Need an OEM Trailer hitch please! 71600009711

[e53Seattle]

I have been on the hunt for a hitch for 2 months now. I've struck out almost a dozen times on Craigslist and with all of the local wrecking yards.

In fact, I had one ordered that was guaranteed OEM and ended up being a U-Haul variant.

Finally I found one on car-part.com down in California from A-German Auto Wrecking. They seemed like solid folks and it came out to be $375 with shipping to Seattle. It includes the hitch, hardware, pentagon frame insert things, bumper mounts, and wiring harness. I had to grab the module from eBay for $50. No bumper carrier though.

I am going to try to modify the original bumper carrier by breaking off the spot welds from the plate that appears to block it from going back on with the hitch. Fingers crossed, we'll see how it goes.

[dabenthusiast]

Originally Posted by swissfrank

Hitch update. I found one, used obviously, $400 from Dave at bimmerparts on the island. Super happy! Thanks for all the help guys.

400$ for complete oem? Nice !! Wish i could find a local one for that cheap

[Quicksilver]

An interesting alternative. Has anyone bought and installed this hitch
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...eid=2005206607

[Riggodeaux]

Quicksilver, I think the hidden hitch version you linked is one discussed [and questioned ....] in the long DIY hitch install thread. In brief: like other aftermarket hitches, the conservative [safety oriented] answer is its no substitute for the OEM westfalia hitch. To each his own, but I wouldn't try to pull even half of our SAV's rated capacity with the aftermarket hitches. For a bike rack or lightweight utility trailer with minimum load, maybe ......

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

An interesting alternative. Has anyone bought and installed this hitch
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...eid=2005206607

Yeah that one there will rip apart the X5 unibody with the higher trailer weight being applied to it.

[rwilson]

I keep hearing that the non-oem hitches are dangerous and will cause damage , has anyone done a "controlled" test of what happens when the non-oem hitches pull different loads say 2000 or 3000 or 4000 etc ??

[chrisn7]

I doubt the price and shipping will appeal, but these are still available in the UK:

Witter Towbars | Please Select A Suitable Towbar - These guys have been around for decades...

The detachable is a generic image, it actually fits through the removable hatch in the rear bumper. Overall the design mirrors the OEM, using the same mounting points, although the detachable section does not fit the cut out in the boot/trunk floor

[Riggodeaux]

RichW, take a look at the long DIY hitch install thread. We beat the issue to death there circa 2013-14

[bhennrich]

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ler-hitch.html

[Quicksilver]

Thank you sir.

I don't know if the hitch in question has been discussed and perhaps the
OP may not have read the long DIY hitch install thread. Either way depending
on the need it was just a consideration as to what is available.

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

Quicksilver, I think the hidden hitch version you linked is one discussed [and questioned ....] in the long DIY hitch install thread. In brief: like other aftermarket hitches, the conservative [safety oriented] answer is its no substitute for the OEM westfalia hitch. To each his own, but I wouldn't try to pull even half of our SAV's rated capacity with the aftermarket hitches. For a bike rack or lightweight utility trailer with minimum load, maybe ......