X3 Aftermarket Hitch

[mhainen]

I am going to install a trailer hitch to haul my motorcycle. BMW wants an astounding amount for their factory hitch. Draw Tight sells one for the X3 at $130. I have used Draw tight for years with no problem. They are built well and very strong. Any thoughts? Has anyone installed an aftermarket hitch?

[Rick in Prescott]

Do they also sell the wiring adapter kit? If so, I'd go that way as well. Do you have to remove the rear bumper cap on the Draw Tite? The BMW version is well integrated into the bumper. Does the DrawTite hang below the bumper? I know, lots of questions but you gave us very little info.

[mhainen]

If you go into draw tight applications they designed the hitch to be as OEM. You need to remove the rear bumper. I assume the wiring harness is included, but not sure. I need to call draw tight. I will wait until spring to install. Here is a link. http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp...ke=BMW&t1=&h=e


Mark

[Quicksilver]

So lets see Draw Tight sells one for the X3 at $130. How much is the OEM hitch? Is it really as you say "an astounding amount"? Remember you get what you pay for. Do a search and you might find that OEM is so well integrated that the few buck your gonna save may not be worth it. Just my 2 cents

[E61Silver]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

So lets see Draw Tight sells one for the X3 at $130. How much is the OEM hitch? Is it really as you say "an astounding amount"? Remember you get what you pay for. Do a search and you might find that OEM is so well integrated that the few buck your gonna save may not be worth it. Just my 2 cents

I used Draw Tight on two Volvo wagons and they were fine.

In the case of the BMW I went OEM, it includes the light kit. Since you need to remove the bumper my guess is that labor is the same so you save about $200 not sure its worth it. The bigger question is who is doing the install, I would not want some jerk at U Haul doing this type of work on my BMW.

[Quicksilver]

We aint talkin Volvo's

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

I used Draw Tight on two Volvo wagons and they were fine.

In the case of the BMW I went OEM, it includes the light kit. Since you need to remove the bumper my guess is that labor is the same so you save about $200 not sure its worth it. The bigger question is who is doing the install, I would not want some jerk at U Haul doing this type of work on my BMW.

[X3eme]

I would only go OEM myself. There is a special electronics box that plugs into the wiring harness. This takes care of the light wiring and tells the traction control system that you have a trailer, which is supposed to adapt. I doubt the aftermarket system has such a thing. Anyway, is it worth the risk? Check this out:

http://www.x3world.com/articles/x3/b...h-2006-x3.html

[dieselkk]

I have installed the Draw Tite that you are thinking about. Every brand of a good quality hitch will require you to remove the rear bumper. The biggest problem for me was the wiring for the trailer. I had a problem spending $300.00 for trailer wiring while the hitch cost only $130.00. BMW in their usual wisdom has incorporated other systems in their wiring to join just turning on a pair of tail lights and brake lights. In the OEM BMW trailer hitch kit is the wiring and hitch components. If you truely are pulling a trailer, my suggestion is OEM, if you are just hanging a bike rack or need to expand the small cargo area with a hitch hauler rack go Draw Tite.

[E61Silver]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

We aint talkin Volvo's

[mhainen]

Dieselkk, thanks for the info. You have convinced me to go OEM. I will have my local independent BMW shop install. That will save me about $300 as compared to my dealer. BTW I need the trailer to haul my motorcycles.