basmn

I just had the factory hitch and wiring harness installed on my 2012 Q5. When i have the trailer hooked up and use the signals i have an extra green light that flashes in the dash at the top left. Now i was told that if i had LED trailer lights i would need an adaptor or i would get a bulb out signal...is that whats flashing ???. Only the 2 rear side marker lights on the trailer are LED every thing else is STD lighting.....
just so you all know ..when a trailer is hooked up the following is disabled
rear hatch will not open from inside
side assist is disabled
rear parking sensors disabled .....all good things as far as i'm conserned.
I had the hitch installed at Queensway, first class job and service.
the only beef i have was the price...but it looks like it was installed at the factory and i will never have a warranty issue because some aftermarket guy tapped into the wiring harness.
It's all good

gdinkanata

Hello basmn, I am from Ottawa and waiting for a new Q5 to be delivered. I was thinking of having the hitch install. How much where you charged in Toronto ? and did they install a trimmed cover plate ?

basmn

All in was $1700 .yea i know thats not cheap but all after market stuff mounts below the skirt and i was conserned about ground clearence and the fact that the trailer tounge would be to low. And looks like crap in my opinion,( after dropping 50 G's on a car i wanted a hitch that looks like it belongs there) and wiring has to be spliced in. Audi claim 5hrs labor and if you see the work that goes into the install there not lieing about it. as far as a cover plate, there is none, they simply cut out a small section in the skirt. i can post a pic if you like, but that wont happen till saturday. I'm very satisfied with the factory install and it may be cheaper if you order it before delivery ......

MBronskill

basmn,
That extra flashing green light is just the normal trailer turn signal indicator. My Q5 also has the factory hitch and wiring and that light always flashes when I am signalling while towing the trailer. I am not sure of the logic involved in reminding us that our trailer signals are working, but it seems to be part of the package.
Mike

basmn

thanks mike...thats what i thought....I wonder what light comes on when you have a bulb out ?

MBronskill

I don't know what it does if the trailer bulbs are out but, if it happens, I will report. There is a secondary benefit of installing the factory hitch (which is a very substantial piece of metal). My wife was rear-ended in our Q5 by an idiot in an F150, leading to significant damage. The trailer hitch took some of the impact and was determined, at the body shop, to require replacement. That part alone was almost $1000!

My conclusion is that the factory hitch provides some useful reinforcement of the rear end.

Mike

basmn

http://www.iamaudi.com/audi-q5-tow-h...ports-service/
check out this link..it appears that the OEM bumper is removed and replaced by the hitch

gdinkanata

Thanks for the quick reply Basmn, I was not able to deal a better price on the hitch when placing the order for the car, so I decided to wait. I am in the same situation as you were, I do not want anyone cutting wires of a new car and I am worried about ground clearance of aftermarket hitch. So I have decided to go for the OEM. But I have yet to see pictures that shows a nice and clean installed. So I would appreciate if you could post a picture of your install.
Thanks GD

basmn

click on the link above...the install looks like that with the exeption of the cut plastic above the reciever. my install was clean and professional..BTW my q is deep sea blue..so you really dont notice it...cant see it at night it blends in...i can post a pic later if you need it. just be sure to talk to your service guy and be specific as to what gets cut during the install before they start so there is no surprizes...if you like my install feel free to take the pic with you and tell them THIS is what you want

basmn

ok here are the pic's of the hitch