Aftermarket trailer hitch

[Reecard]

What is the best aftermarket trailer hitch to put on an X5?
Thanks,
Todder

[Weasel]

Results will vary with aftermarket as they are all more susceptible to flex from tongue weight, snap accelloration and quick braking. The OEM has the absolute best design including internal braces that bolt into the subframe and spread the load into the subframe ends instead of hanging it on the end flanges.

But with small loads and proper driving techniques you can be just fine with aftermarket. I have the curt hitch myself. But there is no good option for the wiring vs the OEM wiring. (available from ECS tuning)

[hhhm3]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Results will vary with aftermarket as they are all more susceptible to flex from tongue weight, snap accelloration and quick braking. The OEM has the absolute best design including internal braces that bolt into the subframe and spread the load into the subframe ends instead of hanging it on the end flanges.

But with small loads and proper driving techniques you can be just fine with aftermarket. I have the curt hitch myself. But there is no good option for the wiring vs the OEM wiring. (available from ECS tuning)

I been trying to decide between the oem hitch and the Reese hitch.
A local hitch company quote 245$ for the reese hitch installed an wiring is 110$ installed. CND $

Did you do the aftermarket wiring for it Curt hitch or you did the oem wiring harness?
did the dealer have to do the wiring?

Any issues with the Curt hitch?
Does it still have the ant-sway feature?
Did you have the dealer do the reprogram to the X5 computer? and why is it needed?


Thanks,

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by hhhm3

I been trying to decide between the oem hitch and the Reese hitch.
A local hitch company quote 245$ for the reese hitch installed an wiring is 110$ installed. CND $

Did you do the aftermarket wiring for it Curt hitch or you did the oem wiring harness?
did the dealer have to do the wiring?

Any issues with the Curt hitch?
Does it still have the ant-sway feature?
Did you have the dealer do the reprogram to the X5 computer? and why is it needed?


Thanks,

I did the OEM wiring (which you can get from ECS tuning most of the time) and did the programming at the dealer myself while on lunch break. And yes, it has the anti-sway, and these vehicles rarely need that anyways due to the proximity of the hitch to the rear axle. (but still awesome to have as it reads the yaw sensors etc through the DSC through bus interfaces etc.) And that is why the encoding is needed... to tell the rest of the modules that it is there via adding it to the "vehicle order" so they will know to communicate with it.

And if you have the choice and plan on towing anything with any substance, get the OEM hitch. It is the best design and strongest design by far. I needed the hitch and the OEM wasn't available when I bought the curt hitch, but if I ever need to tow anything bigger than what I do currently I will end up getting the OEM setup (availability depending) .

[hhhm3]

Originally Posted by Weasel

I did the OEM wiring (which you can get from ECS tuning most of the time) and did the programming at the dealer myself while on lunch break. And yes, it has the anti-sway, and these vehicles rarely need that anyways due to the proximity of the hitch to the rear axle. (but still awesome to have as it reads the yaw sensors etc through the DSC through bus interfaces etc.) And that is why the encoding is needed... to tell the rest of the modules that it is there via adding it to the "vehicle order" so they will know to communicate with it.

And if you have the choice and plan on towing anything with any substance, get the OEM hitch. It is the best design and strongest design by far. I needed the hitch and the OEM wasn't available when I bought the curt hitch, but if I ever need to tow anything bigger than what I do currently I will end up getting the OEM setup (availability depending) .

Thanks for the advice and info.

What would happen if the you don't do the programming at the dealership?

[Weasel]

Worst case, the lighting doesn't work when you plug it in (as mine didn't, I tried) But quite a few on here say they had no problems plug and play, all the lighting worked.

[JCAPX5]

Hey Guys,

Luckily I was in the same hitch debate as many of us over the past few months but got lucky and found the OEM KIT (wiring too) from Bloomfield BMW in NJ. I would say it is possible to get this OEM BMW KIT for around $400 and install it yourself. With a helper for the big portions it can be done in around 5 hours and be $4oo total out of pocket for the BMW OEM Kit. Thats a smokin' deal with all this hitch nonsense!

PS totally agree with Wagners comments above - - He knows what's up.

Good luck and happy towing!

[JCAPX5]

FYI My lighting and PDC worked perfectly after we installed the wiring that came with the BMM OEM kit. Lights all worked and rear PDC turns off for trailer.

[hhhm3]

Originally Posted by JCAPX5

FYI My lighting and PDC worked perfectly after we installed the wiring that came with the BMM OEM kit. Lights all worked and rear PDC turns off for trailer.

Thanks,

So, if the lights work and the PDC is disabled when trailer wires are plugged in, there no point of getting the dealer to do the programming right?
Did you get the programming done by the dealer?

[JCAPX5]

I did not get any programming done by dealer and as I mentioned earlier the lights and PDC worked properly with the trailer hooked up.

I know Wagner and others have mentioned something about the trailer "sway-control" or something like that tied in to DSC to keep a trailer stable during towing. I would agree that this extra level of control with the X5 electronics is nice, but not required unless you are pulling a serious load. I tow around 3000lbs max and the 3.0 handles like a champ.

Good luck!