Hi everyone I was looking for some help or advice, I'm looking to buy a 4/5 berth tourer which I will be towing once a week for work. I'm looking to buy a 2001 3 series saloon BMW, I was just wondering if it would be suitable or not as I thought a RWD would be no good but I've recently been told different. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as I haven't got long left before I have to purchase both. If not I was looking at a new diesel vectra, but not sure if it would be good enough to pull? I'm not keen on 4x4's or estate cars.
The rear wheel drive is a big asset for towing in that it can help traction on loose and slippery surfaces.
Tread with great care if this or other vehicles you look at are conventional [torque converter based]automatics. Whilst automatics are brilliant for towing many domestic cars with them require additional transmission fluid cooling. Even the BMW X5 [the one I looked at new in 2004] unless factory supplied with the towing pack and therefore up rated cooler, becomes marginally cooled. People get away with it but need to tow with care in warm mountainous areas.
If in doubt ring a transmission specialist, don't rely on the person selling the vehicle.
There are various engine sizes in petrol and diesel ranges of the BMW series 3 but if you look at www.autotrader.co.uk and look at the various models it will give you the kerbweight, engine power and engine torque and any other related information you need to know so you can calculate an outfit match to the caravan you want to tow.