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Old 07-02-2010, 02:54 PM
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Question Opinion on X5 Towing

I currently have a 2007 X3 (44K miles) that I am thinking about trading in for a new X5. A few questions for the folks on this board:

1) For 2011 model year, is the 5.0 or the Diesel better for towing? I love performance but solid all-year driving capability and safe towing are going to be more important than zooming 0-60.
2) The reason I need to tow is that I track my 2007 M6 and want to get an aluminum trailer to take to driving events. The M6 weighs in at 3909 lbs. and a decent trailer is likely going to be at least 2000 lbs. Is that amount of weight advisable or do I need to be thinking of some domestic pickup truck beast (not my preference)?
3) Does anyone have a sense of the cost for the dealer to install the trailer hitch, wiring, ball, etc.?
4) If I go the CPO route for an X5, would I need the 4.8 or the late model diesel?

Interested and appreicate any and all comments. The last thing I want to do is be driving down the highway and seeing my M6 besides my X5 if that is not a reasonable towing configuration.
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Old 07-02-2010, 03:14 PM
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JCL JCL is offline
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The X5 is an excellent tow vehicle, due to the handling, stability, and very short distance from the rear axle to the hitch ball (which means that the trailer doesn't tend to wag and pull the vehicle side to side). All recent models are rated to tow 6000 lbs. Good towing stability will also depend on how much weight % you have on the hitch ball; your trailer has to be loaded correctly to be stable.

At that towing weight, recommend you use the OEM hitch and wiring connection, whether you have the dealer install it or do it yourself. Doing it yourself, you likely need to have the vehicle flashed (computer update) so that it recognizes the tow module, so you may just want to use the dealer for all of it. The hitch doesn't tend to be cheap, you are likely looking close to $1000 (round figures) installed unless you have a relationship with your dealer and they are more reasonable.

You will need trailer brakes at that weight. The BMW wiring connection doesn't include the electric trailer brake controller, but it is not that complicated to have it installed, there is a connection point in the vehicle (you still need to run a control wire up front).

The 35i would pull that weight fine. If looking at a used model, the 30 or 3.0 non turbo will pull it, and will be fine on the flats, but you will notice the weight on long mountain pulls. Either the 50 or 35d would also pull it very well, with the benefit of either faster acceleration (50) or better fuel economy (35d).

There are lots of posts on this E53 board, and on the E70 board, relating to towing, hitch installations, and wiring.

Good luck
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