Rear Bumper Alignment

[nra0707]

...Or maybe your X is annoyed there's a "///Power" badge on its tailgate.

[nra0707]

Originally Posted by LPMM

Strange... Does yours sit lower on one side vs the other, or lower all the way across? Normal, really?

It sits lower all the way across on mine. After having installed my hitch, I know there are steps in there when you install the cross bar and new bumper support mounts where things could get misaligned slightly. The process of installing it took a long time and fiddling with it would probably take many more hours than it's worth for me. I can only suspect that when yours was installed, the driver side section was installed slightly lower than your right side. OR pure speculation is that these hitches are manufactured with slight variances in bolt hole locations that would allow it to install ok, but end up with a misaligned bumper cover.

If you've got time, tools, patience, and a set of extra hands to help you, you could uninstall the hitch, and reinstall making sure each step is done exactly the same on both sides, then fit-and-refit the bumper cover to get it perfect.

[sethro]

I have the same problem, my bumper used to be sit perfectly. I don't even have the hitch, but the bumper had to come off and now it wont sit right, just like the OP.

[AlpineWhite]

I just had the OEM hitch installed on my 2005 X5 4.4i at the dealer and the rear bumper is now lower than before. When I mentioned it to the dealer they said it was normal.

[Foose]

I had the same problem. It took me a few tries but I finally closed up the gap. When re-installing the two large posts you need to have someone push up on it while you tighten the bolts on the back. There's some play around the factory holes where the posts are inserted.

This solved the problem for me but not on others ymmv. GL.

[X5 Meister]

Just don't look directly at it and you should be safe.

Originally Posted by nra0707

...Or maybe your X is annoyed there's a "///Power" badge on its tailgate.

[LPMM]

In reading through some old posts and articles, I have a few questions:

1) I noticed that one post said to make sure the bumper was properly slid through the brackets/clips on the side. Is it possible to slide it the wrong way and still have it attached resulting in one side lower than the other?

2) A couple posts mentioned the following to align the rear bumper. Has anyone done either of these procedures and can confirm?

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

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)

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

Additional advise is don’t tighten up the bumper support brackets unit the
two T55 bolts that hold the bumper on are in place and secured, then
align the bumper and tighten the bolts that secure the bumper brackets.

This step is about the hardest and you will need someone to hold the
bumper while you tighten the bolts. This will make more sense once you
reach this step.

3) I noticed that one mentioned to reuse the plastic inserts as seen in the pic below. Did anyone actually reuse those when installing the hitch?



4) Any trick to getting the T55 out with the fat 4.8 exhaust tip in the way?

[LPMM]

Originally Posted by Foose

When re-installing the two large posts you need to have someone push up on it while you tighten the bolts on the back. There's some play around the factory holes where the posts are inserted.

You mean pushing back on the big support tubes that slide into the subframe while tightening the bolts?
or
Pushing up on the bumper bracket (where the T55s go) while tightening the bolts?

[Foose]

Originally Posted by LPMM

You mean pushing back on the big support tubes that slide into the subframe while tightening the bolts?
or
Pushing up on the bumper bracket (where the T55s go) while tightening the bolts?

http://www.xoutpost.com/images/artic...%20removed.jpg

whatever attaches to the body make sure you push up on it and it is at the highest point when tightening.

[nra0707]

Originally Posted by LPMM

4) Any trick to getting the T55 out with the fat 4.8 exhaust tip in the way?

I would unscrew the exhaust hangers and lower both sides so there is enough clearance to get a compact or small socket wrench with the T55 socket head. Also, pull out the plastic trim around the exhaust tip hole for some added clearance. Put some masking or painters tape on top of the tips to prevent scratching by the ratcheting of the socket wrench.