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Originally Posted by pseto
i prefer the hitch mounted rack, its a lot easier to get to the bikes. I have the OEM hitch, but IF you're only tugging bikes, maybe other aftermarkets models are OK.
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Possibly, and I have heard this before, but my concern would be that a hitch is designed for a certain type of load, usually a vertical load (tongue weight) plus a horizontal load due to acceleration and braking. The BMW receiver hitch has specifications for the maximum distance the hitch ball can be mounted out and down, so they are concerned about twisting forces.
By definition, a hitch-mounted carrier exerts a bending force on the receiver. This would be even more true with a four-bike rack, or one of those hitch-mounted luggage carriers.
I would buy the OEM hitch, to have the strongest possible interface to the unibody. Remember that there is no frame back there for the hitch to bolt to.
Just my $0.02
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