Quote:
Originally Posted by ard
Knew I'd see you here! 
BMW does not publish a CVWR or CGWR for the X5. If you've seen one, love to see it. We're splitting hairs (hey, why not, I've got Tivo) but the term "rating" is loaded. Saying the hitch has a maximum of 6000lbs is different than certifying the VEHICLE with a tow capacity. I've seen very little from BMW on this.
Likewise, love to know the transmission temps when towing a 6000lb trailer up a 6 mile 5% grade....
FYI- BMW has no increased maintenance schedule based on towing- tranny fluid good to 100,000 miles NO WORRIES.
A |
I have never seen a combined weight rating published. We could extrapolate based on the published maximum trailer load plus the vehicle weight rating, but I think that would give an optimistically high figure. Realistically, if you are fully loaded in the X5 you probably shouldn't also be at 6000 lbs of trailer weight.
While there are various hitch ratings (6000 lbs, 7800 lbs in Europe, etc) the vehicle has a published tow rating of 6000 lbs. That isn't for all models; for example, the E53 six cylinder with five speed automatic was limited to 5000 lbs due to the transmission, even though the hitch sold for it was the same 6000 lb hitch. The six speed automatic in the 3.0 went up to 6000 lbs, same as all the V8 models. There was a 7800 lb rating published on a European BMW factory site for the E53, but I think it was an error based on the Westfalia hitch being rated at that figure. Westfalia point out that their 3500 kg hitch (7700 lb) does not override BMW's vehicle tow rating.
Also, the published vehicle tow rating without trailer brakes is (from memory) 1600 lbs trailer weight for all models, so they have considered vehicle brake limits as well.
I will look for transmission temperatures. I suspect that judicious use of the steptronic selector can keep them down, by manually selecting a gear if the vehicle starts to 'hunt' on a long grade, and ensuring that the vehicle has the torque converter in lock-up mode as often as possible. Transmission temperatures would vary widely on that long grade, depending on the above.
My warranty and service guide talks about the maintenance intervals being based on normal use, and advises that 'severe service' such as very dusty conditions, extended idling, etc, should be considered as reasons for reducing the recommended service intervals, ie increasing service frequency. It is a general guideline that isn't reflected in the i-Drive maintenance intervals AFAIK. I also don't know if they reference severe service in the 2010 manuals or the 2010 warranty and maintenance guide.