Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcreese
Hey, JCL, any chance you could trace that cutout onto a piece of 8.5" x 11" paper, scan it at full size, and post it here. Would really like to use your pattern, the cut out looks great! Also if you could take some picks of the trimmed flap by itself and from a couple different angles, I would be eternally greatful. I think I'm going to order the hitch as soon as I get home.
I'm imagining your cutout extends all the way to the other end of the flap. So the flap has something of a U shape to it.
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I don't think a pattern will help much. The following instructions might, combined with the photo to show you what you want to end up with.
There are actually two pieces to cut. Behind the black piece, there is a white structure that is the same material as the white of my bumper. It has an oval hole in it, and it needs to be cut out square to make room for the hitch. You don't see it, so it doesn't have to be perfect. The instructions for the hitch tell you where to cut it (there is a score line IIRC). Make this cut, but only this cut.
Next step in the instructions is to paint behind the filler piece with flat black in a spray can. I skipped this step.
Next the instructions say to throw away the black filler piece, and trim the remaining black vertical edges to make them clean. Those edges have the clips for the filler piece. If you cut them off, you have no place to attach the filler piece. I figured I could always come back and cut them off, but first I tried to retain the filler piece, since I had nothing to lose but 20 minutes of playing with it.
The black piece needs a slot cut the same size as the outer width of the receiver, centered. You can get that measurement with a tape measure. What you need to determine is how far up to bring the slot, and that is really a trial and error exercise. It is tough to put material back, so just go slow and take multiple cuts out till it is perfect. Don't worry about 'perfect' too much, since it is below the bumper and nobody will every see it that closely. At this point you will have a U shape filler piece, that goes in inverted, essentially. Now you need to cut the left end off the U shape, to clear the electrical connection. You don't see that cutout unless you are laying under the car, so I just took it up to the first horizontal crease. The black material would cut very easily with a Dremel; I used an air powered grinder with a 3" cutting wheel. A utility knife would probably work too.
The filler piece does not attach completely solidly any longer, since you have removed the bottom clips. It stays on fine on just the top clips, but the lower edges don't lay completely flat. You don't notice it unless you are very close to it, so I don't lose any sleep over it. The filler piece has stayed on for 5000 km so far.
Do a search on trailer hitch on this forum, and see my posts, as well as others that went before me. You don't need to drill out the rivets as the BMW instructions say, and there are a few other tips as well in those posts. I have attached a few useful links.
Good luck.
Jeff
Edit:
First link: X3eme's very useful post. Note that his vehicle is not the 2007, so the lower diffuser is different. Great instructions and photos though.
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x3/...h-2006-x3.html
My towing results, with some installation tips.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...g-2007-x3.html
The BMW instructions. These are from X3eme's post, as he had scanned them. The copy I got as a printout from my dealer (they were happy to print it out when they sold me the hitch) is a more recent version, and includes steps relating to the lower diffuser and filler piece on the 2007 model. That is the version you want. I can't seem to find it, I probably tossed it when I finished doing the hitch.