Anyone Installed the Da'Lan Trailer Hitch? - Page 2

diogenes! · #11 08-05-2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopz

Not trying to start a pi**ing contest here, but....

Neither am I, but don't you think it's a bit absurd that you're asking us to prove to you that a non-OEM product is equivalent to the OEM piece? I can't speak for others that bought the BMW kit, but for myself, I looked at and priced the Da'lan and others. You're gonna' pay over $200 after freight charges for the aftermarket hitch and, even if the hitch design is similar to OEM, I'll wager your favorite beverage that it doesn't include the frame reinforcements that the BMW kit does. Add to that $100 to buy the wiring kit that comes with the BMW package. Is it really worth $200 to take the chance of screwing up your X?

In strictly my own biased opinion(that is worth exactly the asking price), if all you want to do is hang a bike rack on the back of your X, then go with a cheap hitch. Anything over a couple hundred pounds, go with the BMW OEM - that's the advice I was given several months back, and it's still pretty good...

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hopz · #12 08-05-2005, 10:52 AM

diogenes! Thanks for calling my comments "absurd". If you will take the time to read the thread you will see I never asked anyone to "prove" anything. All I did was challenge the replies that were based on speculation, the "I hears", and other, non-specific, non-factual innuendo.

As a matter of fact look at most of the thread comments on most any subject and you will see that a lot of guys enjoy posting, but far fewer guys post any facts....

You have spent a lot of time defending something that does not have to be defended. I know BMW quality, maybe better than you... Check my profile, I've owned and restored 10 or more BMW's in a row. When I say something about a problem or a product, you can be damn sure I know what I am talking about. If I don't know- I don't post.

Diogenes, you last paragraph is good advice, and that is what I am going to do.

Loophole · #13 08-05-2005, 12:27 PM

I've handled both and they are definitely not identical. My recollection is the Da'lan was a bit lighter in weight. Although they look similar when installed, there is no suitable location on the Da'lan to mount the OEM trailer light receptacle without it looking jury-rigged.

hopz · #14 08-05-2005, 02:08 PM

Thank you Loophole for the FACTUAL information.

In order to put some FACTUAL light on this issue- I called the people who make the Dalan hitch. Bottom line for me is that I will go with the OEM hitch. No drilling, impact absorbers seem better, mounting for the car-side lighting connector is more elegant.
plus all the Loophole said.