trailer hitch saga

[odo]

One more thing to think about... My mechanic told me that the car from which the hitch is removed also has to be reprogrammed by the dealer when the trailer module is removed from it.

[ncsucarjock]

Folks,
I am posting a new thread about a group purchase of hitches from the EU. I have a friend there who can get hitches at a reasonable cost that mount the way the OEM hitch mounts.

[X5 Meister]

My understanding is that the euro hitch won't work on US cars due to different laws & restrictions, etc. that is why BMW NA or Canada hasn't (and won't) import them from Europe (where evidently they have plenty).

Honestly I can't imagine that BMW won't come up with a new supply. They clearly have a manufacturer making them for the E70 X5, the X3 and other BMW's, not much of a stretch to have the same company make the E53 X5 version given the design is already done and approved.

Originally Posted by ncsucarjock

Folks,
I am posting a new thread about a group purchase of hitches from the EU. I have a friend there who can get hitches at a reasonable cost that mount the way the OEM hitch mounts.

[Meiac09]

I put my name down at the dealer up here, like $440 with CCA discount... Still on backorder, so it could be a while. Does anyone know the factory/company that produced them?

[kishg]

there maybe some light at the end of this tunnel. i heard from a source at bmwna that they are expecting test units from an alternate vendor in a few weeks. of course that means they won't be in production for another few months and then the usual distribution delays will ensue.. !!

[Bimmerfan4life]

Dont beleive the hype i have spoke to mutiple BMWNA reps and they all said that there are no plans at this time to produce a trailer hitch assembly for a non current models that r&d,fabrication,and demand are not that great. 400 on backorder times $500 equals 200,000 just fabrication of dye set and material to produce would cost that i mean i hope i am wrong but i have been on the phone alot with BMWNA to no avail just" im sorry sir i dont have answer for the problem" or " we only handle warranty and maitance issues here at bmwna" there just a bunch of jerkoffs in a office in nj with no clue. oh yeah beleive BMWNA spys on this board would have quelled this post along time ago with the others by now but instead they just sit there with their thumbs uptheir asses while us the customers become victims of a hardship they created pricks

[Weasel]

Well, they didn't "create" this hardship, the owner of the company that made them died and the company went under... at least what I have been told from different sources on the inside.

I am either today or tomorrow going to fab up my own internal braces similar to the OEM, that the aftermarket hitch(s) don't have to carry load into the frame instead of just at the end flanges... If it comes out as good as I'm hoping it will, I will keep the measurements and a template to maybe make some more

[Best4x4xFAR]

Okay,

Here is a crazy thought. Its a chunk of metal for god sake. All we need to do is find a good fabricator (shop), and they should be able to duplicate it, no? It doesn't seem that complicated (which means it probably is, but).

Someone has got to know a resouce capable and willing, then we just need someone willing to pull their hitch and let the fabricator duplicate it.

The wiring harness/ Control module is a seprate issue. Did Westfalia make this as well, or just the metal hitch? Are these unobtainium as well??

Add me to the list of X5 owners looking for a factory hitch solution..

[kishg]

i've heard this from the person evaluating vendors for this so i tend to think its credible but like i said will be months before it hits dealer inventory. as for bmw not creating the hardship, i simply don't care. they sold a vehicle to us and the onus is on them to provide support for it. as a customer i am not concerned with their internal supply issues.

[Weasel]

The module is currently available to be ordered from any dealer. Last time I checked the harness was on backorder, but not indefinitely since it is not made by the same people as the hitch.