I know I said sell it and move on in a post almost a year ago...

But in Chicago you need a quasi-heavy duty winter car...
Try and keep salt and brine off the bottom of the X5, rinse it off from time to time.

Your car isn't worth much in a sale...and it has quite a bit of function to you, so I suggest you keep it.

I tow with mine occasionally and also have the OEM hitch...its very handy in that regard. I have a permanent roof rack on it also.

But I have 3 other BMWs with same engine that I drive more often in the non-winter months.