Aarggggggggg!!!! trailer hitch

[pepatrick]

Ok...the trailer hitch install was straight forward...but still a pain in the you know what. I have decided that I dont ever want to do that again...but it beats paying the dealer half an arm and half a leg to get it done...I will post pics when I am done cleaning the left over carnage up...What are those big T55 bolts for...I have 2 of them left over...I hope they are not important...

[ncx]

Originally Posted by pepatrick

...What are those big T55 bolts for...I have 2 of them left over...I hope they are not important...

uh, you might want to put those back in Ha!

Glad it went ok. It is a long process and not a lot of fun. Smart man to go OEM on that mod.
Did you have an extra set of hands or did you try this solo?

[alpac]

Originally Posted by pepatrick

Ok...the trailer hitch install was straight forward...but still a pain in the you know what. I have decided that I dont ever want to do that again...but it beats paying the dealer half an arm and half a leg to get it done...I will post pics when I am done cleaning the left over carnage up...What are those big T55 bolts for...I have 2 of them left over...I hope they are not important...

How long did it take you to install the hitch?

[LeMansX5]

Glad to know that your X5 is hitched. Welcome to the club. getting to those t55 was a b*tch.

[sdogg888]

Originally Posted by ncx

uh, you might want to put those back in Ha!

Glad it went ok. It is a long process and not a lot of fun. Smart man to go OEM on that mod.
Did you have an extra set of hands or did you try this solo?

[pepatrick]

Steps



You may want to disconnect the battery – I did not



Inside the X5



Disassembly



1. Remove spare tire

2. Remove the trim for the retractable cargo floor

3. Remove the plastic trays around the spare tire

4. Remove the 6 x 16mm nuts on each side (3 on each side)

5. Disconnected the Park Distance Control connector on the left hand side of the cargo area

6. Push the PDC connector through the hole in the rear

7. Remove 2 x 13mm nuts toward rear of dome underneath the spare tire

8. Remove 2 x 13mm bolts toward front of dome underneath spare tire

9. Push the dome (self leveling suspension) out of the way

10. Remove 3 screws to access the battery

11. Remove 4 screws that hold the plastic tray where the tuner is and or PDC module



Outside the X5



Disassembly



12. Remove the exhaust ring trim – normally would not be on a 02 4.6is…I added these

13. Remove the lower 8mm bolt from inside both rear fender wells

14. Remove 2 T55 bolts that hold the bumper in place

15. Remove the bumper – remember to disconnect the 4 tabs underneath where the bumper is mounted to the lower part of the vehicle

16. Remove bumper shocks

17. Remove the front and rear exhaust hangers at rear of body (both sides) (4 X 13mm nuts on each side) Also there are 2 additional 13mm nuts to hold the ground strap in place

18. Remove the heat shields from each side (2 x 10 bolts and 2 x 10 washer nuts on each side)

19. Remove 2 x 13mm bolts that hold bumper shock frame to rear of body

20. Remove 8 x T45 bolts from bumper shock frame

21. Remove bumper shock frame



Assembly



22. Run the wire harness through the opening in the middle of the rear of vehicle

23. From the cargo area run the harness to the rear left and connect it to the empty connector in the spare tire well – there is a cap on this that must be removed

24. From the cargo area where the battery is remove the large L shaped plastic tray that holds the tuner module and PDC module and insert the electronic control module for the hitch wiring.

25. Plug in the connector to the electronic control module

26. Mount new hitch support bracket in the pentagon shaped opening (1 on each side)

27. I also re-installed 5 of the T45 bolts back into the holes – this is probably not necessary but I did it anyway.

28. From the bottom of the X5 where the heat shields were, install 1 x 16mm x 85mm bolt and washer in to the rear (closest to rear of vehicle) hole into the hitch support bracket (1 on each side) *** Finger tighten

29. From the bottom of the X5 where the heat shields were, install 1 x 16mm x 30mm bolt and washer in to the front (closest to front of vehicle) hole into the hitch support bracket (1 on each side) *** Finger tighten

30. On the hitch assembly insert 2 x 16mm x 40mm bolts in each mounting location and take a hammer and bend down the tabs that hold the bolts in place (2 on each side)

31. The hitch assembly is very heavy, but one person can do this…lift it into place (it is obvious where it goes) and from the lower portion of the bumper support finger tighten 1 washer nut on each side..I hope you ate your Wheaties in the morning.

32. From inside the vehicle, tighten the top bumper mount with 1 washer nut on each side.

33. Once all 4 of these nuts are in position, you can tighten all 4 down to 55 lbs using a good torque wrench.

34. Mount the wire harness and plug assembly to the hitch assembly – use the 2 x 10mm bolts and 4 screws included in the kit

35. Find both bumper support brackets and install 2 x 16mm x 120mm bolts into each one (total of 2 brackets and 4 bolts) hammer the tabs down to hold the bolts in place

36. Mount the bumper support brackets to the hitch assembly with the longer part of the tube facing down

37. From inside the vehicle finger tighten 2 x 16mm washer nuts – You will not tighten these down until you mount the bumper

38. Tighten the 2 x 16mm bolts that you installed (bumper earlier from the bottom of the rear of the vehicle. (2 on each side @ 55 lbs)

39. At this time you can re-install the heat shields and the muffler supports – remember to install the ground strap on each muffler hanger

40. Re-install the bumper on the X5 carefully and align the 2 tabs on the side where the bumper meets the fender wells – don’t forget the PDC wiring harness

41. Re-install the 8mm bolt from inside the fender well (1 on each side)

42. Re-install the 2 x T55 bolts back into the bumper and tighten to 55 lbs

[pepatrick]

Time to align the rear bumper



43. Use a hydraulic jack or something suitable and position the bumper to the right height and position – Use a protective cloth or towel to protect the underside of the bumper

44. When the bumper is position correctly tighten the 4 x 16mm nuts from inside the cargo area (tighten to 55 lbs) (2 on each side)

45. Lower the jack or remove whatever you are supporting the bumper with and it should not move out of place



Bumper Disassembly



46. Remove all the plastic rivets that hold the bumper support beam to the bumper

47. Disconnected all the PDC connectors (total of 4) Only if you have PDC

48. Remove bumper support beam from the bumper

49. Remove PDC wiring from bumper support beam (5 white tabs)



Bumper Assembly



50. Inserted white tabs for PDC wiring into the new bumper support beam

51. Placed new bumper support beam into the bumper

52. Replace all plastic rivets

53. Reconnect all the PDC connectors (total of 4)



Reassemble the inside



54. Put everything back together on the inside by reversing steps 1 - 11



Test drive for fun and to make sure everything is tightened down

Check for PDC functions

Test trailer brake lights

[pepatrick]

My neighbors think I am insane. Who else in their right mind would rip apart a 40k plus car and have parts from it laid out all over the drive way and front yard. I am known to have seats in the front yard when I am cleaning out my cars or adding stereo equipment. Its like a high dollar red neck establishment. Instead of beat up Camaros and Firebirds, it BMW X5 parts...hell...somebody has to do it...

[brwntiger]

Good job man!! You just gave me some motivation to take apart my ride!! Nice instructs too....