E53 X5 Tow Hitch Assembly Purchase Drama! Have a few questions.

[stiubhartach]

This one has been listed on eBay for months. Pricey though.

2000-2006 BMW X5 E53 rear bumper receiver trailer hitch 4.6is 4.8is 4.4i 3.0i 2000 2006 BMW x5 E53 Rear Bumper Receiver Trailer Hitch 4 6IS 4 8IS 4 4i 3 0i | eBay

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by stiubhartach

This one has been listed on eBay for months. Pricey though.

2000-2006 BMW X5 E53 rear bumper receiver trailer hitch 4.6is 4.8is 4.4i 3.0i 2000 2006 BMW x5 E53 Rear Bumper Receiver Trailer Hitch 4 6IS 4 8IS 4 4i 3 0i | eBay

Yeah and all the components of the kit are there. Its one of those things that if you really want it then someone is going to get it. Rare part indeed.

[Johnny_5]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

Too bad. These things are certainly getting as rare as unicorns.

Im getting to the point where Im about to just purchase an aftermarket kit.

[Johnny_5]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Don't give up they are out there. just have to be patient. Keep Looking. Next time have a picture sent to first to identify the hitch before going out to see it.

Thats the problem I sent him pictures, confirmed the list, I did everything I could to ensure the correct parts. I think they were just out to screw people! Sad thing is that they state they are BMW specialists! Yea Right!

Im getting really discouraged and tempted to pick up an aftermarket but should I? Whats the down fall on getting aftermarket?

[Johnny_5]

Originally Posted by stiubhartach

This one has been listed on eBay for months. Pricey though.

2000-2006 BMW X5 E53 rear bumper receiver trailer hitch 4.6is 4.8is 4.4i 3.0i 2000 2006 BMW x5 E53 Rear Bumper Receiver Trailer Hitch 4 6IS 4 8IS 4 4i 3 0i | eBay

Yea Im not paying that much for it! To me its not worth that much!

[Johnny_5]

Got a question...I found an aftermarket tow bar that appears to mount to the factory bumper mounts. Looks sort of like this...

CURT Manufacturing - CURT Trailer Hitch #13070

So my question is it worth the purchase or should I really hold out for the OEM assembly? Im really not in a rush just tired of looking but if its that much better to go OEM Ill hold out. Any thoughts would be great.

[iansanderson]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Got a question...I found an aftermarket tow bar that appears to mount to the factory bumper mounts. Looks sort of like this...

CURT Manufacturing - CURT Trailer Hitch #13070

So my question is it worth the purchase or should I really hold out for the OEM assembly? Im really not in a rush just tired of looking but if its that much better to go OEM Ill hold out. Any thoughts would be great.

I personally wouldn't use an aftermarket hitch of any sort. If you look at the Curt you posted, it is missing the very crucial "frame rail" brackets. Those are an important part of what transfers the mass from the trailer to the tow vehicle and the bending moment of the tongue load. For whatever reason, the aftermarket units choose not to follow the OEM route. In the case of the Curt posted here, it looks like your only support are the bumper mounting points! I would worry most about damage to the X5 if anything. I would hold out for OEM if you plan that tow anything weighing over 2,000 lbs and definitely wouldn't tow the 5,000 that hitch claims to be capable of.

[1000hp]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Thats the problem I sent him pictures, confirmed the list, I did everything I could to ensure the correct parts. I think they were just out to screw people! Sad thing is that they state they are BMW specialists! Yea Right!

Im getting really discouraged and tempted to pick up an aftermarket but should I? Whats the down fall on getting aftermarket?

Let me guess... Bavarian Auto Recycling?

I just ordered this hitch. It's not pretty, but it appears to be plenty secure. Hope it doesn't look like complete shit on the vehicle.
Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch 87405

Then I scoured the country for the lighting harness that goes from the body harness to the hitch, which is of course NLA from BMW. Ended up finding one on ebay.

[Riggodeaux]

Its certainly a unicorn hunt. There are earlier threads discussing the disadvantages of the aftermarket hitches, and the superiority of the OEM westfalia hitch. I'm glad I found an OEM soon after I bought my E53 .......

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

Its certainly a unicorn hunt. There are earlier threads discussing the disadvantages of the aftermarket hitches, and the superiority of the OEM westfalia hitch. I'm glad I found an OEM soon after I bought my E53 .......

Strange my X came with the factory hitch, but the two previous owners never used the hitch. How do I know it was never used? The hole for the hitch pin still had the factory sticker covering the hole. Factory hitch is the way to go.

Since my ownership of the SAV, I had bike racks mounted to the roof on my Rola cross bars, a Saris ride on bike carrier used on the hitch, a Thule box mounted to the roof when we go skiing, and a jetski and jet boat (not at the same time) towed behind the X.