Bike prep.

[gwr]

I've ordered an ID3 with bike prep, due January. I'm not sure what bike prep is, or what other work is needed to fit a bike rack, but as it was a factory option I thought we should have it. Does anyone have experience?

[Deleted User 192]

See page 63: https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/files/live ... sories.pdf

I guess it’s the Transport Hitch Kit that you’ve ordered.

[Sindidziwa]

As usual - not available on 1st! I had ordered a tow bar but it wasn't available so i gave up - then i saw the link but it's not on the 1st edition cars

[Deleted User 192]

From the decals on this car, it can go on a 1st:



He even asks in the video if every customer can get it - the answer is "yes"

Where did you see about it not being for the 1st?

[Sindidziwa]

When I got to look at the car and tried to find the flap behind the rear number plate! If you find out more I would be interested... I was quoted £850 for the tow hitch and was told that it would be fitted under the car. Having said that the VW garage didn't know much about the car at all!

[Sindidziwa]

See page 63: https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/files/live ... sories.pdf

I guess it’s the Transport Hitch Kit that you’ve ordered.

I think that looks more like I was going to get. I have an Atera rack that goes on the tow hitch of my California and slides back so that the rear door can open. Similar principle to the VW one or Thule but cheaper!

[gwr]

See page 63: https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/files/live ... sories.pdf

I guess it’s the Transport Hitch Kit that you’ve ordered.

I don't think so - the accessories are fitted by the dealer. Bike prep is a factory option, and I believe it's needed so that the bike accessories can be fitted. It's £325 +VAT. Dealer didn't have much idea, admittedly.

[softwhite]

Hi folks, some info for you about hitch kits... I run a small engineering business and have a TPS account (trade source for all genuine VW parts).
My ID3 business is coming on 22Jan so I ordered up some accessories through TPS with quite a saving Vs dealer (simple stuff like the carpet mats and load liner). Also being spares I can reclaim the VAT (not recoverable on a company car). So lots to like about this approach. TPS delivered in under 24hrs for free.. and that included shipping from England to Belfast!
Anyhow my ID3 was pre-reg but unfortunately didn’t have the hitch kit - I really wanted it for both a load box for work and a bike rack but for other reasons had to go with a pre-reg. Dealer confirmed factory fit is £390 inc Vat but retrofit at dealer is about £890 inc VAT parts+labour. TPS can supply the item for £372 ex vat (more discount if you go via a Vw Independant specialist who will get a better price than I do, due to their higher annual spend with TPS). So I will probably go this way and fit it myself. Mechanical fitting will be easy enough for me but it’s routing the wires and making the connections to the canbus that is the unknown. And of course is their some next generation VAGCOM required to tell the car what’s happened or is it plug and play? If anyone can answer these questions it will represent a significant cost saving for everyone wanting to do a hitch kit retrofit on their ID3. The dealers are saying it’s a 7.5hr job to fit the hitch kit... this sounds a bit crackers to me. I’d guess it’s about 2hrs max, however if there’s a big old firmware update, this could explain the high time. VW aren’t going to sell many kits at this extremely high retrofit price, so hopefully some of the good Independant garages will be able to do the installations especially if it is simple plug&play.

[Deleted User 192]

First pictures I've seen of a UK car with the hitch kit: https://www.speakev.com/threads/transpo ... st-2949399

[gwr]

That's reassuring, thanks. I was worried that it was the factory fit plus the retrofit price before you could start putting a rack on!

[softwhite]

First pictures I've seen of a UK car with the hitch kit: https://www.speakev.com/threads/transpo ... st-2949399

Thanks for sharing the photos link. Does anyone know if the 55Kg weight limit includes the rack? If so you’d need to watch the limit especially with older steel bikes. My setup is as follows with 2 quite light bikes and one big heavy one. I actually expected it to exceed the limit so got a pleasant surprise.

Altera DL 3 bike rack 14,5 kg
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbveh ... kQvENtdosM
My wife’s bike- Electra ladies cruiser 39 Lbs = 18Kg
My bike- Project UK Rocky Mountain MTB = 13Kg
My 7 yr old son’s bike- Isla Cnoc 14 = 5.2Kg

So we are at 51Kg already. If at the limit I recommend putting the heaviest bike closest to the car, although this isn’t always possible, like with the Electra cruiser - on some vehicles the handlebars are still to close to the boot lid when the rack is tipped.

Would be good to know if the rack should be discounted in the calculation... and what weight is in the factory rack if anyone knows. VW should be designing a family car to take a family’s bikes... with a bit more margin for error. If I had another kid, we’d be over the limit with rack included.

[Sindidziwa]

I have an ATERA DL3 as well and use it on my California. The rack weighs 14.5 kg as you say and I think this needs to be included as the limit is the total weight on the tow hitch. The California limit is 60 kg so not much difference from the id3. I have two electric mountain bikes , which weigh 20 kg each without their batteries so we're right on the limit and the large on has to go at the rear of the rack because the handlebars are so wide. I haven't ever had any problems with the rack in several European trips.

[Kaygee]

Hi folks, some info for you about hitch kits... I run a small engineering business and have a TPS account (trade source for all genuine VW parts).
My ID3 business is coming on 22Jan so I ordered up some accessories through TPS with quite a saving Vs dealer (simple stuff like the carpet mats and load liner). Also being spares I can reclaim the VAT (not recoverable on a company car). So lots to like about this approach. TPS delivered in under 24hrs for free.. and that included shipping from England to Belfast!
Anyhow my ID3 was pre-reg but unfortunately didn’t have the hitch kit - I really wanted it for both a load box for work and a bike rack but for other reasons had to go with a pre-reg. Dealer confirmed factory fit is £390 inc Vat but retrofit at dealer is about £890 inc VAT parts+labour. TPS can supply the item for £372 ex vat (more discount if you go via a Vw Independant specialist who will get a better price than I do, due to their higher annual spend with TPS). So I will probably go this way and fit it myself. Mechanical fitting will be easy enough for me but it’s routing the wires and making the connections to the canbus that is the unknown. And of course is their some next generation VAGCOM required to tell the car what’s happened or is it plug and play? If anyone can answer these questions it will represent a significant cost saving for everyone wanting to do a hitch kit retrofit on their ID3. The dealers are saying it’s a 7.5hr job to fit the hitch kit... this sounds a bit crackers to me. I’d guess it’s about 2hrs max, however if there’s a big old firmware update, this could explain the high time. VW aren’t going to sell many kits at this extremely high retrofit price, so hopefully some of the good Independant garages will be able to do the installations especially if it is simple plug&play.

Hi, are you in a position to purchase and sell on the simple stuff ( mats, loadliner etc)?

[softwhite]

No, sorry - but you can probably set up a cash account with your local TPS. Or if you’ve a good relationship with an independent garage they could do it for you.

[ID3TECH]

@Softwhite how did you get on with the DIY instalation? Did the electrics works pulg and play? was the bumber precut under the numberplate?