BMW X5 E53 DIY OEM Hitch Installation Notes and factory installation PDF

[e30cabrio]

I started in on the hitch. As$hats that did the aftermarket hitch used a 19mm bolt on the passenger side that was a hassle to get out and 45mm torx on the driver side that will not come out.

[e30cabrio]

Got the f00ker out. It was totally the wrong bolt. What should have taken 20 minutes, has taken over 2 hours.

Wrong one on left. Head is too big, got stuck on bumper.

I was thinking I could just install the electrical connector & call it good, I know now I cannot trust that hitch.

[e30cabrio]

Bumper & hitch off. What a pita the aftermarket hitch was.

[e30cabrio]

It was a UHaul & a hack job it was.

From post 109:

Originally Posted by e30cabrio

Bumper & hitch off. What a pita the aftermarket hitch was.

[HuskerX5]

I have read most all of the posts. I have to ask, I have had a BMW OE E53 Hitch on order for over 1.5 years and have not received one. I was told they are or back order and will be in stock "In the next few months". Still, I read that some of you are able to source them or pick them up at the dealership. Can someone who has received an OE hitch in the past year tell me what they did to get one of these.
I am aware that the complete hitch kit comes with the wiring harness, hitch, all the mounting hardware etc. and that is what I'm looking to buy. I don't want to buy it piece by piece unless that is the only way.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

[e30cabrio]

Most of the recent purchasers have gotten lucky & gotten it locally there is a list in one of the threads within the last month with the U.S. availability.

I am up to the bumper support & am having a hell of a time with the damn plastic push fasteners. i have a trim removal tool that gets in there to leverage it up but the thin plastic head folds like partially cooked pasta. How did you guys tackle them?

[jcp240z]

I just got mine from Bloomfield bmw in NJ a few weeks ago. They had a few but they may already be gone.

[Junkycosmos]

e30cabro,
If you are not done yet....
On those little plastic pita connectors; I found some help by pushing the center pin out from back side of the connector. On most of the bumper cover ones I used small round bar (like a Phillips screw driver) from the back of the connector to push the center pin a little. Just enough to expose 1/8" of the head then grab the head with needle nose pliers and work out the entire fastener. Helped to have the entire plastic warmed up to 60 or so and most of the fasteners came out once the heads were up about 1/4".

Hope the rest goes smooth. That refinish job on your hitch looks great.


admnranger,
To your prior Q on the alignment bolts I "left very loose" until I had bumper cover fitted they are the long bolts coming out of part #3 here.
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is Carrier, rear

Four bolts in total, 2 per side. Their heads are held in place with hammered tabs and the nuts (17mm?) are part of the set you tighten in the trunk which go horizontally from outside through hitch into rear cabin.

Next time I have my trunk emptied i will try to snap a pict. Might work to start by loosing these four and seeing how much wiggle you get on the alignment. I also lifted the bumper up a good bit when I tightened the two massive t55 bolts that point up to the sky however those are a lot more work to get after.


Sounds like I could take up a collection of the old factory bumper brackets, I may drop mine off at the local demo derby spot since it is built like a tank.

[e30cabrio]

I was doing it exactly that way, thanks I thought I might be missing something.

I quit after ruining the heads on about 6 of them. I have about 6 from my 350Z left but they are wider so I'll have to drill to use them.

Thanks

[e30cabrio]

I pray no one else has an aftermarket hitch installed by butchers like the ones that did mine added a full day to the job and I did not put the bumper back yet.

Bumper is going to be painted as the job that was on it is awful.