E53 Trailer Hitch Question

[phogan]

Since the E53 trailer receiver has been on back order for a long time with no end in sight what are reasonable options? I need to get a hitch within the next two months. Are there any aftermarket hitches that are acceptable?

[01 BMW_X5]

Try it you will like the results

[TaMbALoLoNg]

PM weasel56, he has a really nice aftermarket one

[LI-X5]

here's what i used !!

hitch and wiring works great !!

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ny-longer.html

[X Foomph]

Try this company: http://www.towingproducts.com/about.aspx then email Jason Greger to speed up your enquiries: [email protected]

Good luck

[aklauz]

I have access to a steel shop has anyone thought of possibly trying to retro fit the E70 oem hitch to an E53? Does anyone know if the wiring harness is different and if it can be adapted? I mean how different could they be? Lol I'm thinking radical at this point!

[LargoX5]

I have an 2004 X5 4.4 and have an appointment scheduled for this Saturday to have a hitch installed at U-Haul. Total cost is $425 and includes the wiring kit, install, extension arm, ball and lifetime warranty. Two years ago, I did the same thing with a 2001 X5 3.0 and they couldn't (or wouldn't) do the wiring. Had to find a local shop to do that separately. Something obviously changed since then. So depending on your year, I'd recommend U-Haul.

[TaMbALoLoNg]

U-haul parts on a BMW? That's insulting even if it works.

[JCL]

When I rented a trailer from U-Haul, with my OEM hitch and wiring, they asked me about my wiring harness, to ensure that I had the OEM part. I asked why they cared, and they said they had received a letter forbidding them to attempt BMW wiring due to the number of payouts they had had to make. They wanted to make sure I had functioning wiring, and not anything more than that, but it was an interesting discussion.

Simple wire taps can work, as evidenced by other posters on this forum, but it is another data point to consider.

Maybe your U-Haul didn't get the memo.

[cobra94563]

Originally Posted by LargoX5

I have an 2004 X5 4.4 and have an appointment scheduled for this Saturday to have a hitch installed at U-Haul. Total cost is $425 and includes the wiring kit, install, extension arm, ball and lifetime warranty. Two years ago, I did the same thing with a 2001 X5 3.0 and they couldn't (or wouldn't) do the wiring. Had to find a local shop to do that separately. Something obviously changed since then. So depending on your year, I'd recommend U-Haul.

I already have a hitch now, but do you know if they make their own, or do they use one from Curt, Reese, etc?

Given the time it took me, $425 is not bad!