Spot the difference between the VW Part supplied to them by Westfalia and AustraliaTowbars Module & Wiring kit by Westfalia.

Main Difference that I will expose is that Westfalia Tow Bar Modules are LED Trailer compatible and Volkswagen ones are not. Volkswagen Dealers will advise you to buy an adapter for $300 so you can use your LED Trailer.

Tow Bar, to work correctly, requires a VW module. This is responsible for CAN communication with other modules:

-Engine - when towing it works differently to cope with extra load - sometimes switches additional fan to cool
-ABS / ESP module - these work differently when trailer is hooked to avoid jack knifing.
-CECM - This power module distributes power in another way when trailer is hooked - also visually aids the driver when trailer is hooked on dashboard
-OPS - This is coded so when trailer is hooked up sensors do not beep
-CAN gateway - trailer module is coded into the gateway (main comms hub) so the car and other modules know what to do
- RVC - reversing camera - similar thing to parking sensors - recognises the trailer on the screen switches off dynamic lines
-5F Information Electronics - ensures entertainment system displays all the trailer info correctly.

This is what a genuine Tow Bar looks like on a installed on Golf 7 without damaging the bumper:

This is what a Tow Bar looks like on Vw Touareg:


AS you can see they are invisible when removed and in the first video, a 19 year old girl operates one. They are also Super Heavy Duty and rated more than the vehicle rating.

If you are in the market for a Premium European Tow Bar, AustraliaTowbars can help you with your choice and answer any questions you may have. Every Tow Bar module has to be coded. You can use ODIS, VCDS or Westfalia Coding Tool.