X3 Trailer Hitch and Wiring

[pionex]

Has anybody managed to get a hitch on their X3 without paying BMW's etremely high prices? My BMW dealer wants $600+. I can get the hitch hardware installed, no problem, but the wiring adapter is nearly $200 which is more than I can get a hitch installed for. Supposedly, I can get a guy at uhaul to do the wiring for $50, but I just wanted to make sure nobody has come across a oem type solution thats not so expensive.

[davidr]

The US electrical installation is very easy - I believe it's plug and play. European and UK installs are very complex by comparision due to 13-pin hitch sockets.

My advice would be to get the BMW part - this harness should include the trailor module and will properly integrate with stability management systems, bulb failure system and rear parking sensors. See attached installation manual for US install

Hope this helps

[pionex]

Thanks for the manual. Installation doesnt look too bad. The kit is still $400, whereas I could easily get a non-bmw solution for half of that. AFAICT, it doesnt look like the hitch module has anything to do with stability control, but I could be wrong. If you or anybody else has any info, let me know.

[rajeeb_das]

Talked to Uhaul myself today. They say it is correct that most cars are $40. But when they actually looked mine up the said I needed a special part from BMW. If I could turn back the clock, I would have ordered the entire kit from CircleBMW for $350 or so and then paid about an hour of labor to get it done.

[davidr]

I retrofitted a full BMW hitch and electrical install (UK kit) to my UK X3 over Easter. This was a lengthy job (UK cars do not come pre-wired for the hitch) but by no means impossible.

The installation includes fitting a new control unit under the rear load space rear cover (the trailer module). This box of tricks wors with the rest of the car to adjust settings whenever a trailer is electrically connected to the X3.

The last task is to get it all coded as a retrofit using the dealer diagnostic system - the trailer module software was updated and the DSC, PDC and light modules were reconfigured to make them aware of the trailer hitch (I believe this is what a retrofit software install does). My dealer did this for 1 hours labour and also checked the install.

It all seems to work well although I haven't yet towed a heavy trailer.
Email me if you want detailed installation instructions etc

David
2006 X3 Sport 2.0D

[pionex]

Does anyone know how to remove the floor panel immediately behind the rear seat where the lighting module goes? Its supposed to be in (TIS) RA 61 35 000. It appears it is held down by some plastic anchors, but they do not come out even with a decent amount of force and I don't want to break them.

[zion]

Originally Posted by pionex

Does anyone know how to remove the floor panel immediately behind the rear seat where the lighting module goes? Its supposed to be in (TIS) RA 61 35 000. It appears it is held down by some plastic anchors, but they do not come out even with a decent amount of force and I don't want to break them.

If you look carefully at the plastic anchors you reference, there are two pieces to them. They are similar to a wall anchor you use on sheetrock. The center part expands the outer part. So you need to pop out the center part first, then the outer part will come out.

[phuksi]

Like said in the previous post, the inner piece should be pulled out first and then with a screwdriver or similar try to pry the clip away (you can see the structure of the clip in the attached docs). Those are thight and at least I had to buy some new ones when I took mine out just because I was not able to remove them without small bends and scratches from my tools.

Attached two documents that might be useful. There are plastic nuts behind the rear backrest that hold the floor panel in place and you might need to remove. However, it could be that you can lift the panel enough without removing those. If you do need to remove them you don't necessarily have to remove the backrest. If you try to feel those with your fingers and use proper tools you could be able to remove those. However, remember they are plastic so do not use too much force or heavy tools

Good luck and please take pics and let us know how it goes.

- p

[pionex]

Thanks for the help