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

[adhesivo]

Originally Posted by mofoaka

Hello, i'm new to this thread, but I will be purchasing a 2006 x5 4.8is. I'm doing a ton of research on it as I already have plans on how to upgrade/ modify this truck. I want a tow hitch but I don't like the 3 point system look. Granted I only tow my road bikes, however I do have a project RX7 I'd like to tow eventually to the body shop for finishing. I know that the OE is no longer available and is hard to come by. From studying just the pictures provided on this thread, I'm wondering if we can fabricate the upgraded bumper support in order to fully support an aftermarket 2 point system without worries of bending the sheet metal? If someone could just measure out the dimensions, we can find a fabricator that will make it. Or we can get it 3D scanned and print it for fabricators to duplicate in SS. I'm just brainstorming. I don't even have my car yet. LOL

BMW Parts and BMW Accessories | Bavarian Autosport ?

[rwh11385]

So what is one to do with the old bumper support and shocks? Sell them for scrap? Retro kit for people selling car and removing tow package (if anyone would be that determined)?

[kesslerbmw]

Picked this up Friday for 150 bucks from a local junk yard. When I went to look at it they said I could have it for 100 bucks which was awesome, but I offered 150 if he made sure to get all the hardware, and the module for me without tearing up the wiring etc. Ended up Missing a couple bolts, but everything else was there. Forgot to take a picture after I repainted it with POR15. Thanks to all of you guys in this thread, it was a breeze putting it on. The bolts that were missing were the 2 shorter bolts that go above the exhaust which I bought (M10x30), and the 4 bolts that go inside through those reinforcement plates. I used the 4 T45 bolts from the old cross member piece for those which worked out well.

[IMG]Untitled by kesslerbmw, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by kesslerbmw, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by kesslerbmw, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by kesslerbmw, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by kesslerbmw, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Riggodeaux]

Good grab, Kessler. Rusty, as one would expect from an '01 version subject to Michigan road salt. nothing a good sandblast and/or rustproof won't handle. Note, early in this thread, my post with a source, boltdepot? I think, for replacement fasteners [incl. stainless, likely a good idea up north].

[kesslerbmw]

I'm in MO now, (need to correct that) but yeah, after some POR 15, it looks brand new.

[semcoinc]

Great stuff that POR15 :thumb up: :thumb up: :thumb up:

I've spiffed up many an undercarriage item with it over the years. My latest items were my E46 brake calipers and suspension links.

PS: I just completed an 1100 mile trip from Texas to Wisconsin pulling a 5x8 U-Haul trailer loaded with granite, so maybe a total trailer weight of 4500#.

My aftermarket hitch rig survived

Mike

[MINIz guy]

Can anybody shed some light on the "spacer" plates that are in some hitch photos and absent in others?

I am talking about the pentagon shaped plates shown the the following photo (stealing photo from previous post):


I just bought a set off a junked X5. My hitch production date is 22/03, much later than the hitch pictured above that has a date of 50/00. All the parts I have look like this from the ECS website:


Should I assume that the spacers aren't included in the later trailer kits? And that the lack of a spacer will not lower my tongue limit? I'm just thinking that the older kits have 1/4" thicker metal braced against the sheet metal, so it should be stronger than without.

[xbimma]

Originally Posted by MINIz guy

Can anybody shed some light on the "spacer" plates that are in some hitch photos and absent in others?

I am talking about the pentagon shaped plates shown the the following photo (stealing photo from previous post):
Should I assume that the spacers aren't included in the later trailer kits? And that the lack of a spacer will not lower my tongue limit? I'm just thinking that the older kits have 1/4" thicker metal braced against the sheet metal, so it should be stronger than without.

Minizguy I think your assumption is correct. You got me scared for a second because I was just reviewing the installation instructions for my own tow hitch I am working on today when I received your post. I went ahead and researched Internet and found out this http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e53/ima...iler_hitch.pdf where it is stated the "spacer plates" have been eliminated. I was going off BMW instructions posted by the OP of this thread. The spacers are included in the item list but no further mention of it during the install procedures. I don't think I am going to worry about it.

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by xbimma

Minizguy I think your assumption is correct. You got me scared for a second because I was just reviewing the installation instructions for my own tow hitch I am working on today when I received your post. I went ahead and researched Internet and found out this http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e53/ima...iler_hitch.pdf where it is stated the "spacer plates" have been eliminated. I was going off BMW instructions posted by the OP of this thread. The spacers are included in the item list but no further mention of it during the install procedures. I don't think I am going to worry about it.

I was about to post the same link! Crisis averted

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e53/ima...iler_hitch.pdf

[xbimma]

Originally Posted by MINIz guy

I was about to post the same link! Crisis averted



http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e53/ima...iler_hitch.pdf

good looking out



Garage:
E53 4.4i M62 born 2003-03-04 (SOLD)
E53 4.8iS N62s born 2006-03-16
E90 325i N52 born 2006-03-28
F30 328i N20 born 2012-09-06