OEM Hitch and Wiring install - DIY Level of Difficulty...any help in Northern NJ???

[JCAPX5]

Hi All just got our OEM hitch kit today and can;t wait to get it installed. I've read the instructions from our homepage here at XOutpost and while they are great, I'm still concerned in doing it myself. Getting the rear bumper back on perfectly and making sure all the wiring is right and sealed tight has got me worried. I'm sure it's like anything else, once you've done it it's a piece of cake but I want to make sure I have a clean, safe install. I know I'll do a better job than most others working on my car just needs some tips from Y'all.

Questions:

1 - What's the DIY Difficulty Level?

2 - What did you find to be the hardest part of the install?

3 - Any extra parts that should be on hand...new rivets, etc????

4 - Anyone in North Jersey with experience want to show a rookie how it's done??? Case of cold Heineken in it for ya!!!

Thanks y'all happy towing!

[X5_Rob]

JCAP - I just installed last week. Level of DIY is moderate. Nothing too complicated in it at all, just a lot of steps and a good amount of work involved. Follow the homepage instructions on the DIY install (BMW instructions that came with it were very vague) along with various member tips and its a piece of cake. I did it myself and even putting the bumper back on wasn't to involved and took all of 5-10 minutes. The biggest step for me was stripping the wire harness off the old bumper guard and installing the new bumper guard into the bumper. A bunch of those plastic grommets hold it all together and was just time consuming. Probably 4.5 hours start to finish for me total from opening the box up to testing the lights with my trailer. One big pointer would be once your at the point of unscrewing the 2x T55 screws holding the bumper on I would suggest lowering the exhaust pipes first to give yourself good clearance to get at the bolts. I didn't taking them off but left them down putting them back on and much easier.

Also - fwiw - I did not disconnect my batt... instructions state to do so but I did not and had no issues and saved the time to get at the batt, etc. Other users have done the same... One other tip I would add... either take some basic wide masking tape and run a few strips across your bumper... or set up some towels and lay them out to place the bumper on... I laid out some newspaper and in hind site should have done either... a couple of minor scuff marks on the bumper when it was laying face down and I extracted the bumper insert from it... bumper is kinda heavy...

Other then that piece of cake just time consuming... Good luck!

[UCrewX5]

If possible, get someone to assist you as well. One person can do it, but 2 people make the job much easier to manage.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by JCAPX5

Questions:

1 - What's the DIY Difficulty Level?
On a scale of 1 to 10 its 7 because you have to get under the car and deal with big and heavy bumper. Labor intensive than difficult will be right to say.

2 - What did you find to be the hardest part of the install?
Opening the 2 Tx55 screws holding the bumper to car.

3 - Any extra parts that should be on hand...new rivets, etc????
Everything comes with hitch.

4 - Anyone in North Jersey with experience want to show a rookie how it's done??? Case of cold Heineken in it for ya!!!
Good luck

Thanks y'all happy towing!

I have installed and uninstalled, only needed 2nd person's help for mounting and dismounting bumper. Rest you can do on your own. You can ask you significant other to help. I have taken tons of pics and doing the detail write-up. Shoot any questions you have. Good luck.

[JCAPX5]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

I have installed and uninstalled, only needed 2nd person's help for mounting and dismounting bumper. Rest you can do on your own. You can ask you significant other to help. I have taken tons of pics and doing the detail write-up. Shoot any questions you have. Good luck.

Thanks guys, I'm sure I can get it done just thought I'd ask those who have actually done it what the biggest hang=ups were.

LeMans...you are doing a write up with pics on this? How far complete is it. I would love to see anything you have so far as the BMW directions aren't the best. I'll be working to get some weight and instructional info for our site in the coming weeks if it helps!

Thanks a million guys!

[JCAPX5]

So how many people have left the battery connected when doing the hitch & wiring DIY install??

Again, many thanks for all your help!

[UCrewX5]

you have to get into the spare tire well to install the trailer hitch module, so what's the big deal about simply disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery while you are in there?

[JCAPX5]

yea that's what I thought but just trying to poll those who have done it.

Certainly not looking for any electrical gremlins!!

Thanks all.

[fidalgoisland]

After waiting over a year and finally receiving my OEM hitch it looks like a key part is missing, the wiring harness. This is the maining wiring that connects to the connector post by the hitch (the plug where you attach the trailer light cable). Just wanted to confirm that is was in your kit with all the other parts and not something i had to order separate. Thanks.

[X5_Rob]

Most definitely should have been in the OEM kit...