Quote:
Originally Posted by Bayerische E53
Perhaps those who have significant towing experience could chime in and express their opinions. I'd be interested to hear their opinions. Of course, I am interested in your opinion as well, JCL, as I've seen that you've towed a fair bit albeit never exceeding about 5,000lbs (is that correct?).
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Never more than 5000 lbs with my X5. Much more than that with heavier vehicles. I had a professional license (class 3, air brake endorsement) but those were generally single trucks, not truck/trailer combinations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bayerische E53
There you have it - it's merely a transmission duct for extra air cooling. That says everything - it's the transmission heat that limits the X5's towing capacity. Otherwise, it's good to 7,700lbs as JCL said. Just like the Porsche Cayenne. That seems to explain how I couldn't see how the X5's unibody could be that much weaker than the Cayenne's.
With the manual transmission, I'm sure I won't have to worry as there won't be a tendency for it to hunt for gears.
The other two things I found were that the increased towing capacity vehicles have different rear differentials - all the parts and ratio are the same, however, so I'm guessing it's maybe got a finned cooling cover on it. I also found that those vehicles also come with a 220A instead of 180A alternator. Thing is, the 220A comes on vehicles with 4-zone climate control, which my car has. So I'm good there too.
As for the diff, a little more heat just means replacing the fluid a bit more often. Big deal.
The E70 also seems to have a small additional engine radiator but I couldn't find this for the E53. Even still, on the highway, I don't see this being an issue.
I'll install the cooling duct for the trans anyways for safe measure. So it looks like I'm actually NOT overweight! That's very promising! Thanks for that!
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I think you are stretching to say that the increased towing capability in Europe is just an air duct. We don't know that. What I find interesting is that it is a no-charge option. You are also taking E70 information and applying it retroactively to your E53, which is a totally different platform.
If it was just transmission heat that limited the X5 towing capability, then the manual transmission model wouldn't have the same limit.
I did not say that it was good to 7700 lbs, I said that I recalled a Europe-only option for that trailer capacity, years back. You don't have that model, and I haven't seen a parts list as to what is different when the E53 had that option.
You just need to be very clear that you are planning on being significantly overweight, you can't reason it away.
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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White
Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
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