I've been looking at the tow bar on the back of the Daimler for that last 18 months, wanting to take it off but not wanting to start the job. In almost 50 years on the road I've never needed a tow bar, so I won't need one now. Finally, a couple of the bumper cover mounting brackets broke and the cover started sliding backwards and forwards. I needed to take off the whole bumper to repair it so now's the chance to remove the tow bar.

I wish I'd re-read my post from three years ago when I removed the bumper from my first XJ8 - the same problems occurred again. A couple of the post bolts seized and one of the long mounting bolts had also seized onto the thread insert on the bumper beam and just spun round. Eventually brute force got everything off and I could look properly at how the tow bar was mounted.

It uses the four bolt holes as the original mounting post and it's reinforced inside the boot/trunk by an angled support which the two of the bolts fix through. In addition, there are two arms which extend into the box section behind the mounting for the posts. When installing the tow bar you use the bracket which reinforces those arms as a template to drill two holes into the box section so two bolts each side can be threaded through to fix the arms.
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The original mounting posts are replaced with two sturdy arms which contain the same aluminium collars as the standard posts and the original long bolts fix through those and into the bumper beam.

There's a whole bundle of electrics which are threaded into the boot and connect to the accessory power supply, an earth and to a yellow multi-connector. The loom includes four relays and three 15A fuses.

I've written this post for two reasons. Firstly, it will act as a guide to me or anyone else who might install a Blink two bar. Secondly, I'm very happy to let this go to someone who'll use it if they pay for the postage and maybe drop me a bottle of whisky for my efforts. It's big and heavy so probably only of use to a UK based owner. You'd just need to source the actual removable tow hook as that never came with the car. They're available and out there. PM me if you want it.

Photos below - you can see why I wanted to treat the rust.

The full kit - electrics and all:



One bolt left in...



A close up of the mounting post




And a side view (post almost off)



And the two Jaguar branded trailer wiring connectors

 

That’s a factory unit, I had one on my 99 XJ8 and used it a few times for towing tasks. The loom will plug straight into the car without any modifications needed.

When my 99 car expired due to chronic rust and a blown gearbox I removed the whole assembly and eventually sold it to a guy in Norway!

Very rare factory option as not a lot of people would use an X308 to tow with, I have my mighty Volvo for such tasks now.

 

I only tow with my '77 Silverado StepSide as it is very well equipped
for that task. Jaguars do not appear to be, in my mindset, however I
also remember using a '77 Lincoln Continental as a tow vehicle when
I had nothing else of equal ability. The 460 cubic inch engine and sturdy
transmission was fabulous for towing just about anything.

 

The Daimler Super V8 has never struck me as a typical tow car although it has the capacity. I may be stereotyping here but I'm guessing that the original owner who specified the factory fitted towbar probably got it to tow their daughter's horse box to the gymkhana....

 

The tow bar was actually made by Brink who are a top manufacturer. I have somewhere the original Jaguar fitting instructions in PDF. The car is actually quite a capable tow vehicle the only weakness being the fragile ZF5HP24 gearbox. I was always wary about that when towing and used to baby the car when towing anything particularly heavy.

Here’s a photo of my old 99MY XJ8 back in 2014 taking my Triumph to have some engine work done.

 

Blinks! Auto-correct or typo on my part - I don’t know - but I can’t correct it now but thanks for the clarification.

My car is the supercharged model so has the Mercedes gearbox. Do the same concerns apply to that?

I do love the XJ8 towing the Vitesse (?). I’m about to forward it to my Vitesse-obsessed mate - I’ll think of some sort of hilarious byline!

If you happen to be able to dig out the PDF it would be great.

 

That’s not a Vitesse, that’s my Herald 13/60. Similar bonnet to a Vitesse but with single headlights rather than dual.

If you pm me your email address I’ll send the PDF over if I find it. It may well be on my old laptop which is where a lot of my Jaguar and JTIS stuff is.

You have no worries with the Mercedes gearbox, just keep in mind the usual maintenance and services with it such as oil level and changes.

 

@Stu1986 I remember the fitting - turning into a bit of a palaver! Mine was fitted for a skidoo!

 

That was Felix 1 you’re thinking of when we tried to fit it during the evening in that borrowed bodyshop. The tow bar was from an X300 and the module was completely incompatible with the 308. We sort of got it fitted but I had to get the holes in the chassis drilled elsewhere, then a month later it was scrap metal as it distorted in the crash!

The one on Felix 2 I fitted myself as it came off a 308 and I’d learnt from the problems we encountered on the first car. When we scrapped Felix 2 I removed the bar and did consider fitting it to the 3.2 but in the end decided to sell instead, it’s in Norway now!