have to do is plug in 2 connectors behind the LHS rear trim, connect one 2-pin block under the dash and all done...it's actually quite easy + nothing like the tow bar installation on the Mark 1 tigs. The only issue you will have, with the electrical installation kit there are 3 codes that need to be individually programmed into the vehicle and even though I have the VCDS cable (not the latest version) my chances of being successful would be fairly remote as there are so many areas that need to be programmed to make my Tig 'trailer aware' so I just rang up the dealer that I purchased the car from, took it down and they did it for me, wait for this...for free!

As an FYI, I leave the tongue/ball on and have no issues when reversing. Hope that helps someone

[iDiesel]

As an FYI, I leave the tongue/ball on and have no issues when reversing. Hope that helps someone

+1

I have genuine VW tow bar and leave the ball and tongue in place permanently and reverse sensors don’t beep or “see” the ball & tongue

[IsDon]

I'm with IsDon, sounds like poor design to me. Tiguan R-line here...I spent 12 months trying to decide whether to grab the OEM or the Genuine Australian VW towbar which is made by Best Bars, ended up going with the Gen VW bar so was sourced via a colleague at trade price which was around $1150 and ended up fitting it myself which took around 4 hours. There are two components, the towbar kit and the electrical installation kit, both with full instructions. The electrical installation also includes the module and all you have to do is plug in 2 connectors behind the LHS rear trim, connect one 2-pin block under the dash and all done...it's actually quite easy + nothing like the tow bar installation on the Mark 1 tigs. The only issue you will have, with the electrical installation kit there are 3 codes that need to be individually programmed into the vehicle and even though I have the VCDS cable (not the latest version) my chances of being successful would be fairly remote as there are so many areas that need to be programmed to make my Tig 'trailer aware' so I just rang up the dealer that I purchased the car from, took it down and they did it for me, wait for this...for free!

As an FYI, I leave the tongue/ball on and have no issues when reversing. Hope that helps someone

Thanks dmn.

If you have an older VCDS cable you might find you wouldn’t be able to program the Tig. I found my older cable wouldn’t even recognise some of the modules. I traded my old cable in for a new VCDS HEX/NET which now works with everything. As well as my comparatively antiquated A6. The Tig is my wife’s. I’m only allowed to tinker with it occasionally.

I was thinking a little more in this towball sensor issue. I would not be at all surprised if the sensors not detecting the tow ball is actually a function of programming. It’s entirely possible that once the car is correctly coded it still sees (actually more correctly hears as its an ultrasonic sensor) the towball but is programmed to ignore that particular signature. That would explain why an uncoded Hayman Reece is visible but a VW ball isn’t.

I’m continually amazed how particular the Germans are about some of these things. The more I discover the more I have to dip my lid to their ingenuity. In my car, once a trailer is plugged in, the little overall picture of the car in the settings page on the MMI even has a little trailer attached. That just one example. How it logs and then deletes fault codes it considers spurious is another work of genius. That’s why the sensors picking up the tow ball didn’t make sense. The Germans would never accept such a design flaw.

[IsDon]

+1

I have genuine VW tow bar and leave the ball and tongue in place permanently and reverse sensors don’t beep or “see” the ball & tongue

Thanks mate.

Yep, it’s looking more and more like the issue is the Hayman Reece bar, and possibly a lack of towing module and coding. A combination of which has the sensors confused.

[dmn]

Thanks dmn.

If you have an older VCDS cable you might find you wouldn’t be able to program the Tig. I found my older cable wouldn’t even recognise some of the modules. I traded my old cable in for a new VCDS HEX/NET which now works with everything. As well as my comparatively antiquated A6. The Tig is my wife’s. I’m only allowed to tinker with it occasionally.

I was thinking a little more in this towball sensor issue. I would not be at all surprised if the sensors not detecting the tow ball is actually a function of programming. It’s entirely possible that once the car is correctly coded it still sees (actually more correctly hears as its an ultrasonic sensor) the towball but is programmed to ignore that particular signature. That would explain why an uncoded Hayman Reece is visible but a VW ball isn’t.

I’m continually amazed how particular the Germans are about some of these things. The more I discover the more I have to dip my lid to their ingenuity. In my car, once a trailer is plugged in, the little overall picture of the car in the settings page on the MMI even has a little trailer attached. That just one example. How it logs and then deletes fault codes it considers spurious is another work of genius. That’s why the sensors picking up the tow ball didn’t make sense. The Germans would never accept such a design flaw.

Thanks IsDon - you are correct re the older VCDS cable, it can see some things but not all so time for a trade-up. I managed to code traffic alerts/auto high beam but lucked out with the others as the modules cannot be seen...not surprising really. I had re code the auto high beam as the trip to the dealer obviously removed those settings but the traffic alert still works.
As I also have B8 S4 Avant/2015 A3 I am hoping that the new VCDS HEX/NET will make no difference to the older vehicles.

Yes, you have got to love the ingenuity of the Germans...I guess that's why I have 3 of their cars

[IsDon]

Thanks IsDon - you are correct re the older VCDS cable, it can see some things but not all so time for a trade-up. I managed to code traffic alerts/auto high beam but lucked out with the others as the modules cannot be seen...not surprising really. I had re code the auto high beam as the trip to the dealer obviously removed those settings but the traffic alert still works.
As I also have B8 S4 Avant/2015 A3 I am hoping that the new VCDS HEX/NET will make no difference to the older vehicles.

Yes, you have got to love the ingenuity of the Germans...I guess that's why I have 3 of their cars

No troubles with the new cable on older cars. Only issue is it’s limited to 10 VINs unless you pay for the professional licence which, I think, is $100 more. No worries if you only tinker with your own cars, but I help a lot of guys on this forum, and OzAudi, with programming on their cars so the VINs add up. I’m almost out of licences on the new cable.

[dmn]

No troubles with the new cable on older cars. Only issue is it’s limited to 10 VINs unless you pay for the professional licence which, I think, is $100 more. No worries if you only tinker with your own cars, but I help a lot of guys on this forum, and OzAudi, with programming on their cars so the VINs add up. I’m almost out of licences on the new cable.

Good to know re the 10 VINs...can you purchase the Professional licence and apply the digital licence to the new VCDS NEX/NET or do you need to send the cable back to Ross Tech and wait for them to send another?

[IsDon]

Good to know re the 10 VINs...can you purchase the Professional licence and apply the digital licence to the new VCDS NEX/NET or do you need to send the cable back to Ross Tech and wait for them to send another?

You can just add the licence later and it will unlock the unlimited VINs professional licence. No need to send the cable back it’s online and instantaneous.

If you think you may need the professional licence it is cheaper to get it up front rather than unlock it later. They will also give you a trade in for you old cable. All the details are on the website.