Want a Towbar? Might as well wait until September!!!

[Simon Rees]

Please help - Any knowledge or advice out there?

Having ordered a BZ4X FWD Vision with Towbar in September 2023, I have waited patiently until January for delivery (expected end of the month).

However, Steven Eagell Toyota in St Ives, Cambs have just told me that if I want delivery of the car with towbar fitted, I might have to wait until September 2024 (even though orders are being turned around in 2-3 weeks at the moment).

The Dealer then added, that Towbars can’t be retrospectively fitted to the BZ4X (albeit I’m not sure if that’s to do with the kick tailgate function - surely you’d just disable that) - All those negative YouTube videos (most of which I ignore) don’t mention this Towbar issue!

Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

Disappointed of Huntingdon

[JonathanP]

Sounds a bit strange. Are you sure they actually definitely placed the order last year?

[philip42h]

I understood that there was an intergalactic shortage of towbars - so the potential delay might not be unexpected.

Equally, I understood that the factory fitted towbar is actually fitted at Burnaston provided that the car is correctly prepared from Japan. Any competent dealer should be able to do the work when the towbar hardware becomes available.

It may not help, but that's my understanding.

[Simon Rees]

1 hour ago, JonathanP said:

Sounds a bit strange. Are you sure they actually definitely placed the order last year?

Found out after I paid my deposit in September that Dealerships were under pressure not to submit orders until after 1st January, due to the need to meet government EV Sale targets in 2024.  Not sure how true this is, but I let it slide as there was no urgency to take delivery at that time, and I had agreed a good deal.  Since then, it's been disappointing to see so many other people receive their cars within 2-3 weeks of ordering, and the potential 9-month delay seems rediculous for such a massive company. 

[Simon Rees]

On 1/23/2024 at 9:05 PM, philip42h said:

I understood that there was an intergalactic shortage of towbars - so the potential delay might not be unexpected.

Equally, I understood that the factory fitted towbar is actually fitted at Burnaston provided that the car is correctly prepared from Japan. Any competent dealer should be able to do the work when the towbar hardware becomes available.

It may not help, but that's my understanding.

Thanks for your take on the situation - much appreciated.  Am now really confused though.  The Toyota Dealership have said that there is no way the towbar can be retrospectively fitted by them (this apparently after 'extensive' conversations with Toyota), and that I'll potentially have to wait until September when the car can be delivered complete with tow bar. 

However, when I looked on the Toyota.co.uk website this evening, you can arrange to buy the 13 Pin Electrics £206.89, and the Fixed Towing Hitch £350.80 (or Detachable £522.24) for the BZ4X separately; the website quotes "Purchase this product from your local dealer, with the option of fitting at extra cost."

I suppose all I can do is go and speak to the Dealership in person again.  Having said that, the Toyota website is a shambles.  When i originally put in the order (for the FWD Vision), you could add a skyroof to the online order tool and it wouldn't come up with a cost (a bit of a surprise when the showroom paperwork showed a cost for it).  Then, unlike the Carwow and some car leasing sites, which details the fact that you lose the kick tailgate option if you add a towbar option, Toyota's site doesn't mention it, and half the salesman are only now just catching up.  with this as they take orders for towbars. And now, the 2 weeks or 9 months option on delivery, depending on the need for a towbar.  This will be the 11th new Toyota my wife and i have bought.  Never had any issues before.

[JonathanP]

On 1/23/2024 at 10:51 PM, Simon Rees said:

Found out after I paid my deposit in September that Dealerships were under pressure not to submit orders until after 1st January, due to the need to meet government EV Sale targets in 2024.  Not sure how true this is, but I let it slide as there was no urgency to take delivery at that time, and I had agreed a good deal.  Since then, it's been disappointing to see so many other people receive their cars within 2-3 weeks of ordering, and the potential 9-month delay seems rediculous for such a massive company. 

That sounds strange as my dealer placed the order within a week of paying the deposit. I know as it appeared in the "My Toyota" app.
Seems that the dealer didn't place the order as they waited for the stock that would be delivered in Jan.
I suspect that Toyota delivered the cars which had been ordered and then took a guess as to how many 'extra' cars to deliver for sale this year.
Once the extra ones have been sold I guess it would be back to being an ordered car again and a long delivery time.

I agree that the tow bar issue sounds a bit strange as it's clearly an option that can be selected.
It does state in the info that having a tow bar fitted will disable the kick function.
Can you try going to another dealer and see what they say?

[Simon Rees]

Thanks Jonathan - I too had my order confirmed last September through the My Toyota app but I don’t fully understand who inputs that; Toyota Dealership or Toyota GB, or the link between the order on the App and what sits on the system at Toyota GB.

I agree that it might be worth going to another dealer, but I get the feeling they won’t be able to get a definitive answer unless I go through the whole process of ordering - as it is I’ve got a good deal through my local dealership and I’d hate to end up where I am with a delayed delivery, only with a worse price.

What is really frustrating is that I’m seeing posts detailing news of disabled drivers being able to have their BZ4X’s adapted with hand controls with only minimal delay to delivery.  I’m not aware of any being told September 2024 (Please don’t misinterpret the above; my point is that my order of a Towbar is a factory option, not a post factory adaptation).

And what really irritates is that I’ve only ever serviced and replaced tyres on my previous ‘10’ Toyota cars.  So with being a real brand warrior when it comes to only buying Toyota, it all feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth. 

[flash22]

you get nothing for brand loyalty these days

I call BS on the towbar unless there is some major change after 11/2023 accessories are usually fitted on import at Burnaston

fixed towbar and wiring kit PW960-42032

http://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/d9e83288-b953-465d-a69e-748553182410/bZ4X_Fixed_Towing_Hitch_PW960_42032_AIM_006_344_0.pdf

 

but it does state on PW960-42020 up to 11/2023

http://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/7e34dc5b-34a3-4edf-a517-797fe7c67853/bZ4X_Towing_Hitch_Fixed_PW960-42020_AIM_006_184_2.pdf

 

it may be related to a change in the supplier that looks to be ACPS but Toyota also uses Brink and Thule

[Simon Rees]

Many thanks Flash 22 - all very much appreciated.

We discussed at the dealership about locally installing the electrics and Towbar but the garage don’t want to touch the job due to disconnecting/removing the kick tailgate function/architecture (albeit I don’t understand what needs removing).  I think they would want the wiring installed (made ready for Towbar installation).

Dealership currently making some last ditch calls to get a complete picture, but as of now, it’s not looking great.

 

[wivenhoe]

There is something definitely amiss - how can your dealer take a deposit on a car and not order it. Didn’t they provide a copy of the order with payment.
You say you have a great deal that you wouldn’t get elsewhere - this is very similar to what I had with a Merc I ordered. I got a fantastic deal on a new model with 6 months wait list so a discount was ‘unusual’. I also got on the order a really good px on my existing Merc. It turned out the salesman was gaming the system and got a load of bonuses and then left. The dealership then had to honour my deal and I was assured that the new car cost me £4K less than they paid Merc for it and 2 months later my px was up for £ 5k less than I got !

[Simon Rees]

Question to ALL - Does anyone know of any BZ4X owner who has taken delivery of their car with a factory fitted towbar installed?  Or has anyone seen one?

Local Dealership rang tonight to tell me that the Vision (Scarlet Flare with Panoramic Roof) I ordered in September 2023 is sat in Burnaston, Derbyshire waiting to be delivered (garage can hand it over before 1st March if I say yes).

HOWEVER, Toyota GB are refusing to fit the towbar and are sticking to their story; that this current release is not available with a towbar, and that it won't be until the next release (as late as September 2024) that I can get a factory fitted towbar. 

Local Dealer trying in vain to establish whether Burnaston plant has had an issue with fitting towbars (especially to Vision, which has a kick tailgate) and has belatedly pulled the option, despite still advertising the factory fitted option on their website, and also selling the wiring and towbar as an approved accessory on their own website.  Indeed, Local Dealer trying to establish if what Toyota GB means by next release means that modifications are being carried out and will be effective on the next release.

Local Dealer has also said that none of their 45 sister garages and other experts they use who advise on such matters will touch the wiring (pre towbar fitting) after sale - or on delivery to the dealership/prior to handover.

If I can find one instance of a towbar having been fitted, either factory fitted or as part of after sales, it would assist greatly. 

I could take the car with my name on and separately buy the electrics and tow bar package that toyota are still selling, in the hope that i can find someone to fit it, but the Dealership have rightly said that i need to think carefully about warranties, hence why they want Burnaston to undertake the job (as advertised).  Arghhhh! 

[philip42h]

I know nothing but something seems a little odd here. Over the past year the price list has shown separate lines for a grade and the same grade "& Towing Option" - both at exactly the same price. Which suggests to me that they can and indeed have to be ordered as separate items and built appropriately at the factory in Japan.

Which might suggest that there really is some good reason why Toyota GB and its franchised dealers won't fit an aftermarket tow bar ... perhaps?

Do you know whether your dealer ordered the "& Towing Option" variant?

[Simon Rees]

Thanks Philip - You raise an interesting question.  Toyota Dealerships are used to ordering cars made in Derbyshire, and other cars made in Japan that are then adapted (but still referred to as being factory fitted) at Burnaston before onward delivery to garages.  

So could this be an exception, a model of car where being made towbar ready is part of the manufacturing process out in Japan, and could my local garage have ordered the car without clearly ordering the towbar ready status?

The knock on from this would be that if this was the case, and their request to have Burmaston now do the work was turned down, I've possibly quite literally missed the boat, and won't get the car until the next batch are imported.  I'll ask the question, albeit sensitively.

[JonathanP]

It does sound like it should have been added when it was built in Japan.
As there's still not many BZ4X's on the road Burnaston may not be experienced enough or have been trained on how to fit a towbar, especially if it's supposed to have been added when the car was built in Japan.

Can you find the order form, I have to admit I'm still wondering if my car will have the grey seats that we requested (made it a bit brighter inside) as the option has since vanished from the website.

Can you find any examples of a towbar fitted on Youtube? Just a thought as you could reach out to the person who posted the video if you find any.

[JonathanP]

Hmmm I now wonder if Toyota are correct as I have taken another look at the July brochure.

Take a look at the small print, it talks about check model compatibility.
I now wonder if only the Pure and Motion model are able to have a tow bar fitted as maybe the kick sensor blocks where the towbar would fit?
Just a thought, are you able to get the towbar on a Motion ?
I suppose not ideal, if you wanted the features of the Vision.

[philip42h]

The latest (January) price list shows:

Under the Customisation (Factory Options) it lists: "Towing Solutions" as available for all grades but for the Vision grade adds the rider:

* On Vision grade taking the Towing Option adds the wiring for a TowBar but removes the Kick-activated Power back door. If you choose this model code please then select the Tow Bar required from the Customisation list.

Which suggests to me that if you want a towbar, the kick-activated power back door needs to be removed / not added in the factory back in Japan.

[JonathanP]

11 minutes ago, philip42h said:

The latest (January) price list shows:

Under the Customisation (Factory Options) it lists: "Towing Solutions" as available for all grades but for the Vision grade adds the rider:

* On Vision grade taking the Towing Option adds the wiring for a TowBar but removes the Kick-activated Power back door. If you choose this model code please then select the Tow Bar required from the Customisation list.

Which suggests to me that if you want a towbar, the kick-activated power back door needs to be removed / not added in the factory back in Japan.

It does suggest that maybe it was ordered wrong in the first place. I suspect the reason why they are saying September 2024 before it can be sorted is because I bet that's when the next shipments are due.
With them being listed like that on the price list I wonder if each one has a different reference number for ordering.

I think since Covid / Brexit Toyota don't ship cars over like they used to and only ship them in 'batches'.
Years ago I remember ordering a Prius and it only taking 10 weeks or so to be shipped from Japan.

Again I think they ship what has been ordered by customers and then a few extra that they anticipate selling based on figures.

[Simon Rees]

Thanks again Jonathan - much appreciated.

While the garage may have slipped up in ensuring the Towbar ready status was flagged, communication between Toyota GB and their Dealerships is nothing short of shocking.  

Until recently, the Toyota.co.uk website didn’t include a cost for adding the pan’ Roof, and it still doesn’t flag the deselection of the kick tailback on the Vision model (it does on Carwow and most Lease hire sites when ordering).

Turning to your discussion on seat(leather) colour, there is a choice of black or grey, but poorly, the Toyota online build and order page doesn’t have you choose, and I would urge everyone to have their chosen colour annotated clearly on their garage order form.
 

As I wasn’t sure of the default colour I contacted my garage on this particular issue and they confirmed in writing that the car would come in the black seat colour I requested.  However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if some new owners didn’t get what they ordered or thought they’d ordered. 
 

Hope all turns out with your car.  And if you see anyone on the road pushing a trailer, it’s me with my imaginary BZ4X 🙂 

 

 

[Simon Rees]

Thanks again Jonathan and Philip - genuinely appreciate the help here.

I think I now fully understand the whole incompatibility between kick tailgate sensor and towbar (which makes perfect sense).  It’s just that nobody at Toyota will confirm if, when ordering towbar ready electrics and towbar in the initial order, whether it’s a case of 1. Japan leaves off the sensor in favour of the 13 pin electric wiring, 2. Japan removes sensor and then fits electrics (and Burnaston fit the towbar in both cases), 3. Japan export car with both electrics and towbar installed, or 4. Burnaston both remove sensor and fit towbar.  You’d have thought someone at Toyota could answer that!

All they will say is my Vision is sat at Burmaston, complete with kick tailgate sensor, and they will not make the car towbar ready (local Toyota Dealership will fit towbar but not remove sensor and install electrics).  They just won’t answer if it is because 1, 2, 3 or 4 above, and if the incorrect order is due to either the dealership not placing the correct order or Toyota GB not ensuring the order was completed correctly before communicated to Japan.  Or, as some have suggested, Japan expects Regional Centres to complete such adaption but just didn’t tell Toyota GB!

 

 

 

[philip42h]

19 minutes ago, Simon Rees said:

All they will say is my Vision is sat at Burnaston, complete with kick tailgate sensor ...

Then I suspect that you have two options:

1. Accept the car that is there waiting for you without a towbar (and probably without any option of having a towbar fitted at a later date), or
2. Cancel you existing order and re-order a Vision with Towing Option (and wait for that to be built and delivered).

I doubt that you have any other options that gets you the car that you originally wanted.

Which is exactly what "Disappointed of Huntingdon" suggested in your opening post. Quite who dropped the ball and ordered the wrong grade becomes academic at this point - but might result in your getting a better discount ... 😉 

Edit: and ... the situation is 'perfectly clear' from the August 2023 and September 2023 price lists - so both Japan and Toyota UK knew the situation. It would appear to me that Steven Eagell Toyota in St Ives, Cambs simply ordered the wrong grade - it may well have been because they simply didn't realise ...

[JonathanP]

Something to ask the dealer is if you accept the car will they be willing to order the correct one for delivery in September and then swop the cars. However that still leaves you without a towbar.

I have known it happen at my local dealer when they made a mistake on the order and the customer didn't notice the error until after handover.

However the issue seems to be the dealer isn't accepting they have done anything wrong in this instance.
I

[Simon Rees]

You’re quite right Philip.  Neither option is ideal, and I’ll most likely have to go with Option 2.  And yes, I’d like to think they won’t argue when I ask for either some free services or extras at cost only .

That would be the ideal, as you say Jonathan; if they admit to the *****-up being down to them, for me to perhaps suggest they let me take on the car currently in a Derbyshire field, and swop it out for a new car + towbar in September.  I’ve ordered every protection/cover going, so they can be reasonably assured of getting it back in excellent condition, and then either sell it or use it as a more updated demo model than they have now - a nice thought.

THANK YOU TO ALL - I really appreciate the ‘in it together’ ideal of this site.  I trust I can equally help others - once I have the experience of actually driving the new car….