Towing with the X5

[gruppeM3]

Does anybody tow there track car with there X5? I have an 04 4.8is and I need to start hauling my E46 M3 to and from the track. So I was wondering where you guys purchased your hitch kits and your impressions of them. Thanks

[PersonaNonGrata]

There are several members here who tow race cars with their X5s. Do a search and you should find out more details and see some photos. I can't recall whether they were 4.4, 4.6, or 4.8 X5s but either way, you should be fine.

I have a friend who has a 4.4 who has towed his 996 race car in a trailer.

[admranger]

Get the factory hitch kit. Nothing else. Others (Curt) can cause damage when you are towing the load you will be towing.

[4.6toddy]

Somewhere on here there's even a pic of an E53 towing a test mule BMW of some sort. Even the creators of the beast still use an old one

[RickM5X3]

Originally Posted by 4.6toddy

Somewhere on here there's even a pic of an E53 towing a test mule BMW of some sort. Even the creators of the beast still use an old one

This

[RickM5X3]

Originally Posted by admranger

Get the factory hitch kit. Nothing else. Others (Curt) can cause damage when you are towing the load you will be towing.

+1. This is the best advice.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by admranger

Get the factory hitch kit. Nothing else. Others (Curt) can cause damage when you are towing the load you will be towing.

I guess you might be right. But, I had my hitch installed by a local trailer dealer. saved me about $1400 or so. I paid around $400 or $500 for the whole thing. The dealer wanted around $1800.

I've had it for 2 yrs and frequently tow 2000 to 4000 lbs . I believe it is a 6500 lb hitch.

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Flame

I guess you might be right. But, I had my hitch installed by a local trailer dealer. saved me about $1400 or so. I paid around $400 or $500 for the whole thing. The dealer wanted around $1800.

I've had it for 2 yrs and frequently tow 2000 to 4000 lbs . I believe it is a 6500 lb hitch.

That might be OK for light duty, but towing the weight of a car (and trailer) will be AT LEAST 4000lbs (open trailer) and closer to 5-6000lbs for an enclosed trailer. Best and safest to go with the factory hitch for towing a car. The factory hitch basically replaces the entire rear bumper and bolts to the chassis of the truck. Aftermarket hitches don't share the same design and put unusual stress on the chassis when towing heavier loads.

OP--I tow mine in an enclosed trailer and have always been pleased with performance of the 4.6is. Your 4.8is should do even better. Only downside is atrocious gas mileage. 65-70mph seems to be a sweet spot for my 4.6. When I go faster (which the truck is totally capable of) my mileage drops to well below 10mpg

[DaveInVa]

I'm also on the hunt for a trailer hitch. etrailer.com shows two distinct designs for the X5; along with the normal attachment points the Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch models have an additional 'leg' that connects to a cross member whereas the Curt unit only bolts up to the factory locations behind the bumper fascia.

I have yet to see what the factory hitch looks like but I'm leaning towards the extra support and towing capacity (6k# Vs. 5k#) of the Draw-Tite hitch even though the installation is a little more involved.

Comments?

[ECS Tuning]

The OEM hitch kit is the way to go in my opinion. OEM fitment is always nice and the hitch kit includes module and wiring harness needed for a complete plug and play installation. We have the genuine BMW hitch kit available HERE.




ECS Tuning