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

[garrett.fell]

Bolts run straight through the bumper brackets, through the carrier and into the car. These are the bolts in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

When you reinstall the bumper - the bolts run vertically through these bracket things and tie into the new skeleton you installed in the bumper


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[garrett.fell]

Like this.




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[Micah247]

The OEM hitch kits are NLA! PN# 71600009711

What's my next best bet? I found one on eBay that looks like it bolts to the same spot behind the bumper supports.

[fizzx]

Originally Posted by Micah247

The OEN hitch kits are NLA! PN# 71600009711

What's my next best bet? I found one on eBay that looks like it bolts to the same spot behind the bumper supports.

Attachment 65957

Setup an ebay alert for OEM e53 X5 hitch. That's what I did. Took MANY months of waiting, but finally got a used one for a 'reasonable' price.

[UNLIMTD]

I have an E53 X5 OEM hitch kit for sale.

I have all of the parts except the bumper reinforcement (not sure if the original can be modified), including the tow module.

I bought it to install on my 2002 X5 E53 however my wife decided she wanted a different daily driver, so I no longer need the hitch.

I live in Star Idaho zip 83669, I give you that info in-case you would need it shipped. I would much prefer someone local, because shipping this would be a pain and expensive. I will do it but buyer will need to pay actual shipping costs.

I want $500 for the kit.

IMG_5136 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5137 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5138 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

[Micah247]

Sold!

Originally Posted by UNLIMTD

I have an E53 X5 OEM hitch kit for sale.

I have all of the parts except the bumper reinforcement (not sure if the original can be modified), including the tow module.

I bought it to install on my 2002 X5 E53 however my wife decided she wanted a different daily driver, so I no longer need the hitch.

I live in Star Idaho zip 83669, I give you that info in-case you would need it shipped. I would much prefer someone local, because shipping this would be a pain and expensive. I will do it but buyer will need to pay actual shipping costs.

I want $500 for the kit.

IMG_5136 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5137 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5138 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

[Riggodeaux]

The hitch odyssey is something we've been through several times. Absent Westfalia running another batch of OEM hitch kits [not likely], or finding one off a wreck/parts car, you may be SOL. If you aren't expecting to tow anything close to the Class III and E53 rated limits [3 tons on my stick shift model] you may be able to get by with an aftermarket, but I would be very leery about towing anything important [or heavy]. If its a bike rack or towing less than a ton, maybe?

[TerminatorX5]

the facelift E53 comes with BFD (brake force distribution) and EHC II for air ride height, so the trailer module at least accounts for these...

[JCL]

I think it is the other way around.

The trailer module just works the lights. Everything else is done by the vehicle, if it sees a trailer module. Things like TSC are included in the DSC system, just waiting to be activated by the presence of a trailer module. I don't know why a trailer module that is also used on an E83 and an E46 would have anything in it to control ride height or brakes, but perhaps there is a bus signal to tell a new system that the trailer module is there and to take the appropriate action when a trailer is connected.

[TerminatorX5]

From reading the WDS, it seems that the trailer module is billed as an "extension" to the LCM. I used the same module from 2002 on the 2006 E53. The LCM is probably a "master", and the TM is a "slave". The 2006 has an updated LCM (I could not code 2002 LCM to have fogs on at the same time as highbeams).

When the TM senses the lights connected (resistance of about 300 Ohms or so), it tells the LCM that the trailer is hooked up, and in this case the LCM communicates to the PDC (probably via GM) to shut off the rear PDC sensors, tells the EHC II to not change the height using the manual buttons (when I try to raise or lower the car manually, I get a TRAILER MODE message), and also kills the rear fog lights.

also, it seems that some programming needs to be updated to include the TM into the rest of the car, since the Tm does not pass the voltage to the trailer lights - when it was installed in 2002 E53, the trailer lights were working, in 2006 E53 the trailer lights are not working, even though the car still knows about trailer being present.

I hope I did not confuse folks much with my blubbering - i am getting confused just by reading what i just typed!